Early look at the 2026 draft

[CFAN38]

Looking at this class im really impressed by the PGs, this is only an on the surface look but Kingston Flemings, Mikel Brown Jr, Labaron Philon, Christian Anderson, Darius Acuff, Meleek Thomas, Brayden Burries and Sergio de Larrea all look like 1st round picks. Sergio de Larrea maybe more of a wing in the NBA but for now ill consider him a pg because thats what he is listed as.



Christian Anderson, particularly stands out to me as a guy projected on Tankathon as a second round pick but who clearly looks more towards a lottery pick. He cam into college with the small guard tag given that he measured 5'11.5" 155lbs with a 6'4.5" wingspan at the 2024 basketball with out borders. He is currently listed at 6'3 and clearly looks like he has grown (Dad was a pro in Germany and is 6'6). His combine will be interesting but im assuming he is around his listed 6'3 in shoes with around a 6'6 wingspan. Skill wise he is a great shooter, great passer, and at this point in the season he is finishing at an above 65% at the rim.

Anderson has declared for the Draft with no mention of coming back to texas tech or transferring, this will be interesting to watch. As the Darius Acuff hype train has gone crazy with his late season play Anderson seemed to cool. The combine will be interesting to see how they measure and how those measurements comp to each other. Their stats are similar and if both are around the same size its hard for me to see them going 20 picks apart as some have projected.

[Celtics4ever]

I hope we draft a PF.   We have several bigs, we have a ton of wings and they often have to play the four.   

Morenz Johnson Jr. would look nice in green and he adds toughness and has some potential to spread the floor down the road.    He shot 12-35 this year and has some potential down the road.  He shot 34% from the three will limited shots, and has an ok FT % at 78% which indicates some touch.

He plays D and rebounds and does not need the ball to affect a game.  His PER was 25.2 and he can switch a little on defense.


https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/morez-johnson-jr-1/gamelog/2026

[Celtics2021]

I hope we draft a PF.   We have several bigs, we have a ton of wings and they often have to play the four.   

Morenz Johnson Jr. would look nice in green and he adds toughness and has some potential to spread the floor down the road.    He shot 12-35 this year and has some potential down the road.  He shot 34% from the three will limited shots, and has an ok FT % at 78% which indicates some touch.

He plays D and rebounds and does not need the ball to affect a game.  His PER was 25.2 and he can switch a little on defense.


https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/morez-johnson-jr-1/gamelog/2026

I have said this several times in these threads, but Morez is highly unlikely to be available when we pick.  If he does not get a top-20 grade from the NBA he is going to stay in college for around $5 million next year.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I hope we draft a PF.   We have several bigs, we have a ton of wings and they often have to play the four.   

Morenz Johnson Jr. would look nice in green and he adds toughness and has some potential to spread the floor down the road.    He shot 12-35 this year and has some potential down the road.  He shot 34% from the three will limited shots, and has an ok FT % at 78% which indicates some touch.

He plays D and rebounds and does not need the ball to affect a game.  His PER was 25.2 and he can switch a little on defense.


https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/morez-johnson-jr-1/gamelog/2026

I have said this several times in these threads, but Morez is highly unlikely to be available when we pick.  If he does not get a top-20 grade from the NBA he is going to stay in college for around $5 million next year.

Jeez. I haven't been paying attention to NIL money lately. Guys at his level are getting 5 mil a year? Wow.

[Moranis]

On3 has Dybantsa's NIL valuation at 4.2 million. No one else is over 3 million. Morez Johnson was valued at 2 million.  I can't see him getting all that close to 5 million next year. 

[Celtics2021]

I hope we draft a PF.   We have several bigs, we have a ton of wings and they often have to play the four.   

Morenz Johnson Jr. would look nice in green and he adds toughness and has some potential to spread the floor down the road.    He shot 12-35 this year and has some potential down the road.  He shot 34% from the three will limited shots, and has an ok FT % at 78% which indicates some touch.

He plays D and rebounds and does not need the ball to affect a game.  His PER was 25.2 and he can switch a little on defense.


https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/morez-johnson-jr-1/gamelog/2026

I have said this several times in these threads, but Morez is highly unlikely to be available when we pick.  If he does not get a top-20 grade from the NBA he is going to stay in college for around $5 million next year.

Jeez. I haven't been paying attention to NIL money lately. Guys at his level are getting 5 mil a year? Wow.

I have heard rumors that he will cost Michigan substantially more than Yaxel to stay.  Yaxel was $3 million last year, but reportedly turned down over $5 million from Kentucky.

On3s NIL estimates are not in line with what kids are actually getting paid.

Maybe it winds up being $3 million and not 5, but it will be enough so that if he is anywhere near falling out of the first, as he would be if projected to be on the board when the Celtics select, he will take the NIL and re-enter the draft as a junior.

[Celtics4ever]

I have said this several times in these threads, but Morez is highly unlikely to be available when we pick.  If he does not get a top-20 grade from the NBA he is going to stay in college for around $5 million next year.

What are you basing this on?  A week ago, he was mocked to us on many boards.   He has moved up a bit but they are not going to pay him more than they paid Yaxel at three million.   Yaxel was the better player, is mocked to go in the top ten, why would they pay Morenz more money.   I get him might take it because at our picks he would be slated to make $2,801,280  a year, this is more than the two million NIL he got last year.   But some one needs to tell the young man that he could get injured or the like and make much less in the pros if that happened.

https://www.rookiescale.com/2026-consensus-board/  has him at 26
https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/ has him at 23
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48165009/2026-nba-mock-draft-top-30-first-round-picks-march-madness has him at 27

I would be Fine  with taking Koa Peat as well another solid four if Morenz is not available.   But we need options behind Tatum preferrably a guy who can switch on multiple positions.  It all depends on how the draft pans out of course.  I would see about trading a second to move up a few spots.    We have talented guys already in a lot of positions but this is a position of need.

[Celtics2021]

I have said this several times in these threads, but Morez is highly unlikely to be available when we pick.  If he does not get a top-20 grade from the NBA he is going to stay in college for around $5 million next year.

What are you basing this on?  A week ago, he was mocked to us on many boards.   He has moved up a bit but they are not going to pay him more than they paid Yaxel at three million.   Yaxel was the better player, is mocked to go in the top ten, why would they pay Morenz more money.   I get him might take it because at our picks he would be slated to make $2,801,280  a year, this is more than the two million NIL he got last year.   But some one needs to tell the young man that he could get injured or the like and make much less in the pros if that happened.

https://www.rookiescale.com/2026-consensus-board/  has him at 26
https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/ has him at 23
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48165009/2026-nba-mock-draft-top-30-first-round-picks-march-madness has him at 27

I would be Fine  with taking Koa Peat as well another solid four if Morenz is not available.   But we need options behind Tatum preferrably a guy who can switch on multiple positions.  It all depends on how the draft pans out of course.  I would see about trading a second to move up a few spots.    We have talented guys already in a lot of positions but this is a position of need.

Yaxel last year was mocked late 1st and early 2nd, and got approximately $3 million from Michigan, and was reportedly offered over $5 million by Kentucky.  Johnson is likely to receive similar NIL offers as Yaxel did last year, under the expectation that he will continue to improve and be a top player in college.

If Johnson is graded top 20 and he slide ten spots, he still gets over $4 million guaranteed at spot 30.  He will go pro.  If Johnson is moved at 25 and slides 10 spots, he is now in unguaranteed 2nd round land, so he probably withdraws from the draft for a big college payday of at least $3 million and probably closer to $5 million, and hopes to raise his draft stock as Yaxel did this past season.

In other words, Johnson is only on the board at 27 if he is projected high and falls somewhat significantly.  If he is projected late first round he will leave the draft.

[slamtheking]

I have said this several times in these threads, but Morez is highly unlikely to be available when we pick.  If he does not get a top-20 grade from the NBA he is going to stay in college for around $5 million next year.

What are you basing this on?  A week ago, he was mocked to us on many boards.   He has moved up a bit but they are not going to pay him more than they paid Yaxel at three million.   Yaxel was the better player, is mocked to go in the top ten, why would they pay Morenz more money.   I get him might take it because at our picks he would be slated to make $2,801,280  a year, this is more than the two million NIL he got last year.   But some one needs to tell the young man that he could get injured or the like and make much less in the pros if that happened.

https://www.rookiescale.com/2026-consensus-board/  has him at 26
https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/ has him at 23
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48165009/2026-nba-mock-draft-top-30-first-round-picks-march-madness has him at 27

I would be Fine  with taking Koa Peat as well another solid four if Morenz is not available.   But we need options behind Tatum preferrably a guy who can switch on multiple positions.  It all depends on how the draft pans out of course.  I would see about trading a second to move up a few spots.    We have talented guys already in a lot of positions but this is a position of need.

Yaxel last year was mocked late 1st and early 2nd, and got approximately $3 million from Michigan, and was reportedly offered over $5 million by Kentucky.  Johnson is likely to receive similar NIL offers as Yaxel did last year, under the expectation that he will continue to improve and be a top player in college.

If Johnson is graded top 20 and he slide ten spots, he still gets over $4 million guaranteed at spot 30.  He will go pro.  If Johnson is moved at 25 and slides 10 spots, he is now in unguaranteed 2nd round land, so he probably withdraws from the draft for a big college payday of at least $3 million and probably closer to $5 million, and hopes to raise his draft stock as Yaxel did this past season.

In other words, Johnson is only on the board at 27 if he is projected high and falls somewhat significantly.  If he is projected late first round he will leave the draft.

or he works out with a team that makes him a first round promise even if it's late.  Unless he has to withdraw before meeting with teams for workouts/interviews, I have to think he's in the draft.  he's more likely to be taken before the C's pick than slide past them into the second round

[CFAN38]

I have said this several times in these threads, but Morez is highly unlikely to be available when we pick.  If he does not get a top-20 grade from the NBA he is going to stay in college for around $5 million next year.

What are you basing this on?  A week ago, he was mocked to us on many boards.   He has moved up a bit but they are not going to pay him more than they paid Yaxel at three million.   Yaxel was the better player, is mocked to go in the top ten, why would they pay Morenz more money.   I get him might take it because at our picks he would be slated to make $2,801,280  a year, this is more than the two million NIL he got last year.   But some one needs to tell the young man that he could get injured or the like and make much less in the pros if that happened.

https://www.rookiescale.com/2026-consensus-board/  has him at 26
https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/ has him at 23
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48165009/2026-nba-mock-draft-top-30-first-round-picks-march-madness has him at 27

I would be Fine  with taking Koa Peat as well another solid four if Morenz is not available.   But we need options behind Tatum preferrably a guy who can switch on multiple positions.  It all depends on how the draft pans out of course.  I would see about trading a second to move up a few spots.    We have talented guys already in a lot of positions but this is a position of need.

Yaxel last year was mocked late 1st and early 2nd, and got approximately $3 million from Michigan, and was reportedly offered over $5 million by Kentucky.  Johnson is likely to receive similar NIL offers as Yaxel did last year, under the expectation that he will continue to improve and be a top player in college.

If Johnson is graded top 20 and he slide ten spots, he still gets over $4 million guaranteed at spot 30.  He will go pro.  If Johnson is moved at 25 and slides 10 spots, he is now in unguaranteed 2nd round land, so he probably withdraws from the draft for a big college payday of at least $3 million and probably closer to $5 million, and hopes to raise his draft stock as Yaxel did this past season.

In other words, Johnson is only on the board at 27 if he is projected high and falls somewhat significantly.  If he is projected late first round he will leave the draft.

or he works out with a team that makes him a first round promise even if it's late.  Unless he has to withdraw before meeting with teams for workouts/interviews, I have to think he's in the draft.  he's more likely to be taken before the C's pick than slide past them into the second round

On the pure NBA/Draft side I will be shocked if Morez falls to #27, he peaked at the right time to have the attention of every gm/owner in the nba. That shouldn't matter but it always seems too. He also is an easy fit on any NBA roster. Teams need energy bigs and players who can guard multiple positions.

As for the NIL side of things I suspect he has multiple teams indicate to his agent that he is a lock to go in the 1st and at that point the focus should be on his second NBA contract.

For the Celtics he is a player I would be very happy to see them trade up for. Given the wing depth this team has developed I would be willing to move Hauser and #27 for Morez (not sure that's enough). I do fear these playoffs are going to expose Vooch/Garza as 82 game players (meaning not suited for playoff minutes). A switch everything 4/5 would give Mazzula a nice wrinkle in his defense similare to how we played with Al.

Aside from Morez I also like Ejiofor, Baba Miller and Tugler in this role (doubt Tuggler declares)

[slamtheking]

I have said this several times in these threads, but Morez is highly unlikely to be available when we pick.  If he does not get a top-20 grade from the NBA he is going to stay in college for around $5 million next year.

What are you basing this on?  A week ago, he was mocked to us on many boards.   He has moved up a bit but they are not going to pay him more than they paid Yaxel at three million.   Yaxel was the better player, is mocked to go in the top ten, why would they pay Morenz more money.   I get him might take it because at our picks he would be slated to make $2,801,280  a year, this is more than the two million NIL he got last year.   But some one needs to tell the young man that he could get injured or the like and make much less in the pros if that happened.

https://www.rookiescale.com/2026-consensus-board/  has him at 26
https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/ has him at 23
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48165009/2026-nba-mock-draft-top-30-first-round-picks-march-madness has him at 27

I would be Fine  with taking Koa Peat as well another solid four if Morenz is not available.   But we need options behind Tatum preferrably a guy who can switch on multiple positions.  It all depends on how the draft pans out of course.  I would see about trading a second to move up a few spots.    We have talented guys already in a lot of positions but this is a position of need.

Yaxel last year was mocked late 1st and early 2nd, and got approximately $3 million from Michigan, and was reportedly offered over $5 million by Kentucky.  Johnson is likely to receive similar NIL offers as Yaxel did last year, under the expectation that he will continue to improve and be a top player in college.

If Johnson is graded top 20 and he slide ten spots, he still gets over $4 million guaranteed at spot 30.  He will go pro.  If Johnson is moved at 25 and slides 10 spots, he is now in unguaranteed 2nd round land, so he probably withdraws from the draft for a big college payday of at least $3 million and probably closer to $5 million, and hopes to raise his draft stock as Yaxel did this past season.

In other words, Johnson is only on the board at 27 if he is projected high and falls somewhat significantly.  If he is projected late first round he will leave the draft.

or he works out with a team that makes him a first round promise even if it's late.  Unless he has to withdraw before meeting with teams for workouts/interviews, I have to think he's in the draft.  he's more likely to be taken before the C's pick than slide past them into the second round

On the pure NBA/Draft side I will be shocked if Morez falls to #27, he peaked at the right time to have the attention of every gm/owner in the nba. That shouldn't matter but it always seems too. He also is an easy fit on any NBA roster. Teams need energy bigs and players who can guard multiple positions.

As for the NIL side of things I suspect he has multiple teams indicate to his agent that he is a lock to go in the 1st and at that point the focus should be on his second NBA contract.

For the Celtics he is a player I would be very happy to see them trade up for. Given the wing depth this team has developed I would be willing to move Hauser and #27 for Morez (not sure that's enough). I do fear these playoffs are going to expose Vooch/Garza as 82 game players (meaning not suited for playoff minutes). A switch everything 4/5 would give Mazzula a nice wrinkle in his defense similare to how we played with Al.

Aside from Morez I also like Ejiofor, Baba Miller and Tugler in this role (doubt Tuggler declares)

how far up do you think the C's would have to move to ensure he's available?  If we're talking 20 or so (a lower seed playoff team) , I think that package would catch the interest of a team in that vicinity - a proven shooter on a reasonable deal that can defend and contribute on the boards in addition to a slightly later first rounder.