2026 Big Board

[CFAN38]

This is my first crack at a big board for what is proving to be a really interesting draft class. Not I have not really broken them down into strong tiers but rather have them noted as Loto (1-14), 1st (14-25), 1/2nd (25-35), 2nd (35-45) and M/L 2nd (45-60). I will do a board later with tiered groups where I think the players are similar and the pick comes down to need/fit but for now this is my thought dump as to what range or level of prospect I see a player as.

 


Rank   Tier   Player   Pos   Team
1   loto   Darryn Peterson   2/1   Kansas
2   loto   AJ Dybantsa   3/4   BYU
3   loto   Cam Boozer   4/5   Duke
4   loto   Caleb Wilson   3/4   UNC
5   loto   Kingston Flemings   1/2   Houston
6   loto   Mikel Brown Jr   1/2   Louisville
7   loto   Nate Ament   3/4   Tennessee
8   loto   Karim Lopez   3/4   Int
9   loto   Keaton Wagler   2/1   Illinois
10   loto   Morez Johnson Jr.    5/4   Michigan
11   loto   Yaxel Lendenborg   4/5   UAB
12   loto   Jayden Quaintance    5/5   Kentucky

13   1st   Darius Acuff   1/1   Arkansas
14   1st   Labaron Philon   1/1   Alabama
15   1st   Brayden Burries   1/2   Arizona
16   1st   Koa Peat   4/3   Arizona
17   1st   Thomas Haugh   4/3   Florida
18   1st   Chris Cenac Jr   4/5   Houston
19   1st   Hannes Steinbach   4/5   Washington
20   1st   Aday Mara   5/5   Michigan
21   1st   Tounde Yessoufou   2/3   Baylor
22   1st   Dailyn Swain   3/2   Texas
23   1st   Christian Anderson   1/1   Texas Tech
24   1st   Patrick Ngongba II    5/5   Duke
25   1st   Meleek Thomas    1/2   Arkansas
26   1st   Alijah Arenas   2/3   USC
27   1st   Sergio de Larrea   1/2   Spain

28   1/2nd   Flory Biduga   5/5   Kansas
29   1/2nd   Braylon Mullins   2/2   Uconn
30   1/2nd   Camaron Carr   2/2   Baylor
31   1/2nd   Bennett Stirtz   1/1   Iowa
32   1/2nd   PJ Haggerty   1/2   Kansas St
33   1/2nd   Joshua Jefferson   4/3   Iowa State
34   1/2nd   JT Toppin   4/5   Texas Tech
35   1/2nd   JoJo Tugler   4/5   Houston
36   1/2nd   Isaiah Evans   2/3   Duke
37   1/2nd   Baba Miller   5/4   Cinncinati
38   1/2nd   Emanuel Sharpe   1/2   Houston
39   1/2nd   Ebuka Okorie   1/1   Stanford
40   1/2nd   Juke Harris   3/2   Wake Forest
41   1/2nd   Malachi Moreno   5/5   Kentucky
42   1/2nd   Henri Veesaar   5/5   UNC
43   1/2nd   Massamba Diop   5/5   Ariona St
44   1/2nd   Moustapha Thiam   5/5   Cincinnati
45   1/2nd   Amari Allen   3/2   Alabama

46   2nd   Dash Daniels   2/3   Int
47   2nd   Zuby Ejiofor   4/5   St Johns
48   2nd   Trevon Brazile   4/4   Arkasas
49   2nd   Allen Graves   3/4   Santa Clara
50   2nd   Bruce Thorton   1/1   Ohio St
51   2nd   Richie Saunders   2/3   BYU
52   2nd   Paul McNeil Jr   2/2   NC State
53   2nd   Ryan Conwell   2/2   Lousiville
54   2nd   Otega Oweh   2/3   Kentucky
55   2nd   Alex Condon   5/4   Florida
56   2nd   Milan Momcilovic   3/4   Iowa State
57   2nd   Alex Karaban   3/4   Uconn

58   M/L 2nd   Tyler Tanner   1/1   Vanderbilt
59   M/L 2nd   Nate Bittle   5/5   Oregon
60   M/L 2nd   Ja'kobi Gillespie   1/1   Tennessee

[CFAN38]

Looking at this draft assuming the Cs land around picks #27 and #40 I am excited at the players available.

At #27 I really liked Morez Johnson but I find it really hard to believe he falls to 27 given his recent play. Currently I really like the possibility of taking Meleek Thomas at #27. Acuff is getting all the hype (rightfully so) but Thomas is putting up great numbers and as a young blue chip combo guard he would bring a different dynamic to the Celtics young group. His potential as a secondary ball handler, floor spacers, and creator would be a nice prospect to develop behind White/PP.

At #40 I am really becoming bullish on Baba Miller. His lateral quickness and subsequent perimeter defense is such an outlier for a player who is almost 7' in shoes that I would love to see what the Cs staff could develop him into. On offense he is really a mixed bag who can actually do alot off the dribble and has shown some ability to hit the 3 in the past.   

[CFAN38]

The following is my first true Tiered Board for the 2026 Draft. I always create my tiers using the Ainge logic that you place players in tiers based on talent than draft for fit inside a given tier without leaving a player in a higher tier on the board (this was discussed during the Rozier draft).This board will still have a lot of movement with multiple prospects potentially moving when combine measurements come out as well as guys who will stay/go based on NIL. For the time being I gave my best guess based on early NIL reports on who will declare. After Portsmith and before the combine I really want to add more seniors and potentially a couple international players to get my board up to 60 (currently at 51). If history repeats I suspect 90% of the second round picks this year will be seniors or internationals.

Also worth noting I took a positive approach to injury concerns. Jayden Quaintance (knee) and Mikel Brown (back) I tiered assuming a clear bill of health. JQ also has the potential to rise depending on combine measurements. This also factored into Peterson being a tier ahead of Boozer. The Boozer / Wilson gap is also interesting because I feel like its much smaller for some teams. If I where the GM/coach for the Pacers I would find it really hard to pass on Wilson knowing that winning the east means beating the Celtics. Wilson's potential on defense when matching up with the Js is a tough thing to pass on. If I'm a team without a clear path Kings/Nets/Bulls/Bucks (if Giannis is traded) adding and building a roster around Boozer gives a clear team identity, a long term allstar,  and makes them instantly better.   

 
Tier   Player   Pos   Team   age
1   AJ Dybantsa   3/4   BYU   19.4
            
2   Darryn Peterson   2/1   Kansas   19.4
            
2   Cam Boozer   4/5   Duke   18.7
            
3   Caleb Wilson   3/4   UNC   19.9
3   Darius Acuff   1/1   Arkansas   19.6
            
4   Mikel Brown Jr   1/2   Louisville   20.2
4   Kingston Flemings   1/2   Houston   19.5
4   Keaton Wagler   2/1   Illinois   19.4
4   Brayden Burries   1/2   Arizona   20.2
5   Labaron Philon   1/1   Alabama   20.6
5   Jayden Quaintance    5/5   Kentucky   18.9
            
5   Morez Johnson Jr.    5/4   Michigan   20.4
5   Nate Ament   3/4   Tennessee   19.5
5   Karim Lopez   3/4   Int   19.2
5   Yaxel Lendenborg   4/5   UAB   23.72
5   Meleek Thomas    1/2   Arkansas   19.9
            
6   Koa Peat   4/3   Arizona   19.4
6   Chris Cenac Jr   4/5   Houston   19.4
6   Thomas Haugh   4/3   Florida   22.9
6   Bennett Stirtz   1/1   Iowa   22.7
6   Christian Anderson   1/1   Texas Tech   20.2
6   Ebuka Okorie   1/1   Stanford   19.19
6   Aday Mara   5/5   Michigan   21.2
6   Tounde Yessoufou   2/3   Baylor   20.1
6   Dailyn Swain   3/2   Texas   20.9
6   Camaron Carr   2/2   Baylor   21.6
6   Baba Miller   5/4   Cinncinati   22.36
            
7   Hannes Steinbach   4/5   Washington   20.1
7   Sergio de Larrea   1/2   Spain   20.5
7   Braylon Mullins   2/2   Uconn   20.2
7   Zuby Ejiofor   4/5   St Johns   22.17
7   Joshua Jefferson   4/3   Iowa State   22.6
7   Isaiah Evans   2/3   Duke   20.5
            
8   Emanuel Sharpe   1/2   Houston   22.3
8   Otega Oweh   2/3   Kentucky   22.9
8   Dash Daniels   2/3   Int   18.5
8   Trevon Brazile   4/4   Arkasas   23.3
8   Allen Graves   3/4   Santa Clara   19.9
8   Bruce Thorton   1/1   Ohio St   22.76
8   Richie Saunders   2/3   BYU   24.8
            
9   Paul McNeil Jr   2/2   NC State   20.2
9   Ryan Conwell   2/2   Lousiville   22
9   Alex Condon   5/4   Florida   21.9
9   Milan Momcilovic   3/4   Iowa State   21.7
9   Alex Karaban   3/4   Uconn   23.6
            
10   Nate Bittle   5/5   Oregon   23
10   Ja'kobi Gillespie   1/1   Tennessee   22
10   Kylan Boswell   1/1   Illinois   21.2
10   Robert McCray   1/2   Florida st   23.7
10   Quadir Copeland   2/3   NC State   22.8
10   Mark Mitchel Jr   4/3   Missouri   22.8

[slamtheking]

based on your tiers, the C's would get whoever's left of tier6 with pick 27 and whoever's left of tier 8 with pick 40. 

I'd feel a lot better if the C's were able to combine the picks to move up as much as possible to get a shot at someone early in tier 6 or better yet, tier 5.

[CFAN38]

based on your tiers, the C's would get whoever's left of tier6 with pick 27 and whoever's left of tier 8 with pick 40. 

I'd feel a lot better if the C's were able to combine the picks to move up as much as possible to get a shot at someone early in tier 6 or better yet, tier 5.

I agree this is a great draft to try to trade up in.


At #27 I am lower on Steinbach and Mullins compared to ESPN (they are 17 for Mullin and 15 for Steinbach so I would hope that others like Meleek Thomas drop to #27.

[perks-a-beast]

A few months ago I said that outside of the Top 4 of Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer and Wilson, that this draft was rather unimpressive. I have completely changed my tune on that - I think this has the chance to be one of the best and deepest drafts of the century so far.

With that said, I think because this draft is so good and next years is projected to be pretty mediocre, a lot of guys will go back to college next season in order to try to climb up draft boards in a lesser 2027 draft.

Some guys I wouldn?t be surprised to see withdraw from this years draft:
- Amari Allen. F. Alabama.
- Meleek Thomas. G. Arkansas.
- Malchi Moreno. C. Kentucky.
- Ebeka Okorie. PG. Stanford.
- Alijah Arenas. G. USC.

Going back to school to develop another year worked out really well for Labaron Philon and Yaxel Lenberborg. Last year, they were both projected to be late first round/early second round picks, now theyre both expected to be taken in the lottery this year. I think a few of these guys are thinking they can do the same thing, especially with how weak next years class is supposed to be.

[CFAN38]

A few months ago I said that outside of the Top 4 of Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer and Wilson, that this draft was rather unimpressive. I have completely changed my tune on that - I think this has the chance to be one of the best and deepest drafts of the century so far.

With that said, I think because this draft is so good and next years is projected to be pretty mediocre, a lot of guys will go back to college next season in order to try to climb up draft boards in a lesser 2027 draft.

Some guys I wouldn?t be surprised to see withdraw from this years draft:
- Amari Allen. F. Alabama.
- Meleek Thomas. G. Arkansas.
- Malchi Moreno. C. Kentucky.
- Ebeka Okorie. PG. Stanford.
- Alijah Arenas. G. USC.

Going back to school to develop another year worked out really well for Labaron Philon and Yaxel Lenberborg. Last year, they were both projected to be late first round/early second round picks, now theyre both expected to be taken in the lottery this year. I think a few of these guys are thinking they can do the same thing, especially with how weak next years class is supposed to be.

I took an educated guess and left Arenas, Moreno, and Allen off my board assuming they will be back in college. Also have to update because Condon just announced he is returning to Florida.

The 2nd round is officially becoming the senior round. This isn't a bad thing because especially early there will be real NBA ready players available. At the wing I expect Karaban and Oweh to be able to contribute in the NBA as a rookies and at guard Sharpe is a guy who I love as a system fit for Boston if they are willing to go with a smaller player. Side note I'm starting to wonder if BS is just against any player under 6'4 other than PP. Its curious that the "ball handlers" the Cs added where a huge framed long armed guy in Harper and 6'7 Banton.

[SHAQATTACK]

I ll just sit back and let BS pick the TWO. GEMS out of this draft .  He found Pritchard.  The real players could be anywhere . I?m sure he has some eyeballs focused on guys already that might slide down.

[CFAN38]

I ll just sit back and let BS pick the TWO. GEMS out of this draft .  He found Pritchard.  The real players could be anywhere . I?m sure he has some eyeballs focused on guys already that might slide down.

Pritchard was the last of the Ainge picks

Stevens picks

2021 Begarin (45th)
2022 Davison (53rd)
2023 Walsh (38th)
2024 Scheieerman 30th
2024 Watson (54th)
2025 Gonzalez (28th)
2025 Williams (46th)
2025 Shulga (57th)

I have always found it interesting to try to project the GMs "type of prospect" Ainge I also looked at as favoring blue chip, young guys, with outlier physical traits. Begarin, Begarin, and Walsh all have an Ainge feel to them. I don't think we have enough data to profile what Stevens looks for in the draft but its interesting to find commonality with some of his picks.

Shulga,Williams, Baylor and Watson where all around 23 on draft night. This shows a lack of fear for older prospects

Begarin(+5.5), Walsh(+6), Williams(+6), Hugo (+4.5), Watson (+4.5) and Davison (+4). All have great length with at least +4 wingspans compared to height.

Shulga and Baylor are both older perimeter players who rebounded really well relative for their positions. Baylor 8.8/per36 and Shulga 6.4/per36.

All of that might mean nothing or it might shed some light on Stevens type players.