2026 NBA Draft Thread

[keevsnick]

Do we trade out of #40, or take the highest guy on our board that will agree to a 2-way?

I don't anticipate the Brad is going to want to commit a roster spot to a second rounder, although if Evans or Vassar fell to us I would want to take them.

Worth noting Celtics have no second-round picks in 2027-2030, so trading #40 for a few future seconds wouldn't be the worst thing.

Also worth noting that the minimum contract for a rookie is about 800k less than the minimum for a 2nd year player, which could matter for staying under the tax. They could for example cut Max Shulga (Non-Guaranteed 2.15 million) and replace that spot with whomever they draft at 40 who would make something like 1.35 million. They could then bring back Shulga on a two-way.

[Ilikesports17]

Not gonna let myself get excited about some of the guys still on the board (although there are some interesting options)

Think it?s probably wise to restock the 2nd round picks and hopefully trading out can help accomplish that

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I don't know. Brad seemed to indicate an intent to keep the pick and draft someone they like.

[jambr380]

Not gonna let myself get excited about some of the guys still on the board (although there are some interesting options)

Think it?s probably wise to restock the 2nd round picks and hopefully trading out can help accomplish that

Not sure how many 2nd round picks #40 is worth, but I'll take whatever we can get. Brad trades these things away like crazy - we need to find a way to restock the cupboard.

[Who]

Knicks do not expect Sergio De Larrea to be on roster next season. A draft and stash.

Jake Fischer

Had heard De Larrea for both New York and Minnesota, before the Timberwolves traded No. 28, had appeal because of his draft-and-stash opportunity. Wolves obviously used that pick to get off Julius Randle's money. Knicks don't expect De Larrea to come to the NBA this season.

Wait I thought he went to Dallas ...

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From Reddit and Marc Stein

As per Marc Stein, the plan is that Sergio De Larrea may NOT be stashed in Europe and potentially will make his way to Dallas. Whether he plays summer league or not is still up in the air, but now he gets to learn from Kyrie even earlier assuming he comes this year.

To me, it sounds like that was part of the plan once they drafted him.

"The pre-draft expectation, sources tell @TheSteinLine & @DLLS_Sports, was that Sergio De Larrea would likely spend next season in Europe again.

Told that 2026-27 plans now that he's Dallas-bound -- including whether De Larrea plays summer league -- are all being worked through."

Okay. He is coming to Dallas. Nevermind.

[Who]

Jorge Sierra: Only college basketball players in the Top 20 of the draft. First time that has happened since 1994!

No internationals. Did not notice that.

[Goldstar88]

I am excited to see this Memphis team

That big man rotation of Z Edey, Cam Boozer, and Santi Aldama should be good. Two young wings in C Coward and Jaylen Wells alongside Ja Morant at the point. Scottie Pippen Jr and Ty Jerome off the bench in the backcourt. KCP backup SF. That is a good rotation.

G: Ja Morant, S Pippen Jr
G: C Coward, Ty Jerome
F: J Wells, KCP
F: Cam Boozer, S Aldama
C: Z Edey, (Cam Boozer)

Wonder if they are going to hang on to Morant for now. Build his value back up a bit before moving him.

[Goldstar88]

Hope Brad moves up in the second round to grab Isaiah Evans or Meleek Thomas.

[keevsnick]

I am excited to see this Memphis team

That big man rotation of Z Edey, Cam Boozer, and Santi Aldama should be good. Two young wings in C Coward and Jaylen Wells alongside Ja Morant at the point. Scottie Pippen Jr and Ty Jerome off the bench in the backcourt. KCP backup SF. That is a good rotation.

G: Ja Morant, S Pippen Jr
G: C Coward, Ty Jerome
F: J Wells, KCP
F: Cam Boozer, S Aldama
C: Z Edey, (Cam Boozer)

Wonder if they are going to hang on to Morant for now. Build his value back up a bit before moving him.

I I'm them I probably just want to move on. No reason tp expose Boozer to his nonsense. Make a clean break.

[Celtics2021]

Knicks trade back again. Reminds me of the 2023 draft for Brad.

Happy to see Bruce Thornton off early.  He was not someone I was interested in at all.

[Celtics2021]

Currently the Magic at 46 at Toronto at 50 are the only teams with their original 2nd round draft pick.  93% of 2nd round picks have been traded at least once, more than half at least twice.

[Celtics2021]

double post

[Who]

I am excited to see this Memphis team

That big man rotation of Z Edey, Cam Boozer, and Santi Aldama should be good. Two young wings in C Coward and Jaylen Wells alongside Ja Morant at the point. Scottie Pippen Jr and Ty Jerome off the bench in the backcourt. KCP backup SF. That is a good rotation.

G: Ja Morant, S Pippen Jr
G: C Coward, Ty Jerome
F: J Wells, KCP
F: Cam Boozer, S Aldama
C: Z Edey, (Cam Boozer)

Wonder if they are going to hang on to Morant for now. Build his value back up a bit before moving him.

I I'm them I probably just want to move on. No reason tp expose Boozer to his nonsense. Make a clean break.

Cedric Coward had an interview the other day before the draft. He named Ja Morant as his best teammate. Morant did more to help him than anyone else. Always made sure he was okay / looked after. Morant was the first to text him after Coward got drafted. Morant made Coward feel part of the team. Coward said that many other stars in the league do not make that type of effort with rookies and that he was grateful to Morant for everything he did.

I believe the initial question that led to all that was "who is your best teammate".

------------

Found it. So he was praising Jaren Jackson and Ja Morant. JJJ was his favourite teammate until JJJ got traded. The Coward was asked a question about what Ja Morant was like.

[Interviewer:] People outside that don't know Ja Morant have a certain way of thinking about him. Being around him day to day, what have you learned the most with him?

CC: Yeah, it depends what people think about him. If you want to say all the negative connotations about him, you're dead wrong and you need to keep your thoughts to yourself. Ja is one of the best people I've ever met. One of the best people to be around. He's the same way, goofy - we quote movies all the time. I mean, he's always cracking jokes.

What people portray him to be is not what he is. He'll take care of you in terms of like, when we had the ice storm, he offered to buy my groceries, just little things like that he doesn't have to do, but he does out of the kindness of his own heart and just taking care of people, just because that's who he is. That's like his nature. And then at the same time, he's just a great person to be around. Like I tell people all the time, he's one of the people I'd bring to my cookout, you know, and you'd be like, "Hey man, come on through." You know what I'm saying? And everybody would love him.

https://eu.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/02/17/cedric-coward-qa-ja-morant-is-one-of-the-best-people-ive-ever-met/88714652007/

The Morant part is near the bottom of the interview.

[perks-a-beast]

Vesaar is this years Maxime Raynaud. Not really sure why he is falling this far but I expect him to have a very good NBA career.

[Roy H.]

Time to see what we have up for Vuc.