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Eye On College Basketball
MASSIVE Mock Draft: All 30 picks and deep-dive discussions on AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, plus some of our favorite value picks that await
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- [00:00]
A
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- [01:28]
B
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- [02:31]
C
Hey there, I am Gary Parish. Welcome back CBS Sports. I own college basketball podcast where we sometimes discuss camel fighting, dodo birds and leaky black. Matt Norlander is here with me. So is Adam Finkelstein. We're watching on YouTube. Honor Brandon Davies Smash the like button if you haven't yet subscribed to the Allen College Basketball Podcast. Please also do that wherever you subscribe to pods like Apple and Spotify. Let's get into it. With the 2026 NBA Draft now less than a week away, we decided to conduct a mock draft with the three of us alternating picks. Fink is our guest, so he got to pick first. We're going to get to that in a second. First, Fink, let me ask you a question. Then, Norlander, I want you to follow. Here's the question. How much of the noise circulating now five days out from the draft, do we actually believe? I'll just run you through some stuff. Take it wherever you want to take it. Right now, AJ DeBonsa remains the heavy favorite, like minus 450 in the betting markets to be the number one overall pick. Meantime, Darren Peterson seems to believe Washington will select him number one. He's not planning to do anything, reportedly with anybody else other than the Washington Wizards. Meantime, there's a report that the Jazz, no matter who goes first, might take Cameron Boozer at number two, even though most mocks and the betting markets for sure have DeBonsa and Peterson first and second in some order. So there's a lot of stuff contradicting each other right now. Think. What do we believe? What do we not believe? How much of this is misinformation as opposed to valuable information?
- [04:07]
D
So I think that the vast majority of what we've said for the last month has all proven to be accurate. If you guys remember, like that Sunday night when the lottery happened and I was on HQ and the whole world was acting like the Bonsa was a foregone conclusion. And I said, hey, that's not necessarily the case. He's the favorite. But this is a franchise that is expected to do their due diligence on multiple prospects, and I think that's come to fruition. Now, having said that, I still think the Bonsa is the favorite. Utah is a little complicated. What I don't buy is that they will pass on Darren Peterson because he's not working out for them. That's calling BS on that. Can I say that on this pod?
- [04:47]
E
You can say whatever you want. Well, almost whatever you want.
- [04:49]
C
Yeah, let's not go whatever you want. Not that I think Fink would say something that you're not allowed to say, but. But just there are words we try to. We try to keep off the pod.
- [04:57]
D
Fair. Fair. I just. Listen, I appreciate I can wear a sweatshirt and a hat on this show,
- [05:02]
E
so I'm just Making sure everything go wrong. We did a three men mock with Fink and it just blew up after that.
- [05:06]
D
See and seeing what. And. And at some point, I like at the end of this, I. I'd also just as an aside, would really like to know who. Who this Downies person is. I've always wanted to ask you that. But what. What I will say is that, like, I don't think Utah is not going to pass on Darren Peterson because he didn't work out for them. They proved that last year when they took Ace Bailey. Everybody's talking about that. What they are not talking about is the Angels are the same front office that once traded the number one pick and the guy that everybody thought had the highest upside in Markelle Fultz to get a player they believed in Jason Tatum, who at the time was perceived as having a lesser ceiling. And there's a lot of people that are going to want to play revisionist history about that, but that is the reality of, of what people thought then. They thought that Markel Fultz was the superior product and they thought Jayson Tatum was a lower ceiling type guy. The Angels thought differently. They moved accordingly. The Celtics won an NBA championship because of it. That's. Those are. That's the facts. So I'm interested to see what they do at number two. And the other thing that I think is relevant is again, they're. They're pieces of information, but how you interpret them is important. Carlos Boozer works for the Utah Jazz. Do I think that will have any bearing on what they do with the pick? No, I do not. What I do think it has a bearing on is how they treat Cameron Boozer. If he were not a legitimate possibility for them, I don't think they'd go through the song and dance. I think Cam, I think his dad is in the room. He knows whether his son is a legitimate option or not. And if this weren't a real possibility, I don't think they'd go through with it. So I do think there is some possibility that Cam goes number two. Now, my final mock is due Monday, and admittedly, guys, my mock is. Is based not on what I think should happen, but what I think will happen. And I'm not sure what I'm gonna do. A.J. i. I expect I will have number one. Who. I have number two. I'm. I'm still not sure. I'm waiting to see what happens, what. What comes out this weekend.
- [07:00]
E
Okay. GP on AJ at 1. Still think that's the case. I talked with AJ earlier this week. I'll have a. I'll have a feature on him on Friday on cbsports.com he believes as he should but like you know, the whole start of the feature is about how he has like willed himself to this moment. We'll get to that when we talk about him at one. I do think Washington will take him at number one. And I haven't called everyone I need to call, but just kind of in an on background not for attribution purposes at the NBA level. Talked to about a half dozen people in the past few days and asked them to pick how they think it will go. Six. Six votes in. Everyone says AJ at number one. So I haven't yet had someone say you know what? No, I think Washington's gonna take Peterson at one and they've, they've fooled everyone. Peterson not meeting with the Jazz. That's real Obviously that report is. Is very valid and that's just and making a few calls on that that is entirely about Darren Peterson and his camp wanting to project strength that I'm the best. You shouldn't be hesitating about this. I should be going number one. I kicked AJ's ass multiple times at the high school and college level. You didn't see all of what I could do at Kansas. But the my high points were as high as anyone in college basketball last season. I need to be number one. We'll see if that works. Whether he goes two or three. It didn't prevent Utah from taking Ace Bailey a year ago and Peterson's a better prospect than Bailey was there. And then on the boozer stuff I did mock out Boozer 22 for some of the reason that Fink just laid out. I think it's very possible it's actually and even since I we published my mock and having a few conversations the Utah takes Boozer at 2 and Darren Peterson falls to 3. Thing is more speculated on now than I even thought. Like I kind of thought I was going on a little bit of a limb doing that. But that is becoming an increasing sentiment out there which no guarantee that's that what actually happens. If we were to rewind back to like December and say Darren Peterson is going to get taken third, we would have been like there's no justification for that whatsoever. The boozer is incredible. So we'll see on that. I know we're just scratching the surface and we're about to talk to all talk about all three of these guys in our mock but to answer your question GP that's read on it as
- [09:18]
C
of right now, I would just add this and then we'll get into the mock. I can tell you the Grizzlies are, are and have been. I bet you if you told the Grizzlies in October, you're going to have the third pick, not one, not two, but three. They wouldn't think they need to do a Darren Peterson evaluation too much. Like he's just not going to be there at three. They're doing it there. They, they're in the Darren Peterson evaluation business now because they might have to make a call on that. So I do believe it's possible he slips to three, but I don't think it's likely. I think he's gone in the top two. I still think by the time we get to Tuesday night, despite everything that is said and written between now and then, the first two picks in some order will be DeBonsa and Peterson. The same. Everybody thought it would be for a while. The Utah stuff. Like there's one report that says I, I saw that they, they aren't sure what they're going to do, which I don't believe that at this point. I think you have a pretty good idea if they, if.
- [10:19]
E
Well, they could be undecided. Like they could be.
- [10:22]
C
I guess. I guess they theoretically could be.
- [10:24]
E
But decision makers, you could be undecided the Thursday before the Tuesday gp. Like they're probably close, but they have it in stone. Maybe not.
- [10:31]
C
Here's my larger point. I think Fink touched on something important. Go back to that 2017 draft. This feels a little bit like that. There are countless reports out there that say the Grizzlies love Cameron Boozer the way the Grizzlies have a track record of drafting. Suggest Cameron Boozer for what the Grizzlies need in this moment, suggest Cameron Boozer. And this feels like on some level, maybe one of those deals where if we know the team picking directly behind us loves Cameron Boozer, or at least we think that, what if we let the world know through so and so that we love Cameron Boozer too? And so if you really think you're building your franchise around Cameron Boozer, Memphis, you better call us. Because this is what they did with, with Philadelphia back in 2017. You know, the Sixers want Markel Fultz, you want Jason Tatum, but make the world think you might take Markel Fultz. So then Philadelphia's got to come up. You know, Lonzo's going second to the Lakers, and then the guy you wanted all along, he's there at three, you take him at three, that's Jason Tatum. And you get an extra first round pick for doing it that way on some level. I bet you that's part of the strategy here. But I also don't believe the Grizzlies are budging. I think the Grizzlies probably do prefer Cameron Boozer over Darren Peters, Peterson. But I think more than anything, the Grizzlies believe that Devonta is coming off the board. One or two. They will make a call between Boozer and Peterson if they have to, if it comes to that, but they're happy to take either one of them at three, and they will. I think the first three picks are going to be Peterson, Boozer, DeBonsa in some order. And the Grizzlies at three will just take the one of those that is left.
- [12:09]
D
And, and guys, if I could just clarify one thing. I think it's important to note that Peterson did meet with Utah. He just didn't visit them. He met with them at the combine. They, because of the new cba, they have access and everybody has access to his medical. So it's not as big of a deal as it was in the last CBA if somebody doesn't go, go see you because you now you get their medicals, whereas before you didn't. So it's, it's that much, you know. So this would have been a bigger deal in the last CBA than it is now.
- [12:37]
C
All right, so 30 first round picks, they're all going to happen next Tuesday night. Then on Wednesday night, we'll wrap up with the second round of the draft. We did the first 30 here. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. You want to count all the way? See if I can still do it.
- [12:52]
E
If you want to prove to the audience you can count to 30, I'd
- [12:54]
C
like to prove to the audience I can count to 30. You know what? I haven't done it in a while, you know. Do you feel like. Do you feel like counting is just like getting on a bike?
- [13:03]
E
No, I think it's. I think it's even easier.
- [13:08]
C
I think I'm pretty. I think I. I think I could go years without counting and just pick it right back up. Pretty good. I think I'm a pretty good counter.
- [13:15]
E
Can you tell me what 17 times 15 is, though, off the top of your head?
- [13:17]
B
I mean.
- [13:17]
C
No, not off the top of my head.
- [13:19]
E
It gets a little bit difficult.
- [13:20]
C
Yeah.
- [13:21]
E
Right now, or are you going to leave the audience hanging?
- [13:23]
C
I just want to. I want to. I want to be a Little bit of a mystery for the audience. I don't feel like I need to show them everything I can do. I don't need to show them I can count to 30. I'm a little like Darren Peterson. I might just shut it down now. I don't need to show you anything else. Okay. I'm telling you, I'm a good counter. You can either trust me or not. Think we let you go first because you're probably the best at this and you're our guest. So with the number one pick when. With the first pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, Washington Wizards in your mind, who do you think they're going to select?
- [13:54]
D
Yeah, I think they're going to take AJ debonza. I give them credit. I think this is important for. I think they're handling this just right. They're doing their due diligence. I would also hope they did their due diligence on Boozer. It's been very public that Peterson has taken a visit there. I would, I would also do the due diligence on Boozer. Those are the three guys that I would research top to bottom. At the end of the day though, I would take A.J. deboza, prototypical NBA big wing, 6 foot 9, 7 foot wingspan. He's athletic, he gets to the rim. He has this type of bend in elasticity about him that is just a difference maker. Most guys with those measurements can't. He can't move and contort their bodies the way he can leading score in Division 1 men's college basketball. Can get to his, his pull up whenever he wants. And I think guys, this is also a reality here too. He's the safest of the three. You know, like if you take Peterson and there's a problem with availability or durability, that's Will Dawkins career. That's not an exaggeration. Like if you take the wrong guy here, it will be held against you in perpetuity. If you, if you were to take Boozer and either PETERSON or, or DebonSA blows up, everybody says everyone knew they had a higher upside. So Debonsa is the one. Like everybody wants the number one pick, but if you get it, especially in this draft, you better not mess it up. So Will Dawkins, I think is, is in a, is in a enviable and yet tough spot here. And I do think the fact that AJ is, is viewed as just, you know, less of a risk with the number one overall pick is not irrelevant.
- [15:37]
C
I think that's, I think I'm sorry, don't. I'll jump in and then turn it right back to you. I think that's exactly right. And it's why I would also select him number one of the options there, the realistic options. He is this combination the best high ceiling, safe pick. In other words, I think his, his ceiling. I don't know. Tell me what you think about this. If we were talking ceilings, I might go, Peterson, DeBonsa, Boozer. If we're talking floors, I probably go, I don't know. Debons a boozer. Peterson certainly third in that group because of all the uncertainty when the roller coaster of a year he had at Kansas. But if you're trying to look for the best combination of that who's got the best combo of high ceiling and it's just safe. There's just no way. This guy's not going to be really good. I think that's debons and Norlander. Do we all agree here? If we were selecting first, we would take AJ?
- [16:28]
E
Yeah, AJ's my prediction. He's in my mock draft. He cares about going number one. They, they have been trying to will this into existence for years and years and they appear to be on the precipice of it. He, I, I think he is going to lead the league in scoring for multiple years in his career. I think he will be a Hall of Fame player. The shot still got to come around a little bit more. Wasn't as good of a three point shooter as he wanted to be, but I think he will grow into that. I think his defense will be even better than it was at the college level because he won't be tasked as much with everything as he was at byu. So yes, AJ to Washington at number one is the pick. There is a chance that that will not happen. I want to be clear and I think we all agree there's a chance that he doesn't get taken number one. But the expectation is that it's going to be that. And that's just not in the betting markets. That's, that's people at the NBA level that have nothing to do with the pick. They're even, aren't even in the mix in the top five. They just, you know, they're in that industry and they think that yes, Washington is going to do the safest pick overall and take AJ number one. But you do get the blessing and the curse. You get the blessing of getting the number one pick. But arguably the most stacked draft class ever also brings about the likelihood that the number one pick is not the best player in this class because of how strong it is. You can't worry about that on draft night. Take the one that you think is safest. And there's A.J. go ahead.
- [17:47]
D
Here's the thing. Here's my draft philosophy. I kind of feel the same way about rankings, and I won't go down too much of a rabbit hole. You don't have to get it right. You just can't get it wrong. And what I mean by that is Will Dawkins doesn't, like, they don't come for his job unless this is a bust. He takes Darren Peterson, and you have availability issues. His. His career will never be the same. I mean, Will Dawkins career will never be the same. You take. You take AJ and it turns out that Cam's the best, or maybe Caleb Wilson goes to whatever. Like, no one's gonna say that, you know, like, then you're the guy who drafted Trey Young instead of Luca, and, yeah, it's not great, but, like, your career's not over.
- [18:26]
C
Yeah. I mean, Norlander, to your point, I think. I don't know what the number is exactly, but it might be, like, eight. Eight different dudes. You could reasonably assume. You look up and it's like, in five years, oh, wow, he was the best. Like, Darius Acuff's not gonna go number one. But, like, if we look up and he's the best from this. That's not my prediction, but I also don't put it at a zero percent chance. And so you're exactly right. There's a better likelihood of you missing, quote, missing on the best player. Just because there's so many people that have a chance on paper to be that. Like, in the WIMBY draft, there's really only one person's got a chance to be the best player in that draft. But in this one, it's.
- [19:04]
D
It's.
- [19:04]
C
The list is longer. So debons is off the board at number two. Utah Jazz. I've got them taking Darren Peterson out of Kansas. To me, this is if we are calling it a real top three, because every. Almost every mock draft you can find is going to have the same top three in some order. I do believe he's undeniably the biggest risk of the three. And it's not just the cramping, creatine stuff. Like, they can talk through all that all they want to. And if you want me to believe the cramping is in his past, I'll believe that. Especially if the medicals underline it. I will never get past the big Monday Arizona game because that wasn't cramping, that was flu like symptoms. And I don't doubt that he was sick, but. And one of the things I'm learning is that you can't always, you know, see the world through your eyes and then just be confused by why everybody else doesn't see it that way. So I try not to do that. But in this case, you're at home. Big Monday Allen Field House, the number one team in the country that's undefeated is across from you. And he tapped out of that game. I don't doubt that he was sick, but his coaches did not think he was too sick to play, at least not on that day. And that's the first, maybe not the first thing I'd want to talk to him about if I were really thinking about spending the pick on him. But I'd get there pretty quickly. Walk me through that process and perhaps he's got a great answer. But I don't even like that that question exists. Why did you decide not? We've seen people play sick before, play with the flu before. There's a famous flu game in the NBA. Why did you not want to do everything you could to play in that game? Because on some level that's a mindset thing and I think different players with different mindsets and approaches would have played in that game. That he didn't bothered me. But I don't know that it bothers me so much that I can keep passing on him because the talent is ridiculous and eventually you're just passing on somebody who is clearly more talented than the people you're considering taking above him. And I don't know if that spot is here and I want to. I don't you mentioned you do think there's genuine interest in Utah in Cameron Boozer. I agree, if only because there should be. Like you should be seriously interested in getting everything you can find out about Cameron Boozer before you execute that pick. He should be a realistic option under consideration. But when they pull the trigger, I still think it's going to be in the same direction most have thought it's going to be for a while. I think Darren Peterson goes to the Jazz.
- [21:34]
E
I talked to a GM earlier today who to be clear, isn't picking in the top 10. And we got to talking about Peterson and he did just present the scenario of listen every so often there are just players that coming out of college for any number of reasons they will have certain things attached to him, red flags or reasons to make you hesitate whether or not you would take a chance on them. And these can be players, top five players. They can be players you pick in the middle of the teams or whatever. And then you get to year three of the league in year six and that stuff gets so far in the rear view and it winds up not being a thing at all. And so he was just presenting the very real scenario that Darren Peterson becomes a Hall of Fame level player. The Kansas stuff has almost looked like as an aberration and he takes off and everything that we saw at his best winds up being that. And he is going to be the number one player, you know, 247, Fink and crew. They did rank DP number one coming out of high school. So there is that possibility. But I will also put out there different scenarios entirely. But Ben Simmons was immensely talented. Like I think one of the three or four best performances over a multi day experience that I've ever seen at Peach Jam was Ben Simmons way back in the day. And then his LSU stuff was just now it wasn't all on him. And again they're very different scenarios. But then you like look at, look at what Ben Simmons hasn't become at the NBA level. So you can, you can make cases for either of them. I don't want to bug. That was going to be a long show folks just strapped in here.
- [22:58]
D
You guys are going.
- [22:59]
E
I know. Welcome welcome to the on College Basketball podcast. Think take it away here on Peterson. I have Boozer going to but I will not be remotely shocked. And you can certainly build the case for Utah is going to take. They're not going to be swayed by any stories. It's going to be purely their intel and what they've done and relying on the information that is what that is what they will do there. And if it's Peterson I won't be surprised like not even a little bit. I even think I'm in the minority thing that Boozer is going to go there too.
- [23:26]
D
The Angels are going to do what the Angels want to do and that is very well documented over the years. The thing about the fit in Utah, there's a couple of things that I would just like to add to what you guys said. Number one, if this were almost any other team in the NBA this would be a I think bigger conversation. But the fact that Utah has not one but two different all star caliber players whose best position is the same position that Cameron Boozer plays complicates this. Because even if they do think they would rather bet On Cameron Boozer, it's a clunkier fit and it's you always, you don't draft on fit at the top. But you have to be conscious about how context impacts long term value. And if you draft Boozer, you probably have to move marketing at some point. And does his trade value go down because of this? Probably because everybody just the supply demand ratio gets skewed. The other thing with Peterson, I truthfully I've said this because I've dug into him quite a bit. We did have him as the number one prospect coming out of high school. We were the only service to do that. And then yet like to start the this, you know, college season. Basically every mock all of a sudden had that. And I will say early on, like some of the early returns on dp, he was even better than I expected. I did not even, I thought he was best player coming out of high school and I did not expect some of the shot making we saw this year at Utah. So that's why I think there's still a legit case to be made that he, he may have the highest ceiling in this class if he confused what we saw in high school with what we saw in college. Now the thing that I think people are missing, GPU alluded to like the why didn't he play in the, was it the Arizona game? And I've seen people like question his competitiveness. I think part of the problem here is he and his team have not done a very good job with their messaging in this pre draft process. And so that when they say things that are true, you almost have to say like, well, I don't really buy the creatine stuff. So I'm not sure if I buy all of this. And the thing that he admitted to really early on, I think it was a story with Ramona Shelburne that we're not acknowledging enough. Like this was a scared kid who thought like in a moment who thought he was like his life was in jeopardy when he was going through full body cramping. And that lingered with him mentally. Like we've said the name Markell Fulton, Ben Simmons in this episode, both of those guys, like there was a mental component to that and this is like the elephant in the room that teams don't want to talk about. So like, I'm not surprised the medical came back okay. The bigger question is if Darren Peterson believes the medical came back okay. Because I think what we saw this year is anytime there was any risk of anything, he got nervous and shut it down. And if you read that early story. He basically admitted that he said he was nervous, he was having a cardiac issue on the floor, so that anytime there was anything that felt just a little bit off, the kid got nervous. And is that over? That's the part we don't know. And I think that's the part that, like, I respectfully do not think this is about his competitiveness. I think this is about, like, the mental. And is it. Does he believe he's 100% and ready to go? That's what I think it's about.
- [26:47]
C
Yeah. I like the talent is the talent. And to me, if you just make a basketball talent evaluation and block everything else out, he should be the number one pick. He's. And that's why I can't pass on him too many times, because he's got a chance to, like, you look up. In three years, he's one of the top 10 players in the world and the best player from this draft. And it's like, you really got caught up in a bunch of stuff. So, like, I am a believer in the talent, but the other stuff does bother me, like, whether it's real or not. Like, I appreciate the honesty. Like, I got scared, but, like, it scares me that a basketball player got scared.
- [27:28]
E
And they also could have. I talked with someone else earlier last night about this. Like, you could. You had plenty of ample opportunities to actually get that messaging out for months, and then you waited until college was in your rear view to kind of, you know, recalibrate how you want to.
- [27:42]
B
I.
- [27:43]
E
That doesn't sit great with me either.
- [27:45]
C
Well, I'll tell you this. Just talk to people back that direction who are around, and they. I. I don't know that everybody. This whole new story about. Well, here's what really happened. It was the first time some people had heard that story.
- [28:03]
D
Really? Was it the creatine? Really? I mean.
- [28:06]
C
Yeah. You heard some of that, too.
- [28:08]
D
Oh, everybody heard that.
- [28:10]
A
Everybody.
- [28:10]
D
Everybody was like. Everybody was like, come on. And the problem with that is that when you. If there's a hap. Like, yes. Let me say this. I think he was taking a lot of creatine that he'd never taken before.
- [28:23]
B
Right.
- [28:23]
D
Do I think that's the reason he cramped up that day? I'm not a doctor, but do. I can also tell you he flew back from California the night before, the night before that workout. Was he properly hired? So I. It's not to me about that cramping. It's about how he handled the cramping afterwards. And it's about the fact that the messaging hasn't been very good this postseason even. And I've said this before, I asked him at the combine, when was the last time you were 100%? And he was like, he couldn't answer it. And I was like, I was expecting him to say I haven't been 100% all season long because he didn't attack the rim all season long at Kansas like he did in high school. So I was legitimately expecting that to be the answer. And he was like, I don't know. I played the first half of the Texas Tech game. And I was like, in my head, I'm like, yeah, but you didn't attack the way that you did in high school. You. And so to me, that answer was even more validation that this is a mental issue and not a competitiveness issue, not a creatine issue, you know, none of that.
- [29:26]
C
Well, and if to just on this point, if you are picking second in a loaded draft, the fact, the idea that somebody might be dealing with those types of mental issues is something you have to take into account and because it could be the difference between, you know, are you special or are you just physically incredible and that gets you to a certain place but can't be special because the other stuff's not there. I don't know. But again, I just go back to the cramping. If you're cramping, you can't play basketball. I'll understand that forever. We do know you can play with flu like symptoms. And he tapped out of that game and that, that would bother me. And I talked to somebody who works in a front office and they said, well, is it the most. They said this isn't the most likely scenario there. Like if you keep looking for this answer, isn't the most likely answer somebody in his camp said, hey, if you don't feel well, you don't need to be on the court with two other projected first round picks. You might not look like the best player on the court and your draft status is already getting messed up a little bit because of things are unfolded. So they just held him out of that high profile game because he did not actually felt well enough to play if you weren't worried about draft stock or getting exposed in front of other another lottery pick. But, but because that's part of everything, that's the most logical reason why he tapped out of that game in a way that his coach, that surprised his coaching staff and perhaps that said, and then the other thing, and then we can move on. He has, as we acknowledge, sort of shut down. Like he's not talking to anybody anymore, visiting with him anymore. And it might sincerely be because he wants to exhibit strength and he genuinely believes he's going to be the number one pick. But sort of jokingly with somebody, I was like, what if they. They're going to shut all this down because they've realized he doesn't answer the questions the best way? You know, like, how often have you heard him open his mouth over the past year and actually do himself a favor? I'm not sure. And so maybe it's time to stop talking.
- [31:23]
B
What is that?
- [31:24]
D
Oh, yeah, it's a World cup holder.
- [31:27]
B
Like the soccer tournament World cup holder
- [31:29]
D
for the world Fits every car, holds every cup.
- [31:31]
B
It has a Carvana logo.
- [31:33]
E
Carvana made it.
- [31:34]
D
They buy and sell cars, so they made a car cup holder.
- [31:38]
A
So.
- [31:39]
D
Got any good cups lately?
- [31:41]
B
I used to. I just couldn't figure out where in the world to put them.
- [31:43]
D
The World Cup Holder brought to you by Carvana. Proud sponsors of the World cup holder,
- [31:48]
C
sign up today to win yours@cup-holder2026.com not authorized or endorsed by FIFA. Not a real product for parody and fair use purposes only.
- [31:53]
B
Real skin results start with one daily ritual Meet daily microfoliant from Dermalogica. This iconic exfoliating powder activates with water to gently polish away dullness and uneven texture. It leaves skin instantly smoother and more luminous while supporting your skin barrier. Formulated with professional expertise to deliver visible results daily, even on sensitive skin. Discover your healthiest skin today. Visit dermalogica.com and use code smooth at checkout for an exclusive exclusive gift with your $65 purchase. If you're the proud parent of a puppy or kitten, you know you can't pet proof your entire life. There simply isn't a sock drawer high enough or a couch cover thick enough. But you can pet proof your wallet with Lemonade pet insurance. Whether it's an unexpected accident or a routine checkup, Lemonade can cover up to 90% of the bill. Plus they can handle claims in as little as two seconds. So before you turn into a complete helicopter pet parent, get a'@lemonade.com pet well,
- [32:52]
E
let's keep it moving because we can't stop talking. We are we are hitting the 29th minute and are about to make the third pick. This podcast could could shatter records. Memphis Pick number three, obviously. Boozer going 22 and a half points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists shot 39.1% from beyond the arc in his one and done season at Duke, he is one of the most reliable basketball players to come into the the system in decades. He is, he is a winning player. The only thing that prevented him from getting to a Final Four was one of the freakiest plays in the history of the NCAA tournament. Four broken orbital bones in that game, which he did not remove himself from. And Duke gets knocked out at the hands of Braylon Mullins and UConn. If you're Memphis, what a wonderful spot to be in. You don't have the pressure of number one or the will. We won't. We have number two and then sitting there at number three. You've got your answer for you there, Boozer to three. You know, he's not going to fall further than this. There's obviously been some discussion about, you know, when you actually dive into everything that he does, he's, he doesn't maybe have the highest ceiling, but everything analytically suggests that he is, you know, comfortably the best player in this draft. We don't think Washington will pull up in Orlando like a Palo and stun us. But, but yeah, I've got him here going three. I'm going to send this back to GP then. Think you can take it, Grizz? Taking, taking Boozer, what's the, what's the buzz there down in your town right now?
- [34:15]
C
It's, it's what the fans want. It's what most people believe the franchise is going to do if he's there. And I really do think reasonable minds can disagree. But, but for this franchise in this moment, after trading Desmond Bain, trading Jaren Jackson, John Morant on the way out, a player died recently. Like we need stability with the franchise and. Something to build around that you can throw up on billboards and will immediately. I. This is where I'm at. I assume next week my little guy's favorite basketball player in the world is going to be Cameron Boozer because he's going to be a member of the Memphis Grizzlies there. He. He's not their favorite player today, but I think he will be that come Tuesday night. And he's going. The future of the Memphis Grizzlies is going to be on Cameron Boozer's shoulders. On some level. That's a heavy thing, but that's, that's where it feels like we're headed. And I did a chalk talk with Grizz season ticket holders a couple of nights ago and I can tell you this is, this is the player they want.
- [35:26]
D
This is why you make the Moves they did. I mean give them credit. They, they were able to rebuild without bottoming out. That's part of why that front office is as good as they are and be a home run. You, you. This is, this is a no brainer and I'd even push back on the, the lack of upside. I won't regurgitate everything I wrote about earlier in the week but like the perception of the masses is that upside comes in correlation to like visible explosiveness. He who is fastest jumps the highest, has the, has the highest upside. But like the modern NBA and the true stars of that game kind of prove otherwise. When you look at like Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic and Joker and these guys, it's actually more typically about the overlap of superior basketball IQ skill and ideally some physicality. He checks all those boxes. I think he has the highest floor in the draft. I think his ceiling is underrated. Congratulations Memphis.
- [36:25]
E
Yeah, real quick on this. The thing that amazes me about Boozer that I think will translate at a pretty high rate at the end of the level is he's just casually relentless man. He gets to his spots, he knows how to pass, seldom rattles. You think you've got him beat or you think you might have the position positioning on him on a rebound and he's going to grab that thing anyway. I just, I will be shocked if Cam Boozer doesn't make many all star teams and doesn't significantly help the direction of the era of the franchise. He is selected to think your next step. You've got the fourth pick. We all know who it's going to be.
- [36:59]
D
Yeah. Caleb Wilson is also, I think a relatively easy pick here. New Chicago front office they really value the physical things. Length, strength, athleticism. Caleb Wilson is the most glaring athlete in this class. Got a lot of untapped potential. I think his physical tools give him a high defensive ceiling. But he was not as great of a defender as some people suggest he was this year at Carolina. What he was was a much better offensive player. I was not expecting him to average 20 points per game. He shattered the competition in terms of dunks per game. Averaged more dunks per game than Zion Williamson did at Duke, to put it in perspective. So this is someone who, when he gets between the lines, competes with a terrific motor that highlights his athleticism, has the potential to become a really impactful defender based on those physical tools. And if he can either improve his creation or extend his shooting range, then I think like the offensive ceiling may be higher than we thought to I'll
- [38:02]
E
hop in here, gp and then I know you've got the next pick after this. As I wrote in my mock draft, non zero chance he's the best player in this draft. When we look up six, seven years from now, there's a faction of people that are heavily of the belief that it will eventually be Caleb Wilson. Because of his length, extremely springy, he could be in the mix to go number one. Number two had he not gotten injured. Like if he doesn't get injured and continues on that trajectory and you know, just even brings Carolina, the Sweet 16 is, is a force down the way. That's not how it goes though. He had two separate hand injuries, hand slash limb injuries. And so here he is. He is the most reliable pick to be taken, where he's going to be taken. I am more confident about Wilson going 4 than I am even about DebonSA going 1. This just seems like it's fated to be. As someone who grew up as a Bulls fan, I'm thrilled that the franchise is going to be able to get, you know, for only what, the third time in a generation. Someone that can like really understandably inject true optimism into a franchise that is just absolutely toiling. So I don't know if he can or will be the number one offensive option within two years of being drafted. That seems like it might be asking a little too much, but we'll see. But yeah, there's. There's a ton to love about Caleb Wilson and nothing more than his very obvious, unrelenting competitive desire. I don't think it's an act. I think it is how he is built and I think, you know, he'll be motivated by not being taken. 1, 2 and 3. Go. Take that and go flourish with it, man. Super excited to see what he makes of his NBA career. The fact that someone as good as him is going to go four just tells you how strong this draft is.
- [39:44]
C
I can't remember whether it was Draymond Green or some other second round pick who became a relevant impactful player, but there was something about like, and they can off the top of their head name every player in order who was picked before them. And Caleb Wilson is going to be able to do that now. The list isn't going to be long.
- [40:00]
E
He doesn't need to count to 30 GP.
- [40:02]
C
I know like, I'm going to be able to do it too for Caleb Wilson. I will also be able to name every player picked in front of Caleb Wilson. All right. But he's going to like have it on his phone and stuff like he's going to be really motivated by it. I agree with you. I think most people have these four as the top four with Wilson as number four in the group. That is the way I expect the draft to go. He does not have the fourth highest ceiling. It's he has a top three ceiling in this draft I would think if it really pops because the athleticism there, the motors there, the competitive seems to be there. That shot comes around now you got something special. If I'm the Bulls I'm I'm thrilled with this. At 5 the Clippers are slotted to pick. There's some thought that maybe they could move off of that but for these
- [40:47]
E
purposes let's just assume they very buzzy right now as GP's about to make the pick just like a lot of people do wonder if the Clippers are actually going to slide down and trade. It's they're among the most talked about speculated on teams whether they trade. I will say right here now I do not think they trade.
- [40:59]
C
Go ahead Clippers. If you're listening I work in a city where they have the 16th pick and lots of future first if you want a package Grizzlies pick third and fifth of the 2026 NBA draft and walk out of there with their front court presence of the future and point guard of the future. I wouldn't mind that at all. Either way, whoever picks fifth, this is what I got. Keaton Wagner out of Illinois. He's the or at least one of the biggest surprises in this draft. Everybody knows the story. Borderline top 150 prospect at a high school now a possible top five pick of these lead guards that are about to come off the board in some order. Wagler, Flemings, ACUFF, Michael Brown Jr. I think this is the one I would bet on the most but I don't I this is one where I do not have strong opinions and I think you could almost put the Wagler a cup Fleming's Brown stuff in any order and it's at least defensible. I have a preference. You have a preference I'm sure but you know you're going to have four potential franchise league guards come up the board probably somewhere between 5 and 10 and the first one after Peterson I think should be Keaton Wagler.
- [42:16]
E
What do you say think here's what
- [42:17]
D
I can tell you guys. They had they traded for Darius Garland this season and he is presumably their point guard of the future and unless they have a deal to move him which there's been almost no rumblings about. They've got it. If they're going to take a guard, they've got to take a guard who fits with him. I don't think Darius Acuff can play with Darius Garland. I think that's too much of it. There's not enough size. There's not enough collective defense. So I think while Acuff is the guy who will finish at number five in the CBS Sports big board, Wagler has been the one that I have mocked here from the beginning because he can play off the ball. Now the other thing that I will tell you a little intel here is that the potential for a trade the Clippers are now working out players that might be available later in the lottery. So for example, like they just did a workout with Nate Amen or they're scheduled to this week if they haven't already. While there is one sense that maybe Amen could be a candidate at 5, I view that more as a plausible we may be trading back in the lottery trying to pick up another asset because remember, amidst the backdrop of this is the whole Kawhi Leonard investigation and what will come from that. And there is a very real possibility they lose future draft assets. So if they can take this fifth pick, get the guy they want, add another pick to it, it would make a lot of sense for the Clippers to that notion.
- [43:39]
E
The Clippers have also done an extremely deep dive on a Dai Mara, which I don't think they would swing on at 5. But if they were to move down again, they're heavily rumored to be open to potentially trading. We'll see if they get there. But keep that in mind. I I think this is going to be Wagner or Michael Brown Jr. I can't see Acoff going to the Clippers if they hold on to the pick at five. Wagler is is an awesome story. He needs to put on a little more strength. But come on this as I wrote earlier this week, he went from being, you know, outside the top 150 essentially coming out of high school to being a a lock top seven NBA pick and one and done like you don't get you sometimes you get the story of the long we Cedric card a year ago now playing in GP's backyard, didn't have any D1 offers and then he becomes a lottery pick. Jalen Williams kind of kind of sort of the same thing we sometimes get that we don't get the at 17 no one thought you were good enough to start for a high major team and Then one year later, you're not going to have to wait more than five or six names before you're off the board in the draft. That's an awesome, awesome story. And so we've got walkway going to five. I am next at pick six for,
- [44:46]
D
for just real quick, for the record, he was inside the 150 on only, only one outlet in the world. Just saying.
- [44:52]
E
Okay, well where did you have him exactly? Do you remember?
- [44:56]
D
It doesn't matter. It's that he was inside the 150. That's it.
- [45:01]
E
I think he might have been 1-50- exactly. But he's in there. He's in there.
- [45:06]
D
It's either in or he's out. And he was out everywhere else. That's all. We were wrong. We were just less wrong than anybody else.
- [45:12]
E
Hey, that's all.
- [45:13]
C
Sometimes, sometimes that's good enough to get you a win.
- [45:16]
E
That's true. That's true. Number six, Brooklyn has the pick. We're going to go. Darius Acuff Jr. The entire world feels like they're mocking Acuff to this, to this spot here. Brooklyn is, is kind of adrift as a franchise overall, but Acuff's scoring ability is way, way too good to, to have him linger too, too far beyond this spot. Guys. He averaged 23 and a half points average more points per game against ranked opponents than anyone in the country last season. So not only was he a bucket getter, he actually showed up and showed out in the biggest way against the best teams that he faced. Six and a half assists, 3.1 rebounds. It's been beaten into the ground, but worth repeating on this mock show. He's the first player since Pete Maravich to lead the SEC in scoring and assists. And he did it as a one and done. 18 year old, a little bit undersized, doesn't play great defense, but whatever. You are seeing some invoking of Jalen Brunson. I think on some level that's fair. But on other levels, Acuff is very clearly a better offensive player than Brunson was even coming out of college. They have a similar overall build and, and I, and I can't wait to see if he can, if he can thrive. I do think where he goes like they kind of got to, he's got to have the, he's got to have the ball to be the kind of impact player. And that can sometimes can get problematic depending on where you go, the coaching you have, the talent you have around you. So if you're going to draft him, you got to know what he is and how you can utilize him. Because this can go the wrong way on you if you don't. But I think we are in near universal agreement, right? GP Acuff to 6 to Brooklyn.
- [46:43]
C
I. I have him. I actually don't have him. I have him. Seven to Sacramento. In my personal mock, I've got Michael Brown Jr going six to Brooklyn.
- [46:54]
E
Okay, well, we'll get to him in just a second here. Your thoughts on hiccup.
- [47:00]
C
Maybe this is a stupid way to put it, but. But perhaps it'll sound less stupid once I say it. I think we're gonna have a great idea of whether you missed on him or hit on him. Like, very quickly, midway through his rookie year, he. He's either gonna get out there and look like he's too little and can't guard anybody and empty stats type of stuff.
- [47:23]
B
Like.
- [47:24]
C
Like, he can go get you 25, but he's gonna give up 32 type of thing, and you're gonna go, man, did you read one analyst in advance of the draft? They told you he could shoot. They told you he could pass. They also told you he was little and he couldn't guard anybody. And now that's what you're watching. I can see that. And at that point, if you took him in the top five or six, you might have messed up. You know what I can also see, Buddy? He's amazing. And you're like, of course he's amazing. He was John Caliper, coached all the all star guards, and he never had one do this at the collegiate level. He led the SEC in points and assists. He takes care of the ball.
- [48:00]
D
He.
- [48:00]
C
Nobody can stay in front of him and he can shoot it. And you. And you. You were worried about how tall he was. If he was 6, 6, he'd have been the number one pick of the draft because he's a little shorter. You overlooked all that other stuff and you passed on him. And now look. Surprise, surprise. The reigning SEC player of the year is awesome. Either one of those makes sense to me. He's a. I. He's a hard one to predict for me because I could see him being amazing, and I could also see him see him being a small guard. It can guard anybody and gets played off the court.
- [48:31]
D
Guys, bottom line, he was the best of these four guards in high school. He was the best of these four guards in college. He got notably better in that jump. He is a bad, sometimes disinterested defender, and that is the biggest concern because his archetype as a Relatively undersized scoring guard who doesn't defend has never been less valued in recent NBA history. Now, remember, gp you can speak to this. Memphis couldn't trade John Morant. They wanted to. Couldn't do it. Atlanta had to take back contracts to get rid of Trey Young. So this archetype is. Is. It's a bad time, honestly, for Darius Acuff to be coming into the league. If he were in this draft five years ago, I think his stock would be even higher. So he's going to have to guard. But there's. There's like a. There's a level of alpha to him that I don't think you see unless you've been around him for years. Like, there it comes across like the. I'm the dude. I know it and everybody else knows it. Like, that's a thing with him, and I think that's a relevant part of the eval. The other thing I'll say is, like, the undersized narrative. He's bigger than Kingston Flemings. He's. He's. He's bigger. Like, he's. You know, Kingston Flemings has, like, chicken arms. He's lighter. Darius Acuff's got a plus four wingspan. How much taller is Mikel Brown than Darius acuff? Less than 2 inches. We're talking about like, that. Like, it's, it's. It's nominal. So I think that narrative has been a little bit exaggerated. But nonetheless, I think the worst case scenario for Acuff is. And this is a worst case scenario is he's a bad defender who comes in on somebody's second unit and gets you buckets and is like, Colin Sexton.
- [50:16]
C
Yeah. Like, I guess the point I'm trying to make is. Is with him, to your point, it's, It's a bad time. Like, we like our guards to look like Stefan Castle now, as opposed. As opposed to Darius Akov. But there are exceptions to this.
- [50:31]
D
Yeah.
- [50:32]
C
And what I'm trying to say is the size and lack of defense concerns me and could be a forever problem keeping him from stardom. But there are exceptions to this, and he might be the exception. He might be so awesome that he can be the exception that even though he doesn't walk around like Stefan Castle, he can still be a top 20 player in the NBA. I'm not. I'm not ruling that out.
- [50:55]
E
So that's the parade in downtown Manhattan today.
- [50:59]
C
There are exceptions.
- [51:00]
E
There are exceptions.
- [51:01]
D
Okay, so the best. The best moment from the parade is the NYPD thinking Tyler Kolak was a Runaway fan.
- [51:08]
E
Not even close to the best moment because you know. Yeah.
- [51:11]
D
Trying to like restrain him from. Yeah, because they thought he was that
- [51:14]
E
lettuce flowing with the hat. He does look like he broke contain and is just trying to play the role. So he almost gets escorted like, I'm on the team. Someone with the Knicks had to be like, he's on the team. You got to let him through. Incredible job by the NYPD Blue there.
- [51:27]
C
I saw a woman twerk on a light pole. I'm going to say that was the best one.
- [51:30]
E
Okay, well, no shocker there. Number seven, Fink is up with the Kings. Just to recap the Bansa 1, Peterson 2, Boozer 3. Wilson 4. Wagler 5 and a cuff 6. Now the Kings are on the board.
- [51:43]
D
Fancy shout out producer Josh.
- [51:45]
E
Josh is getting it done, no question about it. Who are we taking at seven here?
- [51:49]
D
Kingston Flemings. I think he's a really high floor guard. He's a big time athlete. He's got great speed in the open floor. He's got an ability to accelerate from fast to faster, which I think is very, very rare. He's a big time leaper. He's also got a pull up that he can get to at virtually any time because although he does have very short arms, he's got a high release on his pull up. He's the best defender of these four players. He was able to survive under Kelvin Sampson who's as demanding of a defensive coach as there is not a great defender, but he's more solid than the other three and the swing skill is the shooting. Quite candidly I thought he was a non shooter in high school and he blew away everybody's expectations this year in college in large part because he totally ripped down and rebuilt his mechanics. Now they're still pretty funky and he's still got some of that helicopter spin that goes on from time to time. If that shot proves to be sustainable. I think he's got all star caliber upside. But because of how serious, how athletic and just how focused he is on both ends of the floor, I think he and Acuff have the highest floor of these four guards. So if you are Sacramento, I think you're very excited about getting them here.
- [53:02]
E
I'll be quick to go ahead. Go ahead. Beyond just Fleming's as a player, Sacramento is just the one spot where people don't want their players to go. This is a franchise that is probably considered the worst run franchise in the entire league. And if it is Fleming seven out to Sacto, it's Just a major culture shift for him. I mean, you go, you go to Houston, who is statistically the most reliable program in college basketball over the past half decade into just a, a franchise that has actually had some draft hits. Everyone leaves. So they are trying to draft someone in the top 10 perpetually that can stay there and actually be a franchise changing player. I don't know if Flemings can or will do it. He did the rare thing, he went into a Kelvin Sampson coach program GP and he became the best player immediately as a freshman. That does not happen there. He is the only person to have done that. And I love his, I love Fleming's feel for the game. I love his defensive capacity. I love how he can basically get to any spot on the floor that he wants. I think he carries the ball in a string. He's the only of the four combo guards that we're talking about in this range here. Flemings is the only one that actually in my opinion plays comfortably as a true point guard. He can, he can obviously fill it up. He can shoot. He shot well. He shot better than 37, 38 from 3. But he is one that can actually be the floor general and you can build around him. So Sacramento, if he's, if, if he's there at 7, which everyone thinks he will be, he's not really being Mach 6 or higher guys. Sacramento could, could hit it big, but this franchise in general just has, has so much work to do just to even become relevant.
- [54:36]
C
I was talking to Kelvin about Kingston Flemings just a few weeks ago and just sort of in conversation I was like, so did you know he was going to be your best player? Like, did you know what you were getting? And he's like, did not know. You're right. He was like, no, but when did I know he was our best player? First practice, he's like, I, I saw it the first day. I never saw that stuff either.
- [54:59]
E
That's not, that's not like hyping up my guy for the draft. He does not say that kind of stuff. That's a, that's a crazy statement.
- [55:03]
C
G. He said, I didn't. I did. I mean he wasn't even the highest rated recruit in the class. And so I don't think any of us thought that he'd be their best player, Kelvin Sampson included. But Kelvin's like, first practice it was obvious that's our best player. So that's, that's who Sacramento would be getting. And like high character stuff best I can tell, like just, I'm a fan of Kingston Flemings as well. At 8, the Atlanta Hawks. I've got him taking Michael Brown Jr. And I just told you earlier, I've got him higher in my mock over@cbssports.com he's like Darren Peterson light in the sense that he should be appreciative. Darren Peterson missed all those games because we didn't focus on, hey, what's going on at Louisville?
- [55:46]
E
You want to dive into this real quick?
- [55:47]
C
Yes.
- [55:47]
E
Like it was. You can make the case it was just as problematic. Like, I've had enough conversations with sources at this point where it did not go smoothly.
- [55:57]
D
Get texts. I just want you to know that. Get ready for your phone to blow up.
- [56:03]
E
It did not go smoothly at Louisville. Hopefully that has nothing to do with how good his college career can be. But there are plenty of people that are of the understanding that not even that it was necessarily Mikel Brown Jr's decision, but that there was some shutting down at last season when there could have, they could have avoided that. And I do wonder, I do wonder if that has an impact on where he goes. I personally have him mocked higher. I do not think he will play out to be representative of where we have in this mock draft. I do not think he will be the fourth best guard of the four we are talking about here. But GP think we all know that Louisville one and done experiment there did not go as planned. And yes, to call it Darren Peterson light I think from a PR standpoint is accurate. If you went into the reality of it, I think at certain points it was just as problematic.
- [56:58]
C
I would say this. When I've talked to people about Michael Brown, they say this is one where the Peterson stuff's weird. This is what, this is what I hear. At least the Peterson stuff was weird. The Michael Brown stuff was just, we don't really care about college. We are headed to the NBA. Like we're just here because we had to be somewhere type of thing, which is fine. Like, we've heard that kind of stuff before, but I don't know when you're getting paid millions of dollars to play college basketball. I think you should play college basketball. You know, I, I, so that does, I'm not a big fan of that, but I am a fan of him making 10, three pointers in a game. He did that. He's apparently been working out well. Yeah, I think I echo what you say. Of these four guards that we're talking about, 5, 6, 7, 8. I don't think he'll be the fourth of the four picked when the draft actually happens and when we look up in three years, I don't think he'll be four or four. He won't be the fourth best. He'll be better than that.
- [57:58]
E
What do you say? Think?
- [58:00]
D
I think you can make an argument that he has the highest ceiling of the four. First of all, he's a late bloomer who was 5 foot 6 as a high school sophomore and is now just under six foot four. He's highly skilled, way more skilled than his shooting numbers will show this year because he took a lot of horrendous shots. Quite frankly, I think the complaints at Louisville, I actually view it a little bit differently. I think that, like, I think that they felt like they weren't being used the way they were promised. They didn't have the supporting cast they were promised and there were. My concern is that when you look back, the other thing you need to know, Mikel Brown's not just going to work out well. He's going to interview really well. I mean, this is a. Engaging, just like one of the best kids in this draft to talk to. But he's going to have hard questions to answer. And I think it's also going to include not just this year, but like, hey, your senior year at dme, like, why'd you. Your junior year at Overtime Elite. You went to four high schools in four years, played on multiple AAU teams. There's, there's a lot of history of you putting up numbers in settings where it either was uncompetitive or didn't necessarily drive winning. I'll say this, the best Mikel Brown has ever looked is when he played for USA Basketball. I thought he should have been the MVP of that team. Last summer they gave it to AJ DeBonsa at the U19 World Cup. I thought largely based on reputation at USA Basketball. That's where he showed he could impact winning. That's where he showed he could be a pure point guard. And what bothers me is when you talk to him about like, you hear names like Steph Curry and, and stuff like that. And, and I, I want him to be. I want him to be a pure point guard who can, you know, throw bullets off the dribble with either hand and be a pass first guy. That's when he's at his best. But I'm not sure that's who he wants to be.
- [59:50]
E
Good notes. I'm next nine Mavericks on the up with the pick here. And I'm gonna go with Dai Mara, who has really. I mean, he started to get some like, legitimate lottery buzz, you know, toward the back half of the season, but it has only increased since then.
- [60:07]
C
And
- [60:09]
E
when you look at the size, you look at the jump he made. I mean, he was a bit player misused at UCLA under the greatest coach in the history of UCLA's program, Mc Cronin. And then he goes and plays for Dusty May and it's part of the best front court in the country and, and helps. He wasn't the best player. We're going to get to the best player before long here. But Mara's inclusion made Michigan one of the most dominant college basketball teams this century. He's got incredible. I mean, his measurements at the combine were phenomenal. And I do think that he has a very good chance of, of carrying this past season into his NBA career relatively immediately and ascending. But I do think where he goes and, and how he's utilized is important because I, I still think there is. For what I just said, I still think I can see a scenario in which maybe he goes and, and gets on an NBA roster and he's got to reset some things and how, and how he has played, how he's utilized. Maybe he takes a step or two back and maybe this turns into a year three or year four play as opposed to a year one or year two. Talking to enough people, I, I will now be surprised if he is sitting there by 11. I've got him here at nine overall going to the Mavericks. They've got, they're, they're offloading at least one big here upcoming. And, and I think they could honestly playing him alongside Flag would be. Be quite enticing. So that's my pick. What do you guys think?
- [61:43]
D
I would say, yeah, I'm curious what you mean by offloading one big because with, with Lively and another big like this is a clunkier fit on the surface because they do have two centers and if they think Lively is going to be healthy, then presumably have their center of the future. But Mara, I agree with you. He will not go lower than 11. Massive size by NBA standards. Real rim protector, an archetype that has proven to be very valuable in recent NBA seasons. I mean, Ryan Kalkbrenner was way better than he got drafted. Walker Kessler is way better than where he got drafted. So I think people are starting to recognize like, hey, this, this archetype is really valuable. And he's, he's got some extra juice offensively because he's got good hands, he's got good timing. He's a, he's a vertical spacer and he can really pass. So I like the player. I'm just curious. I'm curious if you know something I don't about moving off one of those big.
- [62:36]
E
Well, Bagley's up, is he not? Isn't his contract.
- [62:40]
D
Yeah, I didn't mean Bagley, I meant like Gafford or Lively.
- [62:44]
E
Lively's not gonna. Well, Lively's up in a year and Gafford is up. Gaffer is not going anywhere anytime soon. I also think just drafting a player with this kind of size, with this kind of potential, and you look at that conference that they play in, I, I think teams in the Western Conference, if they can bring in someone who's legitimately 7 3, 74 and has the potential to be a factor in a force, how do you not do that? Particularly if you're in a spot where you're ready to, to encroach it on the playoffs.
- [63:08]
C
Well, I mean that, that's the thing. Like we mentioned, this is a bad time for the Darius Acuff type to be entering the NBA draft. It's the best time for the Adai Mara type to be entering the NBA draft. After we just watched Wemby become, in some people's eyes, the greatest thing in the world up until, you know, he started doing some things that made people call him, you know, other things. But like, if you think at any point in the next four or five years, you, you gonna take a shot at going through that, you need somebody like a daimara in theory. And so whether it's nine to the Mavericks or 12 to the Thunder, like he's just not gonna last. He won't. Wherever he was mocked before the NCAA tournament and before Wimby went on this run, that is not where he's going to be picked. It's going to be higher than that based on at least in some level, some of those things. So he's off the board at nine of the Mavericks, 10 bucks. That's. You think?
- [64:09]
D
What you got burries? I think there's a good chance he's off the board before this. Just a reliable. What's that?
- [64:17]
E
Nah, we might have had an unintentional delay there. Sorry, I had like, I had like three seconds of silence. I was making. I was making sure you heard us.
- [64:23]
D
Go ahead. Sorry. Got it, got it, got it. Reliable two way guard, NBA ready body, can make threes, can get downhill, can guard. I do think he's a real strong candidate to go to Dallas at 9, but I think if you're the Bucks and he slips to 10. I think you jump all over this. Obviously the Bucks are probably about to enter rebuilding after if they go ahead and finally do move Giannis and then they'll need some long term building blocks here and buries could certainly be one of those.
- [64:58]
E
Yeah, Burry's. I think he's a relatively safe pick regardless of where he goes. Knowing he's highly unlikely, he's not viewed as someone that's going to go in like the top seven. Many think his floor, his absolute floor is 12 to OKC. I like his progression. Last season guys like he didn't get off to a good start, was a coveted recruit of course, but by February he was Arizona's best overall player and by the end of the season averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, shot 39 from three. Humble, humble player. I had the chance to talk to him. Geez, I don't know like six or seven different times throughout the season because I happen to see Arizona a ton and yeah, I think he's, he's ready, willing to learn. I don't think he's someone that's going to step in and be like an immediate hit right away, but will grow into a very nice career and certainly makes sense.
- [65:57]
C
Well, as his top 10 pick, I've got him going ninth to the Mavericks. I think a lot of mocks have him there. He could obviously slip to 10, but he won't, he won't last much longer than this. If he's available at 10, at 11, that's the warriors on the clock. Who knows what they're going to do here? Clearly they're still in the Steph Curry Draymond Green business. So they're, they're in theory at least pushing through and that's why, or at least among the reasons why I've got him taking Yaxel Lindenborg, the reigning Big Ten player of the year who helped Michigan of course win the national championship. His age is an issue obviously for some franchises, but if you are still trying to just maximize the end of the Steph Curry career, I don't think it should matter how old the 11th pick is. In fact, if the 11th pick with the 11th pick, I would, I would be trying to grab somebody who I think can actually help me next season and yak. So at this point the draft, at least in my mind seems like the, the best, the best option for that.
- [66:55]
E
Yeah. Widely picked to the Warriors. This is a widely mocked situation. You understand why if Jax Londonborg was three years younger, he would be a top six pick in this draft. He's only going to be picked as low as he's going to be picked because he will be 24 next season. But he was one of the three best players in the sport last season. Very very good defender, has developed a great shot, really good teammate, super coachable, great communicator. Will interview has interviewed extremely well across the league and I I do wonder if we get to Tuesday night and we do have like I think the highest he would go that's at the same time rational but also would be surprising would be like eight to Atlanta. But I won't be surprised if if some team Inside the top 10 does decide to take a swing on him. HB Dan because of all the great things about him, his statistical profile, all of that. But the at this point the expected landing spot for Yaxel is Golden State at 11. We'll see if that plays out as so think if you're good with me moving on here we'll keep it going. I've got the 12th pick with the Thunder and I will go Nate Event here. Now Nate Event is a player that did not have the one and done season that a lot were expecting. He had some injuries, he did not shoot it exceptionally well. His stock is viewed as kind of all over the place. In my mock I kind of put forth the idea that it's entirely possible we'll never know the answer. This because teams never obviously release their boards. If you told me that native meant was as high as say like seven on on a team or twos board out there, but as low as 20 or 21 I would entirely believe you. He's got really good size, can theoretically play the three or the four at the NBA level. But is this a, is this a guy that you're going to take in the lottery that's going to take a little bit to develop. And by a little bit I mean more than a year, more than two years. Was the Tennessee thing just a one off? Was he overrated coming out of high school to begin with? I think I'll toss it over to you here. I the Thunder are the type of franchise that can frankly entirely afford to take a swing on Amen because he could hit big and that looks great and you got him at 12. Or if he is a developmental prospect, well you've got plenty of room and talent around him on the team in general to be able to say maybe we can get to him by year 3 or 4 what we think he'll be to justify the pick. What Say you think on, on Ament.
- [69:11]
D
Yeah, there's. I talked about this on HQ yesterday or no, I'm sorry, it was on the CBS SportsNet at the beginning of the week. There's more, there's more smoke around Amen in his draft stock than maybe any other potential lottery prospect. I mean he's reportedly, you know, we've got a mocked here at 12 and yet he's reportedly visited or worked out with teams as high as Chicago, the Clippers, the Nets are viewed as a real possibility. I had one team drafting late in the lottery that told me that they were, they were gaming out scenarios where Amen could be off the board to, to the nets at 6. So I think there's, he's got a wide range on draft night. It could go in a lot of different ways. I think it's possible that he ends up here because as you noted, he did not have the freshman season that we expected him to. I thought, I thought context was a big part of that. I thought. But they played him out of position at the three next to two bigs who couldn't shoot. So spacing was a concern. But yeah, he's, he's a, you know, he's a polarizing prospect right now. So it's going to be interesting to see. And there's. GP opened this, this show with like how much of what we hear right now is legitimate and how much is not. That question has never been more applicable than when it comes to Nate. Amen.
- [70:32]
C
Yeah, I don't doubt somebody might have him in the top five of a big board. I would definitely have him closer to 12 than 5. You know, for all the reasons you guys have already stated, we can keep it moving. 13 Miami Heat Think what you got them doing.
- [70:50]
D
I got him going. Lebaron Phylon. And the reason being is I think this is a team that's got some uncertainty in the backcourt. They've got to make some, some decisions whether it' Tyler Harrow or Norman Powell. They are also heavy in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. Phylon has worked out not just for Miami but also for Milwaukee. So it's, it's very relevant because this pick, if there is a trade, could end up with the Bucks. So I'm told he's gotten positive feedback from both organizations. So that is relevant to mocking this one out. LeBaron Filon was viewed as a fringe first round pick coming out of Alabama as a freshman. He came back to help his draft stock. He did that because he more than doubled his offensive output and did it with really good efficiency. Now, he didn't guard anybody this year, but we know from his freshman tape that he's much more capable on that end of the floor when he's got a more. More of a scalable offensive role. So he's another guy that's got a wide range of potential outcomes. This is probably about as high as he can go, but I do think he would be an option for the Heat or the Bucks.
- [71:51]
E
Yeah, I've got him. I've got. I was told Milwaukee is heavily looked into him, like a lot now again with, with the Bucks. Pick doesn't move with Giannis. Does that change literally within three hours of this podcast being sent out into the world. We wait and see on all of that. Some of the intel has been a little bit inconsistent. I would say Milwaukee, Atlanta and Memphis are the three franchises that I've had told to me have been consistently showing the most interesting. Although I feel like Atlanta has talked with and worked out every player. Like every time I look into the Atlanta just can't get enough of every single prospect. So we wait and see on that far. Like is a really fun player to watch and I think he will go top 15, but I not, not like on the same level as Nate Ament. I think his range is really, is really, really wide. Personally, we just booted Fink. We're going to get him back because his, his connection was a little bit spotty there. But if you want a point guard that can really blitz and, and, and get up and down the floor. I know some of the reports back on some of his habits aren't great, but I think we're probably going to wind up being right on getting him GP somewhere in the top 15. It was Fink's pick to the Heat at 13. He sent them to Miami. So there we go. We'll keep it moving. GPU are up next. 14. Last pick of the lottery to the Charlotte Hornets. Who are you taking?
- [73:21]
C
I've got them taken. Hannes Steinbach, the one and done forward out of Washington. One of the points I made in my mock is like, if you're wondering why, where are the international prospects? Well, some of them were playing college basketball this year and that's, that's the case with Steinbach. Incredible rebounder, 6 foot 10 with a 72 wingspan. Charlotte needs to add depth to its front court. That's a franchise that really took a turn last season. They, they went from something you laugh at to something you're entertained by and now it's time to add other interesting young pieces to that. I think Steinbach can slot into that rotation very early in his career. And, you know, if the Hornets do what they're expecting to do next season, we had this moment this postseason where we had like rookies, like, doing things in the playoffs. Whether it was Dylan Harper or VJ Edgecombe, Steinbach's a guy I could see doing stuff in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference next season.
- [74:17]
E
We got think back on the stream here, toss it over to you. Hopefully the connection's a little bit stronger, more stable. We're talking Steinbach 14 to the Hornets,
- [74:24]
D
but I'm never very stable. Great hands, one of the best rebounders in the draft. Really good instincts as a. As a roller. If the shooting pans out long term, we could look back on this and say it's a steal. Great frame, too, and only going to keep getting stronger. So I think he's a. He's a sneaky name that not a lot of people are talking about because Washington wasn't very good this year. But he's someone that NBA scouts and decision makers, I think talk about in a. In a higher category than maybe most of the public discourse does, would agree with that.
- [75:00]
E
I had someone hit me after the combine and basically say Steinbach had the combination of his hand size and the broadness of his shoulders and frame. Like, there just aren't a lot of players that have come into the NBA looking the way that he does right now. Played on a completely irrelevant team. A lot of people taking in this mock draft, be it on YouTube, however you're listening. Probably there's just never even saw him play. But he has been identified for. He is not someone that kind of popped to life after the end of the season. He was identified relatively early on in the season and he's kind of consistently maintained a status as a top 20 pick in 26. And so here we are. I'm next up 15 with the Bulls. The player that I'm going to give you, I've been told has a floor of 14. So we'll see if that intel winds up being true or not. It's Morez Johnson Jr. Out of Michigan. I was told he will not fall past Charlotte at 14. We'll see if that's accurate when we get to Tuesday night for a little bit like a. A glimmer of a moment, I guess, toward the end of the season and maybe the week after, like, there was a thought of, like, could he come back to Michigan and, and Run it back and potentially be one of the better players in college basketball next season. But my intel from the. From consistently from essentially at the Final Four on when I started asking about this, when we didn't know if Michigan was going to win the title was like, he thinks he's ready to go and he's almost definitely going to go. Like, all he needs is the right kind of information back that he is comfortably going to be in that top 20. And he is gone. He is gone. He is going to be in the top 20. I think he plays bigger than he is. I don't have his exact frame measurement in front of me, but I want to say he measured under 6, 9 at the combine. Without shoes. Of course, an IMA as God made
- [76:37]
D
you when it comes 6, 9 without shoes.
- [76:39]
E
6, 9. Oh, so a flat 6, 9 without shoes. Thank you. Fink on that. He plays bigger than that. He loves playing as an enforcer. He is not someone that is disillusioned or misguided about where he fits on the floor, how he fits on a certain scheme, on a certain team. He will be ready to be a guy that can step in and just how can I make this team better and be a real force immediately? So if the Bulls got him, that'd be a big win. We'll see if he's still sitting there at 15.
- [77:11]
C
All right, fink at 16. You've got the Memphis Grizzlies pick. We'll keep them on the clock for a minute, but it seems like a reasonable time. If you don't mind, can we get another word from our partners?
- [77:23]
B
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- [77:53]
C
Are you really buying a car online on Autotrader right now?
- [77:56]
B
Really? At a playground? Yeah, really. Look at these listings from dealers.
- [78:00]
C
Wow, your search can really get that specific.
- [78:03]
B
Really?
- [78:03]
C
And you just put in your info and boom. Cars in your budget.
- [78:07]
B
Mom needs a second. Honey.
- [78:08]
C
You can really have it delivered.
- [78:10]
B
Really? Or I can pick it up at the dealership.
- [78:12]
E
One sec, sweetie.
- [78:14]
B
Mommy's buying a car.
- [78:15]
C
Mommy, I think your kid is walking up the slide.
- [78:18]
D
Kyle.
- [78:18]
B
Again? Really? Auto trader. Buy your car online. Really?
- [78:22]
C
All right, Fink. 16. Memphis Grizzlies are on the clock. Can you make me and Super Grizz both happy?
- [78:30]
D
Yeah. So this was a lot of pressure picking, picking for the Grizz GP in front of you. But I'm solidifying our front line here. Right. So we got Zach Edie, we got Cameron Boozer. I'm gonna take Jaden Quaintance because I think the, the Quaintance Edie tandem, like is just a really overwhelming, overwhelming duo. This is obviously assuming the medicals all check out, but I mean, what a curveball to go from the giant of Zach Edie to the athletic, maybe even defensive savant of Jaden Quaintance. So that was my methodology here. I just think that you would secure their front court for the foreseeable future and all the Parish boys would be very happy. Maybe Jaden Quaintance would be their favorite player.
- [79:15]
E
Here's my question. Jp here's my question. We had Boozer going three.
- [79:20]
C
Yeah.
- [79:21]
E
Would Memphis in this scenario, would they draft Boozer and then go take another big and fill out the front court? Can you see that?
- [79:29]
C
I think they would take best player. They're trying to. You know, we need a Memphis awesome players regardless of position. And I mean obviously you're going to need a new franchise point guard, but you know, Ty Jerome is still on the roster and is a like legitimate NBA point guard. Like there was six man of the year candidate a couple of years ago. So I don't, I don't think they've got to find John Morant's replacement. It sounds good to say that, but I don't think they got to find him with the first pick or with the third pick or the 16th pick. I think what most Grizzlies fans want to is to package 16 with assets and get a second top 10 pick. Grab Boozer at 3 and then add a Wagler, Acuff, Fleming's brown. And that's what you're introducing at FedEx forum late next week. I think that's what the fans want. But if they sit at 16, if you could tell me Quaintance's body is not a problem. I'm thrilled with this because he is an amazing talent. And the upside, potential stuff, all draft buzzwords is way higher than 16th in this draft. If you trust his body. It's just he only played four games this season and we haven't seen him play high level basketball in a long time.
- [80:39]
E
Yeah, Let me just inject here and we can keep it moving. I don't think he goes this high. And that, that is only based on some conversations with A few teams I've had that aren't in the, aren't in the range where they think that he's expected to go. And apparently the medical has not satisfied to this point the level that would justify him going as high as this. Let's be clear, he just played, he played less than 100 minutes last season. Yeah. If fully healthy, can be one of the best defensive players in the NBA. And his value is obvious. He doesn't even turn 19 for another month, so his room to grow is outstanding. This would be a huge swing. We'll see if, if an NBA team will be lurking to attack and jump on him at some point. You know, top 16, top 18. But I think the league collectively and actually as I'm saying this, I'm now remembering this now, he did not get a green room invite, which does not mean necessarily anything. You cannot get a green room invite and then still get taken 17th. But the league is, is expecting, I think Quatons to go like 23 or lower at this point. And we're, we're kind of zagging on that zig and saying that Memphis might take a swing at 16.
- [81:48]
C
All right. At 17. The Oklahoma City Thunder, I've got them taking Cameron Carr out of Baylor. No, I don't want to say nobody, but most people do not believe the Thunder are going to execute all of these picks. They don't have as many roster spots as they got picks and I don't know that they need all of these young players. Like can you package 17 and 12 to get into the top 10. You know what, I should probably just let Sam Presti figure that out. He seems pretty good at this, so I'll let, let him figure it out. But if the Thunder do pick or whatever, Cameron Carr coming off the board maybe had one of the biggest jumps like out of nowhere jumps in college basketball went from a whatever player here to like a real all conference level guy with Scott Drew down at Waco. And the reward for that, I believe is that he's going to be a top 20 pick in this draft and that's nowhere close to where anybody would have had him before the season began.
- [82:41]
D
Yeah, I think that's right. I think that to get a high upside guy like this that has the length, athleticism and the shooting, if you're the Thunder, you figure you're not going to get a high draft pick for a long time. And so if you have a chance to get a high upside guy, you take that swing.
- [83:02]
E
All right, I'm next. I got the Hornets at 18. And I'm going to give them a player that has a fantastic statistical profile, a player that I think has a very healthy chance at being one of the three best shooters to emerge from this draft and have a nice long healthy career and grow into, albeit a little undersized, undeniably a chance to start more games than not in his NBA career. And I'm going to send Christian Anderson to the hornets. He shot 41.5% of Texas Tech last season. Keep in mind he did shoulder even more of the load in aggregate than expected due to JT Toppin season ending injury average, 18 and a half points, 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and was at times an outright joy to watch the game, play the game of basketball. GP so I think we've got him at 18 here. I think his, I think his range, I can't see him going lottery, but Bulls at 15 and I don't think he falls past Detroit at 21. So we've got him smack right there in the middle. Fink is going to do a computer reboot and see if that helps his connection. Your thoughts on Christian Anderson, then we can go ahead and we'll even pick for Fink if he's not back in time for 19 at Toronto.
- [84:22]
C
I mean, I've got, I've got Christian Anderson going a little higher than this. I think I've actually got him 16 to the Grizzlies. He's a little on the small side and despite being like, you know, traditionally, I think when you think of small guards, particularly small guards who are projected top 20 picks, it's like, well, he must really just blow by people. And that's not really how he plays. Like, you know, he'll get a ball screen and play out of that incredible passer, maybe the best shooter in the draft. Certainly people have described him that way. There's a place for him in the NBA for a long time, I think despite his lack of size and strength. And I just, if a guy can really shoot it, really pass it, I tend to be a believer in that. And the fact that he stayed in the draft I think suggests that his draft stock is pretty rock solid because as we know, Texas Tech has plenty of money to get people back in school. And I, I think I said this on a previous pod when I was at Big 12 spring meetings, there were coaches there really trying to recruit players back at the last minute. And, and I think Grant McCaslin at that point, by that point had sort of reached the conclusion he is in that draft because he is going to get picked pretty high. I think higher even than we have him going in this one today.
- [85:36]
E
We'll go on to the 19 pickets. The Raptors at 19. This was Fink's selection pre show but I'll, I'll announce it here. He went with Bennett Sturtz out of Iowa going 19 to Toronto. I can entirely see this. And guess what? My mock draft has been at sturts going 19 to Toronto. I think his camp is of the belief way more likely than not that Sturge is going top 20. Has gotten some really, really good buzz. He is an interesting case in that was not a Division 1 recruit. Got to college playing for Ben McCollum who then got a job at Drake. Went with him to Drake, then went to Iowa. Went with him to Iowa. Extremely durable, has played a ton. And I think there are some questions on and there are reasonable questions. All right. How much of it this guy is a real NBA prospect and can last multiple contracts in this league. How much of it was McCollum getting the absolute most out of him and is he a little bit overvalued? Well, at this point, NBA front offices I think collectively seem to agree that he is worth something in the realm of a top 20 pick. He's universally seen as a first round talent and a pretty damn good 2026 draft overall. I think he's a natural Hooper. I love his feel for the game. Yes, he needs to add weight, he needs to add strength. He needs to be able to create separation and, and not just be a pure distributor. But I think there's a fit here in Toronto for him and, and I agreed with Fink taking the pick of 19 because my mind was the same. Your thoughts on Sturts before they get to your pick. GPA 20.
- [86:59]
C
He might be a little overvalued maybe, but you know, a point guard with decent size, not great size, but okay size, who can process things, you know, really make a shot, high basketball iq, all those things. Like I just, everybody needs some, a player like this, like, hey, get in there, settle things down. Can you make a shot? And I don't, I know that sounded like I was describing a backup point guard. I, I, he could be a starting point guard in the NBA. That would not surprise me. I'm a believer in Bennett's Dirtz. I have him a little lower than this, but I don't think there's no scenario where I would have him getting out of say the top 25 of, of the draft. Let's go to number 20, San Antonio Spurs. Welcome back, Fink. I've got him taken Alan Graves out of Santa Clara. And this is one where I guess most years or some years, there's one of these types of stories, and he is it this year. Norlander. We did three episodes a week of the island college basketball podcast at minimum, all season long. Did we say Alan Graves one time?
- [88:07]
E
Did we say his name one time?
- [88:10]
C
Yeah, not a chance. Alan Graves, rare college basketball player who never gets mentioned on a college basketball podcast until he's done with college basketball. That's where we're at. So comes off the bench at Santa Clara, and it's just an analytics statistical profile that jumps off of a page. And it's just like if this were baseball and you had some data sheet and it said this guy, 6 foot 6, throws from the left 101, spins it like this. Even without even looking at it, you'd have to say, we got to go look at it, because these numbers are crazy. There's some of that going on with Alan Graves and somebody's going to take him. And the spurs are widely regarded as a smart franchise. It seems like the type of thing a smart franchise might do.
- [88:53]
E
If you're watching on YouTube and not listening, Fink looks completely unenthused by Alan Graves because his frame was. Was frozen there.
- [89:01]
C
Looked like he was doing an OG Anunoby impression.
- [89:04]
E
He actually did. And now it looks like he's still doing OG I don't know if we're about to lose. Think for the rest. All right, he's back. I think I'm going to throw it to you. I think we still got a little bit of a delay. Thoughts on the, on the grave stuff, Fink, because I don't know if you're getting the same stuff I'm getting. The team surrounding San Antonio at 20 are of the belief more likely than not, that actually Graves is going to San Antonio.
- [89:28]
C
Hormuz going to be open before we get Fink to respond.
- [89:31]
D
Yeah, I think it's. It's going to be an analytically driven front office because listen, this is offered 5 million.
- [89:44]
E
You gotta cut him loose.
- [89:47]
C
Hey, Josh, if you were a UFC referee, what would you do? At some point, you gotta jump in what's happening? He's at home. He's at home. One thing people don't realize think constantly gets attached to the Northeast. Actually moved recently to Bloomington, Indiana.
- [90:05]
E
Okay. Ah, it's tough. It's tough. Let him off the hook, Josh. He's done. He's done. I think we're good. Oh man. He seemed like he had a good answer there on Graves.
- [90:18]
C
Oh, I'm sure he had the best answers on everything.
- [90:20]
E
Yeah, but I'm, I'm, I am. Josh says he's officially out. He's out. He's done. Thanks. Thank you. Gave us 90 minutes. If anything, this is going to ensure that we're done in under two.
- [90:31]
C
Bouncer at the bar, it's like, all right, buddy, we, it's time to go. It's time for you to get out of here.
- [90:35]
E
I am not convinced the Graves thing is going to work, but nonetheless I'm thrilled for him. I am thrilled that he's been able to do he went from bench player in the WWCC as a one and done player to getting to be a potential top 20 pick. Good on. Good on him. I have the 21st pick with the Pistons and it's a Buka Okorie. Pistons are it's, it's no secret at this point the Pistons are have shown plenty of interest. Doesn't mean they will take him. This is another instance where our, our collective knock lines up with what I have on my mock that published earlier this week@.com and I've got A Corey there. Cade Cunningham just needs more reliable scoring around him in the backcourt at this point. And a Corey is seen as a, a rational prospect that will fall in this range that Detroit should take a real look at. He was also, you know, we've got a few of these players in this draft where a year ago not remotely projected to be an NBA pick and credit Kyle Smith and that at staff at Stanford. They turned A Corey into one of the best scorers in all of college basketball. And he announced he was going to go in the draft. It was either going to be return to Stanford or go into the draft. And it just didn't take too long for him to get the feedback that he needed where it's like you're not going to the second round. You will be taken. And so he's, he would have been able to get a nice nil deal but he wants to, he wants to strike while the iron is hot. I completely get that. Interviews incredibly well which is no shock for a guy that's good enough to get into Stanford, of course. But, but I've got Detroit taking a swing there and trying to fill out its offense all the more alongside Kate with The book at 21 got in
- [92:10]
C
at Stanford, was previously committed to Harvard so got a big brain in his head. It sounds like not surprised that he Interviews well, not surprised that he's going to go in the first round of this draft at number 22. The Sixers will be picking Fink. Had that one. He took Kareem Lopez out of Mexico. This would be the first non college player coming off the board again. This is a direct byproduct of Nil luring and keeping talent in college basketball. He's a physical specimen. Power forward. The three point shot hasn't come around yet and that's every year with the draft we have, we have new little buzzwords. I think this, this year it's maybe positional size. At one point it was swing skill. Like the three point shot is the swing skill.
- [92:57]
E
My favorite of those is in the NFL. Liquid hips is the. Is the new hotness in the NFL. So yes.
- [93:03]
C
Liquid hips. You think I got liquid hips?
- [93:05]
E
Not a chance.
- [93:06]
C
Damn. How do you get them?
- [93:09]
E
Let's keep it moving.
- [93:11]
C
We're 90 minutes in. I would rather talk about liquid hips than Kareem Lopez. Right.
- [93:17]
E
I can pick it up from here real quick on this. He will be the first Mexican ever taken in the first round. He is as. And congrats to Mexico, who I believe Mexico's got a game tonight in the World Cup.
- [93:28]
C
I want to say yes, they do. 8:00-clock Central South Korea.
- [93:31]
E
We can keep it moving, but I had the true privilege to be able to go and cover France vs Senegal earlier this week. It was an awesome experience. Got to see Mbappe up close, literally in the press, in the press area afterward, but also scoring a ton of Mexican fans in the stands at MetLife. It was, it was so cool to see obviously so many countries represented, but Mexican fans showing out in a major way. That was really, really.
- [93:52]
C
Tonight we're down in Guadalajara. I'm going to get my Mexican flag out.
- [93:56]
E
There we go.
- [93:58]
C
I do I have a Mexican flag.
- [94:00]
E
As one does. Kareem Lopez will give his home country all the more reason to to celebrate when he is drafted almost certainly in the first round. He is still young. Has and I said this on HQ earlier this week with gp we're not going to hop on this podcast right now and pretend we have dove in deep into the Kareem Lopez that know that are familiar with this game. He is definitely seen as a, as a project, but he's got good iq, can pass the ball well, needs to work on the shot, needs to maybe get, you know, trim up his frame just a little bit more. But he's expected to be taken somewhere in the top 25 and that's where think wound up taking him. Am I next?
- [94:38]
C
GP23 the Atlanta Hawks. That's me.
- [94:42]
E
Yes.
- [94:43]
C
I'm in charge of the Atlanta Hawks right now and I got him taken terrace Reed Jr. Out of Yukon for a lot of different reasons. In part because he has liquid hips. Does Terrace Reed have liquid hips?
- [94:58]
E
I don't think so.
- [94:58]
C
Damn, man. Who does? Give me an example of somebody who does. Oh, I know who does. Tate McCray.
- [95:05]
E
Okay.
- [95:05]
C
100% she has liquid hips. Okay. Do you think so?
- [95:11]
E
Just give me all you got in Terrace buddy.
- [95:16]
C
6 foot 10 with a 74 wingspan played at UConn. You might remember I'm familiar he we still need traditional centers in the NBA
- [95:26]
E
and not that because he ain't 611.
- [95:30]
C
Well what I mean is he's like 610 but ain't gonna he scores around the rim alters and block shots, grabs rebounds. Not really going to stretch the floor for you. We. I think we got into a habit where people were like if you. If the center can't stretch the floor, what's even the point? Give me somebody five foot five and we're back around to you know, it's still kind of good to be big. And you know what? You might need two of them sometimes at the same time. And that's among the reasons Terrace Free is gonna I think be in the NBA for. For a long, long time. He's already 23 years old. I got it doesn't bother me at this point in the draft the Hawks are a playoff team. He can be in the rotation as a rookie.
- [96:10]
E
I think this is his. His. His best case scenario is 23. I don't think he'll go better than that but I don't think. I don't think he falls beyond like 28 at worst. So this is the range pick 24 the Knicks. I actually have. I have re going to the Knicks in my mock but in our collective one I was up on the clock here and I think we are going to miss on this one. I've got Chris and Knack out of Houston going to the Knicks at 24. I don't think he lasts to 24 now Sanak is an interesting one because he was a former top 10 prospect five star guy the most heralded of Houston's incoming class above Fleming's of course but wasn't a player that popped could disappear at times when you watch Houston play the the wingspan is incredible. The measurables are really good can he as. As one person put it to me recently and actually really like the comparison. So I, I dropped it in my, in my mock capsule as well. Can he be as good and reliable as like a Channing Fry at this stage of the draft? If he can, then you've done a really nice job. Something that he will take off and be someone by year four, like immensely better than then he'll be immediately going into the NBA. But his skill is too good for him not to be a one and done prospect. But this was not the plan a year ago. The plan a year ago was like he was going to be good enough and impactful enough to validate top 12 status. He's not going in the lottery. I'd be stunned if that happened. We've got him mocked here. 24 to the Knicks.
- [97:41]
C
25th pick is owned by the Lakers. Fink picked it. I love this. I'd love it for like it's co opied out of Arizona. All right, Rich Paul, do your thing. Come on, Rich Faja. Everybody's talking about you. Think you man. You really think KOA Pete's a first round pick. Rich Paul's like, watch and see. Was Bronnie James a second round pick? Some people didn't think so. Watch and see.
- [98:10]
E
Is co op related By Blood to LeBron James is the question.
- [98:16]
C
I'm gonna say no.
- [98:18]
D
Okay.
- [98:18]
E
I'm gonna say it's pretty well established he's not. We've got him here 25. There's a lot of noise around him at 22 to Philly. Again, sometimes these things are just mean nothing. I do think, I think his absolute bottom out situation GP is 27 to the Celtics. And I think his best case scenario, I don't think he'd go to the Raptors at 19, but maybe. But I think he's in this range that we've got him here and we're. You know what? We don't even need to have this conversation. We've talked so much about it.
- [98:53]
C
I've said at this point, if you don't know what I think of co opied, you don't read or listen.
- [98:57]
E
I, I do think that he can step in and be a contributing factor immediately as a rookie with the right situation. We've got him 25 to the Lakers. We'll see if that goes the way it is. GP, you had 26 with Denver. Who'd you take?
- [99:11]
C
Joshua Jefferson out of Iowa State. Denver needs to add front court depth. They've, you know, maybe got the best big, certainly one of the best bigs in the world, but he needs people to Play beside him. Jefferson seems like he would slot in there pretty well. We talked about him as well. Really high floor prospect, four year player out of the Big 12 got better every single year. I don't know whether he'll ever be a star but I do believe he can be a rotation player for a good team. And if you at the bottom of the first round can ever find a rotation player for a good team, that's, that's a hit. You, you, you got that right. I think Joshua Jefferson is going to be that and he's going to get selected. If I'm in charge somewhere in this
- [99:54]
E
range I've got the 20. I, I love Jefferson just we can keep him moving here but I, I think Jefferson does not. I might even mention this on the show recently. I can't remember hq I don't think where he goes matters. I think he is going to stick and last a long time and he's been getting good feedback. I 26, 25 is about as high as you'll see him mocked. I, I wonder if he did if he doesn't yeah nudge up just a little bit more and maybe even goes higher than they're expecting. He has zero business falling outside of the first round. I've got the 27th pick with the Celtics and my picker in our mock actually match what I have in my personal mock. Henry Vasar out of North Carolina going 27 to Boston average 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, shot 42.6% from 3 point range last season. Really developed himself into a very nice stretch five. There's obvious value for that at the NBA level. GP and this is he, you know, he passed up what would have probably by the end of the negotiations he probably could have gotten 5 million to play at North Carolina last season. He won't make that given where he'll be drafted in this range. But I was told he was of the belief and hope that he would be taken in the first round and I do think we get there on Tuesday night. We're now in the range where any of these guys that we're mentioning now like could they fall to 32 or 34 or 36? It is possible. I just don't think that's going to be the case with Vasar. He is, he plays physical. He can be even more physical. Like he can get even stronger. His feet can get a little bit better. I know but his offensive acumen given his size, like you know, a firm 7ft 611 in that general range. The Celtics, he's Not the same kind of player, but the Celtics, Kristaps Porzingos was much taller, but, like, some of the attributes are similar, and they made it work with Chris Chaps for a bit. I could see Brad Stevens and company opting to take a swing on getting it big and trying to get the Celtics, obviously, back to the NBA Finals.
- [101:46]
C
At 28, it's the Timberwolves. I was picking 29th with the Cavs hand to heart. Fink took at 28 the player I would have taken at 29. That is Dalen Swain out of Texas, followed his coach down to the Longhorn State. And everybody, you know, understands in the NBA you need switchable wings, lots of them. And he's that 6 foot 7 with a 610 wingspan, really attacks the rim and has enough athleticism to, you know, you put him in, you say, that's your assignment. We're switching everything. And he's comfortable doing that. The Knicks just won a championship in part because they had more switchable wings with great bodies and great feet than anybody else, or at least as many as anybody else. These players have real value now. And at this point, the draft swains like, I think the best one available.
- [102:39]
E
Yeah, he is. I'm not as high on him as others. I do think he winds up going in the first. In fact, it's a shame that we lost Fink, because the thing I was going to bring up around this pick overall is it's surprising to me. And I just. It feels like there's a little bit more group think around, like, 26 to 30, 32 than I would have thought. And I was talking to someone with the front office earlier today about this, and they were actually saying the top, like 10, 12, 14 of this draft is, like, awesome. But actually, given the guys that returned to college where, you know, this particular person, I'll just speak broadly. They're. They're. As of right now, they're projected in the 24 to 36 range to have a pick, right? And they're saying, like, collectively, like, actually, we're. We evaluate this draft, it's kind of level with some of the recent years. We don't think, like, once you get to this portion of it, we don't think it's a notch or two above, which I found to be interesting. And I don't necessarily even disagree with that. Having said that, if that's the case, we should probably see some more variants from like 26 to 34, 35. I wonder if that'll be. But that's not what you're saying when you look around at mocks, like it's a lot of maybe 28, 29 are early second round picks elsewhere, but Dalen Swain's in the mix there. GP we'll see if you can hit
- [103:57]
C
on this because I think you picked up on something that I noticed as well. For a ProSP project I was doing for the other pod, the one in Memphis, I was looking at players that could fall to 32 if the Grizzlies were picking 30. Second, keep in mind, we got to talk about this stuff every day, right? So I went and grabbed five different mock drafts and I said, I'm going to type in every name that I see from 25 to 30 and we'll play off of those names. With the premise being one of these dudes is going to fall to third, one of these dudes going to be available at 32. Who would we, who do we hope it is? And as I was going through the five mark drafts and I was like, okay, at 25, this one has Joshua Jefferson. Then it was like at 28, this one's got Joshua Jefferson. It was like at 29, like the Joshua Jefferson's Dalen, it was all the same names, just, just mixed up in different orders. So perhaps there's a, there's, there's some of that going on. And what you heard from that front office member, like, that's just a math thing that makes sense to me. We didn't lose any of the top five picks. You know, none of the top five picks stayed in college. I don't think any of the top 10 picks stayed in college. So the top 10 is always as strong as we always said it was. But Braylon Mullins was a first round pick and he's back in college. Thomas, how was a first round pick and he's back in college. That means if you go back to say the final day of the regular season or the day of the national championship game and you say, if everybody's in the draft, give me the best 30 players right now at the most, you only have 28 of those available. And so the bottom of the first round, the top of the second round, it got a little devalued because some people that would be in that range, Tunde, yesifu, like they decided to go
- [105:35]
E
back to school, probably a first round pick if he didn't return to Duke.
- [105:40]
C
Okay, so now you might like, if you want to say, and I know Tess was on the fence and, and maybe, but let's just say for the sake of the conversation, they were going to be top 30 on big boards. Well, now you're down to 30 to 26. 26 of those players that you would have had on a big board the day the season ended. Only 26 of them are actually in the draft. And it just, again, it makes the bottom of the first half weaker in the top of the second and everything else a little weaker than it otherwise would be.
- [106:07]
E
GP, you've got the 29th pick with the Cavs, who we taking Isaiah Evans out of Duke.
- [106:14]
C
The Cavs. They need to add some, some size in that backcourt, some shooting in that back court. And Isaiah Evans adds both of those things. He's not the 6 foot 7, 6 foot 8 wing, but he is like the 6 foot 5 wing, so he's not super small. Just can really catch it and shoot it. An off guard who can really make difficult shots and has good, if not great positional size. I, I think he's, I think he's gonna make it. He was one of the ones that. I know maybe it wasn't perfect fit for him to try to go back to Duke, but like, that doesn't mean that he's not a, a top 30 pick in this draft.
- [106:55]
E
Well, so we'll see on this. So I didn't have him in my mock and then a really super smart NBA person yesterday. I was like, I'm gonna miss on, on Evans. He's like, like, don't be convinced of that. Like, just because he got the green room invite doesn't mean he'll definitely go. This person was surprised Evans got the green room invite. I think he'll get taken in the first round. While there's not a perfect hit rate, there was someone who was it Filipowski who, who got the green room invite and then lasted to day two.
- [107:23]
C
I think that was Philipowski and that was because of the relationship stuff that we subsequently find out about. Yeah.
- [107:29]
E
Another Duke player by the way, coincidentally enough, the week Philip Evans and Filipowski couldn't be more different. But we'll see. I do think he will go in the first round. It was just sometimes for a variety of reasons, it's time to go and it was Isaiah Evans's time to go. And I do think his success is dependent upon who takes him, how they use him. We've got him going here at 29. I think his range is highly likely to be like 26 to 33. Somewhere in there, I've got the 30th pick. I noticed the chat brought this player up Sergio De La Rea out of Valencia basket Spanish point guard who is getting some first round buzz feels like he's in that 26 to 34 range. 65 Little lanky little like your boy over here. Just in in frame, not in basketball ability. Let me be clear on that. His prospect ranking at CBS Sports is 39th overall but there's, there's a belief that he'll go late in the first round. I essentially since I had the last pick here, I took him over the likes of Zubiaja4 because I just don't depending on what Dallas has and doesn't have there. If they trade out of the pick, we wait and see on that. But De La Rea is a really crafty passer certainly on the upswing, good shooter overall and definitely, you know, someone who is going to take need some time to, to adapt and adjust. But it's going to be the second international player picked and is the only other international non college player seen as as likely to go in the first round of the draft. So he's the, he's the 30th pick there and I would, I'd have as we finish up the the first round mock here, GP I would have high degree of confidence that at least 27 of 30 names we gave you here will wind up being first round picks. There's, there's a healthy chance one or two that we didn't mention wind up going in the first round instead. But I think we'll be pretty close on that. And on that note, GP who is a the way I framed it to in the email was like a sure fire second round pick. So not someone that could go 31, 32, 34, whatever, but someone that's gonna go in the second round that you nonetheless kind of really like their potential at the next level to stick around and vastly outplay their draft stock.
- [109:44]
C
So okay, this, this might not qualify given the way you just framed it. I didn't frame it like this in my head, but somebody we did not have in the top 30 and somebody who is not in the top 30 on the big board. At CBSSports.com we were asked in this project that's going to publish at some point like a roundtable, six questions or so and I filed my answers last night. One of the questions there was name somebody outside of the top 30 on the draft board who you could see starting in the NBA someday. And to that question I went with Malik Thomas, obviously out of Arkansas, borderline first round pick, not in ours though. But I would think he's probably an early second round pick. He's also an incredible shooter with distance deep and you like look at like Julian Champagne. He starts for the Western Conference champions and you want to know why? Because he can make that shot and you got to go all the way out there with him. You got to take him out to 27ft. And that changed the spurs season. Putting a shooter, inserting a real shooter into that lineup regardless of his size. And I could theoretically see Malik Thomas serving a similar purpose someday. Hey, you're not one of our best five players but we're going to put you in our starting lineup because we want this entire thing spaced out, you know, from, from the opening tip. He could serve that purpose given his ability to shot make. And I'm not predicting it, but the question in that project was second round pick who could start in the NBA? And Malik Thomas. At least the idea of Malik Thomas fits to that.
- [111:23]
E
To me, I like it. I have mentioned Jaden Bradley on the show before. I will repeat that. I think he's going to wind up being taken 15 or so spots too late and we'll just stick in the NBA. He's not gonna be a star player but I think he can be an excellent fit on a number of different franchises and is just built for the next level, you know, needs to sharpen his game in a variety of ways. There's a reason why he will go in the second round. I just don't think he will prove to be a second round level talent and producer. Five years down the road and then I'll give you one more that I'm just as high on that I think Fink was going to mention. And if, you know, let's just presume he gets healthy after a season ending injury. Richie Saunders has the shot, the release, the pop. Like if he has all that athleticism back. Yeah man, like it won't. It doesn't have to just be AJ DeBonsa out of BYU from this draft who winds up making a really good living playing at the NBA level. So his recovery is key. It's going to take a little bit of time, but I think he's got a, he's got a chance at, at doing it as well. If he was healthy, if he hadn't gotten injured, I, I think you would have Saunders mocked in the first round right now. But more often than not. But that's not how it went. Unfortunately. His college career ended with a torn knee and he didn't get to finish out and As a result, BYU didn't even make it to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. But there you go. And there you have it. I'm gonna call that a show.
- [112:45]
C
Man, I'm glad.
- [112:46]
E
Yeah, this is one of our longer ones. But as, as Josh has let me know in the midst of it, we have had an extremely healthy and lively live audience. The draft community, they're thirsting. They're ready for this draft on Tuesday. If you're wondering why it is on Tuesday, go and check that World cup schedule. The United States has a game that bumped, rightfully so, that bumped the NBA's draft up. I kind of like it earlier in the week as opposed to later. So we'll have Tuesday round one, Wednesday round two. We will be back with you to react to round one of the draft. As always, subscribe to the YouTube channel. Make sure you get that notification when we go live. And we'll, we'll see how everything plays out on Tuesday. But that is the plan as of right now. Bargain. Anything, anything massive or huge, unexpected. We'll talk to you again once we know all the first 30 picks that come in.
- [113:30]
C
Shouts to Devin Downey. Shouts to Chester, South Carolina. Terry Teago's a legend. Hawk, Larnell Hormuz. You're not subscribed. Please go subscribe.
- [113:40]
E
They're saying it's gonna open.
- [113:42]
C
Yeah, I heard. I've been reading close. I've been reading all about next show.
- [113:46]
E
Will it be open?
- [113:48]
C
Okay, no chance.
- [113:52]
E
No chance.
- [113:53]
C
I just say no every time and so far I've been right every time. I just keep saying no every time and I'm right every time. Okay, I'm sure I'm, I'm sure I will be wrong eventually, but I haven't been yet. Head straight as something, buddy. Woo.
- [114:14]
E
I'll talk to you craft on Tuesday.
- [114:16]
C
Man, I don't know know.
- [114:17]
D
I don't know.
- [114:18]
C
If you're not subscribed, please go subscribe anyway. Subscribe to podcasts like Apple and Spotify. There's more of us than there are of them. That's gotta, that's gotta be reflected in the comments. So please do that. We'll talk to you again real soon. Till then, take care.
- [114:48]
B
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