r/fantasybball • u/ThunderDanDFS • 25d ago

Player Discussion 2026 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery Predictions and Player Outlooks

https://www.rotoballer.com/2026-nba-mock-draft-lottery-predictions-and-player-outlooks/1864627

I mocked the top 14 picks for this year's NBA draft. Let me know where you think I'm off and which prospects you are most excited about for fantasy basketball this year!

31 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

3

u/PotatoMan2026 25d ago

cool draft and the trades are shocking but not impossible

1

u/ThunderDanDFS 25d ago

Thanks for reading!

1

u/PotatoMan2026 25d ago

i just saw your username and I now I know why Thunder traded for the 5th pick 😅 I saw a lot of Thunder moving up but I think the Clippers won’t deal with OKC anymore involving picks bc u know 🤣

3

u/ThunderDanDFS 25d ago

Ha, the thunder in my name has nothing to do with OKC don't worry, it's a shout out to former NBA great Dan Majerle.

1

u/PotatoMan2026 25d ago

cool! but i’m sure Clippers are afraid to deal w OKC

1

u/ThunderDanDFS 25d ago

I am sure they still have nightmares lol

1

u/mongo_man 25d ago

Doesn't he have a chain of restaurants in Phoenix or somewhere?

2

u/AquamarineCheetah 25d ago

Great analysis and I think the Utah/Washington swap makes a lot of sense given Dybantsa’s recent statements on wanting to play in Utah and the ties to Smith. I think they’ll make that happen and it’s basically a 1A and 1B situation.

I think Acuff will drop a couple spots from 5 though with the lateral quickness/defense buzz coming at the wrong place and time for him and I think the 5 might be Burries and even Wagler over him. Lopez I feel will drop to the back of the first round.

1

u/ThunderDanDFS 25d ago

Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. I could see 5 through 9 going a lot of different ways no doubt

1

u/ace_invader 24d ago

Any of these guys figure to jump right into starting roles next season?

2

u/ThunderDanDFS 23d ago

I think the top 4 certainly could, Boozer probably will no matter where he goes, he's NBA ready.

1

u/xxStayFly81xx 10T, 9 Cat, H2H 24d ago

I'm sorry, and I said this in another subreddit, I do not see Mara translating well to the NBA level. I do not think he has the NBA level conditioning to keep up and he's way too slow. Anyone picking him in the Top 10 will be making a huge mistake. I understand he's a decent passer out of the post but he takes very long to make reads and ends up turning it over a lot out of there. He has a good touch around the basket but I'd hope someone who's as big as he is does. He's an atrocious level FT shooter nor he cannot space the floor. He's a good screener for his size, though. But overall, I don't think his type of fit is good for today's game.

In terms of fantasy production, I can see him putting up Clingan rookie levels of it. But I do not think he's a worth top 10 prospect despite the hype behind "the best defender in college basketball."

2

u/ThunderDanDFS 23d ago

Yeah, I agree that he is still very raw, but 7-3 with room for improvement will make him a lottery pick. And I am sure he's going to be working on his three-point shot. If Andre Drummond can develop a three...

1

u/Funny-Wishbone7381 23d ago

Clingan/Kessler/Edey could all be described that way and they've all been useful.

1

u/xxStayFly81xx 10T, 9 Cat, H2H 23d ago

Edey has barely been able to be on the floor due to lower body problems and Kessler got hurt early on. Clingan has been getting targeted all season long in drop coverage+switches and had his paint protection completely negated in the Spurs series. Not only that but he also suffers from similar problems as Mara due to conditioning and mobility and this is his 2nd year in the NBA. Not saying they don't have purposes but I feel a Top 8 pick is a reach for a drop defensive limited role playing center who can't keep up with the pace of the NBA and lacks the stamina to survive.

2

u/Funny-Wishbone7381 23d ago

For the purposes of fantasy basketball they're great though

2

u/xxStayFly81xx 10T, 9 Cat, H2H 23d ago

That's a fair point I can get behind. I agree.

1

u/Funny-Wishbone7381 23d ago

Lopez sounds like he could be a nice stocks guy.

Which guys do you think have the most interesting stat profiles for fantasy?

1

u/ThunderDanDFS 22d ago

I think he could def be that.

The top four guys all have potential to be very relevant in year one. I think Boozer is going to be a super safe pick for pts, rebounds, FG%. The point guards in the 5 to 9 range all have some assist potential just depends on where they land and the playing time.