NBA Mock Drafts 2026

[Sigmapolis]

Love me some "Big Rob" Jones, but you made me chuckle when you used him as an example of "fluid lateral footspeed". Big Rob was surprising able to stay in front of guards on the perimeter, but I can't say as it ever looked "fluid"!

It might not have been pretty but he did it.



The defense needs a guy or guys like that to function.

Jackson and Chatfield last season just couldn't do it, and the defense suffered accordingly.

 

[Texbudman]

Milan is shooting well enough to get drafted this year.
Jefferson is 2nd round pick at best, I don't see him getting into the 1st round.
Toure needs to come back for a 2nd year with a better offensive package if he wants drafted.

Jefferson is really moving up the draft boards. If he finishes the season strong he will definitely be a first rounder. He’s the kind of player that can affect a game positively even if he’s not scoring. Would be nice to get some more Clones in the NBA

 

[AllInForISU]

Except that isn't really how the NBA drafts any more. The lottery last year was pretty much this:

- Bryant at #14 - a raw 1 year guy that didn't really produce in college
- Maluach at #10 - raw but fairly productive at Duke as a 1 year guy
- French kid at #12

The other 11 guys were anywhere from really good to elite players in the college game. Yes, mostly 1 year guys, but they all produced at a high level. That included guys like Kneuppel and Demin that were skilled guys that weren't very athletic.

There were 5 first round guys that were productive upper-classmen, none of which I would consider to be better NBA prospects than Milan.

That's why I don't think Toure is a first round guy this year, and I think Milan is.

I never said he wasn’t a 1st round guy, I said he was at best, a late first round guy. I would say there is a very, very low chance he is a lottery pick. Same with Jefferson. And I would almost guarantee both of them spend significant time in the G-League.

Since 2020, 77 of 84 lottery picks have been underclassmen or foreign. The NBA certainly does draft largely on potential with age being a significant factor as well, I’m not sure how you can say otherwise.

I also don’t think Toure is a first round pick this year either. But wouldn’t be shocked if he was next year if he continues on this trajectory.

 

[Frak]

My eyes say yes (with the caveat that I wear glasses!). Georges was crafty skilled. I believe Jefferson is stronger and more athletic. I am not calling him a freak athlete, but more so than Georges or Milan. Although when it came to trash talk, not sure anyone was ever more "athletically mouthed" than Georges!

I would say you are right. How many dunks did Georges have at ISU? Probably could count that on one hand. Milan has all of 1. Jefferson has way more than that just this season. He isn't what I'd call a below the rim player in college, but he would be in the NBA.

 

[AuH2O]

I never said he wasn’t a 1st round guy, I said he was at best, a late first round guy. I would say there is a very, very low chance he is a lottery pick. Same with Jefferson. And I would almost guarantee both of them spend significant time in the G-League.

Since 2020, 77 of 84 lottery picks have been underclassmen or foreign. The NBA certainly does draft largely on potential with age being a significant factor as well, I’m not sure how you can say otherwise.

I also don’t think Toure is a first round pick this year either. But wouldn’t be shocked if he was next year if he continues on this trajectory.

I agree that age matters, but the draft has also shifted heavily toward skill and production in recent years. I don’t think he’s a lottery pick either but I think he’s a first rounder without much chance of going up any further.

So it’s tough being an upperclassman, especially one that isn’t athletic. But there are typically several upperclassmen getting picked in the first, and unlike years past there aren’t a bunch of really raw unskilled guys getting picked early.

A bit of semantics, but I think there is more appreciation for offensive skill in the past couple years.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I would say you are right. How many dunks did Georges have at ISU? Probably could count that on one hand. Milan has all of 1. Jefferson has way more than that just this season. He isn't what I'd call a below the rim player in college, but he would be in the NBA.

Georges dunks

FR = 2/2
SO = 1/1
JR = 2/2
SR = 4/4

= 9/9 career

 

[Pizzapitter]

I would say you are right. How many dunks did Georges have at ISU? Probably could count that on one hand. Milan has all of 1. Jefferson has way more than that just this season. He isn't what I'd call a below the rim player in college, but he would be in the NBA.

Funny. I don't recall a Niang dunk!
Could be wrong. Probably.
Initially, I thought Buchanan's vertical was around a foot.
I'm convinced of recent, 13"+ ⁸

Georges dunks

FR = 2/2
SO = 1/1
JR = 2/2
SR = 4/4

= 9/9 career

(kidding).
Forgot what thread I'm in.
Batemon has been playing in Toure's shadow, understandable.
I see that changing as the year goes on.
Don't recall the source, but remember some jaw-dropping hs 3 stats.

Georges dunks

FR = 2/2
SO = 1/1
JR = 2/2
SR = 4/4

= 9/9 career

Safety assuming, Georges forehead didn't get washed on the rim!

 

[Sigmapolis]

Funny. I don't recall a Niang dunk!
Could be wrong. Probably.
Initially, I thought Buchanan's vertical was around a foot.
I'm convinced of recent, 13"+ ⁸
(kidding).
Forgot what thread I'm in.
Batemon has been playing in Toure's shadow, understandable.
I see that changing as the year goes on.
Don't recall the source, but remember some jaw-dropping hs 3 stats.
Safety assuming, Georges forehead didn't get washed on the rim!

 

[Cyclonepride]

 

[Cyclonepride]

 

[Sigmapolis]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/69...t-top-100-prospects-dybantsa-boozer-peterson/

Why I’m bullish on Iowa State’s players​

#19 Jefferson

#30 Toure

#45 Lipsey

#46 Momcilovic

 

[iseedit]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/69...t-top-100-prospects-dybantsa-boozer-peterson/

Why I’m bullish on Iowa State’s players​

#19 Jefferson

#30 Toure

#45 Lipsey

#46 Momcilovic

Just seen there's suppose to be 15 scouts at the game tonight.

 

[ruxCYtable]

HERE WE ******* GO PSYCHOS

 

[NATEizKING]

 

[rosshm16]

I'll be a monkey's uncle if all four of those guys get drafted this year, but I really don't follow the NBA that closely anymore and so don't have a great idea of what they're looking for. Toure seems way too raw to me but maybe NBA teams don't care, obviously the potential is there.

Here's a list of guys who have been the "late" (#28-30) first-round picks in recent drafts:

2025: Hugo Gonzalez, Liam McNeeley, Yanic Konan-Niederhauser
2024: Ryan Dunn, Isaiah Collier, Baylor Scheierman
2023: Brice Sensabaugh, Julian Strawther, Kobe Brown

The fact that I've never heard of any of those guys suggest the NBA may not be afraid to burn such a pick on a raw / unproven freshman from Iowa State.

Google says the NBA rookie minimum salary is $1,270,000/year.

 

[LeaningCy]

If that mock draft with Jefferson at #10 becomes reality, this second-round anecdote would be some pretty good ammunition showing TJ's ability to develop players into a lottery pick. (Actually one of the few bright spots when it comes to NIL, guys can be a little more selective with their draft timing.)

 

[Big_Sill]

I don't know if Jefferson will be a first round pick, especially with the much-discussed quality of this year's draft class.

However, keep in mind that NBA teams are looking for very different things in the draft. Sure, a lot of teams are looking for high upside and untapped potential. But the playoff teams that draft later in the first round are also often interested in drafting players who they are more confident could be contributors to an NBA rotation in years 1 & 2. Teams that are over the salary cap need to get production from their draft picks, which makes a high-floor player an intriguing choice.

One interesting thing is that Jefferson's comps on Kenpom for this year include Draymond Green and Toumani Camara. Obviously everyone knows about Draymond, but Camara is in his 3rd year in the NBA and has been a bright spot for an otherwise-struggling Trail Blazers franchise.

(Side note: Describing Jefferson as "a little better" on defense compared to Niang has to be the understatement of the year.)

Jefferson is a much better defender than Niang on a college court. But in an NBA game they are similar and would be treated as such. Not athletic enough to guard on the perimeter, not big enough to defend inside.

You are looking to hide both of them on defense in a similar way.

 

[AuH2O]

This has JJ at 16 and Milan at 29 to the Pistons, which would actually be an awesome fit. Really good young team in desperate need of a shooter.

 

[BryceC]

If that mock draft with Jefferson at #10 becomes reality, this second-round anecdote would be some pretty good ammunition showing TJ's ability to develop players into a lottery pick. (Actually one of the few bright spots when it comes to NIL, guys can be a little more selective with their draft timing.)

Well and Green who is outstanding at developing big men.

 

[gocy444]

This has JJ at 16 and Milan at 29 to the Pistons, which would actually be an awesome fit. Really good young team in desperate need of a shooter.

Pistons are one of the more exciting up and coming teams. Would be fun to see him a part of something like that.