NBA Draft

#1      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
Welcome to the NBA Draft thread 🏀


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NBA Draft Lottery
Sunday, May 10th
2:00pm CT
ABC


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NBA Draft Combine IL Invites (May 10-17)
Kylan Boswell
Andrej Stojakovic
Keaton Wagler


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June 13: Deadline for Early Entry players to withdraw from 2026 NBA Draft (4pm CT)


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2026 NBA Draft (Barclays Center - Brooklyn, NY)

First Round
Tuesday, June 23rd
7:00pm CT
ABC, ESPN

Second Round
Wednesday, June 24th
7:00pm CT
ESPN
 
#3      
RabidDawgClassic
Perhaps this is a silly question, but is there a scenario, no matter how unlikely, that would see Wagler as the #1 pick?
 
#6      
Fly Illini Fly!
RabidDawgClassic said:
Perhaps this is a silly question, but is there a scenario, no matter how unlikely, that would see Wagler as the #1 pick?
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I think the top 4 are solidly locked in (some order of Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, Wilson).

5-7 is where Wagler is projected.

Where he ends up will depend on the lottery results. A team that values a pure PG would probably love Acuff. A team that values on/off ball versatility -- with size and shooting -- would probably prefer Wagler.
 
#7      
mysterio2525
Fly Illini Fly! said:
I think the top 4 are solidly locked in (some order of Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, Wilson).

5-7 is where Wagler is projected.

Where he ends up will depend on the lottery results. A team that values a pure PG would probably love Acuff. A team that values on/off ball versatility -- with size and shooting -- would probably prefer Wagler.
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I think if Acuff measures above 6'2 he goes 5. even if he doesn't he may go 5. his athlecism is hard to ignore. I think wagler should be ahead of Flemings and Thomas
 
#9      
Emerson Bigguns
RabidDawgClassic said:
Perhaps this is a silly question, but is there a scenario, no matter how unlikely, that would see Wagler as the #1 pick?
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Him withdrawing, coming back to Illinois, and going pro in 2027?

He won't be considered until 5. The first 4 are just too big, talented, and well-rounded to ignore.

Wagler's level of athleticism creates a lower ceiling, though he could still turn into a Cade Cunningham type difference maker if the stars all align.


The Mavericks... Nico had Luca and Brunson... 4 years later they had neither... Dude should never sniff another front office job.
 
#12      
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?
Emerson Bigguns said:
Him withdrawing, coming back to Illinois, and going pro in 2027?

He won't be considered until 5. The first 4 are just too big, talented, and well-rounded to ignore.

Wagler's level of athleticism creates a lower ceiling, though he could still turn into a Cade Cunningham type difference maker if the stars all align.


The Mavericks... Nico had Luca and Brunson... 4 years later they had neither... Dude should never sniff another front office job.
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Nico got the job after they let Brunson walk
 
#14      
Boskydell
CentralILLini said:
I saw a mock that had the Bulls taking Brown and Steinbach at picks 9 and 15. I’d take that in a heartbeat as a Bulls fan.
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Read the latest Sam Smith mailbag where he quotes an anonymous nba exec on his opinion of Brown. I like the Steinbach part, though I doubt he makes it to 15.
 
#19      
rdk573
ESPN's Jeremy Woo reporting:

Wagler to the Grizzlies??
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#20      
ChiefGritty
rdk573 said:
ESPN's Jeremy Woo reporting:

Wagler to the Grizzlies??
View attachment 50254
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Being the quasi-replacement for a desultory and troubled Ja Morant as a rookie might get a little bumpy, but Memphis would be a nice landing spot as they have (with the possible exception of Brooklyn) the most loaded collection of draft capital in the league. Three firsts in 2027 after two this year, and more extra ones coming from the Desmond Bane trade.
 
#21      
Emerson Bigguns
rdk573 said:
ESPN's Jeremy Woo reporting:

Wagler to the Grizzlies??
View attachment 50254
Click to expand...
It will be a lot easier to project where he could end up on Sunday. There is soooo much variance in the way the lottery could shake out. It's really hard to guess where the best plausible place for him to land is, until we know who is picking 5-10. There are 9 teams with at least a 20% chance at a top 4 pick, and sometimes the odds don't mean much... Ask Dallas.
Quite a few chances for him to end up playing with another former Illini, as Washington, Miami, & GS could all end up in that range.

I just really don't want to see him in Utah, Sacramento, or... Chicago... Teams that can never seem to get it together... (At least in Chicago fans in Illinois could watch him win about 28 games again, on television...)

The rest either offer other players of interest for us (mentioned), ascending, young rosters (Atlanta, Charlotte), a young potential superstar whose game would compliment him well, and will get his games on TV (Dallas), Teams who will be back in contention next year due to returning stars, (Indiana, Milwaukee), Teams where he would immediately start and could get better very fast due to a stockpile of draft capital (BRK, Memphis) or the best team (and arguably organization) in basketball. (OKC)
 
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