2026 draft

[WildWolf2813]

As of now, my 5 guys at 28 should be

1. Joshua Jefferson
2. Meleek Thomas
3. Sergio de Larrea
4. Alex Karaban
5. Zuby Ejiofor

completely iffy on

Jack Kayil
Ebuka Okorie
Luigi Suigo
Henri Veesaar

5 guys I'd avoid completely

1. Koa Peat
2. Isaiah Evans
3. Dailyn Swain
4. Baba Miller
5. Christian Anderson

[Monster]

Wolves are working out Labaron Philon Jr. It's interesting because he is supposed to go well before 28 but it's also interesting because he is not a big guy at all. He has a few more lbs on him than Hyland did at the time they were drafted but a shorter wingspan. I'd say they are pretty comparable physically.

Do people here have some takes on him?

I just checked NBAdraft.net definitely has a little movement from what they had a few days ago.

OKC has 3 picks in the top 37 it seems pretty unlikely they are gonna be selecting 3 players. In this draft.

[rapsuperstar31]

Wolves are working out Labaron Philon Jr. It's interesting because he is supposed to go well before 28 but it's also interesting because he is not a big guy at all. He has a few more lbs on him than Hyland did at the time they were drafted but a shorter wingspan. I'd say they are pretty comparable physically.

Do people here have some takes on him?

I just checked NBAdraft.net definitely has a little movement from what they had a few days ago.

OKC has 3 picks in the top 37 it seems pretty unlikely they are gonna be selecting 3 players. In this draft.

I liked him quite a bit in last years draft hoping we could grab him at 31, and than he decided to go back to school for one more year and the nil paycheck. He was a pretty good defender his freshman year, but wasn't a good 3pt shooter and wasn't a good finisher at the hoop. This year his sophomore season, he shot fantastic including 40% from three on 6.2 attempts, and finished very well at the rim, including a really nice floater. In a stacked guard draft, I do think he's getting dinged a bit for being a sophomore where the others are mostly freshmen. With 12 guards expected to be drafted in the first round, it wouldn't surprise me if one or two ends up dropping a bit. He's been dropping in recent mocks, ESPN has him at 18, a few more at 19.
After Rob I'm sure we are scared to take another small guard, but he's got a pretty good wingspan and standing reach compared to Rob, and is 12lbs heavier than Rob was coming out of Kentucky. Compared to Bones who also came out as a Sophomore, Philon shot the ball better percentages while averaging 3 more assists per game. With a higher usage this season, Philons defense was quite a bit worse than his freshmen season, which like with Ant taking a bigger role isn't unexpected to some degree.

[Monster]

Wolves are working out Labaron Philon Jr. It's interesting because he is supposed to go well before 28 but it's also interesting because he is not a big guy at all. He has a few more lbs on him than Hyland did at the time they were drafted but a shorter wingspan. I'd say they are pretty comparable physically.

Do people here have some takes on him?

I just checked NBAdraft.net definitely has a little movement from what they had a few days ago.

OKC has 3 picks in the top 37 it seems pretty unlikely they are gonna be selecting 3 players. In this draft.

I liked him quite a bit in last years draft hoping we could grab him at 31, and than he decided to go back to school for one more year and the nil paycheck. He was a pretty good defender his freshman year, but wasn't a good 3pt shooter and wasn't a good finisher at the hoop. This year his sophomore season, he shot fantastic including 40% from three on 6.2 attempts, and finished very well at the rim, including a really nice floater. In a stacked guard draft, I do think he's getting dinged a bit for being a sophomore where the others are mostly freshmen. With 12 guards expected to be drafted in the first round, it wouldn't surprise me if one or two ends up dropping a bit. He's been dropping in recent mocks, ESPN has him at 18, a few more at 19.
After Rob I'm sure we are scared to take another small guard, but he's got a pretty good wingspan and standing reach compared to Rob, and is 12lbs heavier than Rob was coming out of Kentucky. Compared to Bones who also came out as a Sophomore, Philon shot the ball better percentages while averaging 3 more assists per game. With a higher usage this season, Philons defense was quite a bit worse than his freshmen season, which like with Ant taking a bigger role isn't unexpected to some degree.

Thanks for all the info! How does he compare to Okorie as a prospect? He looks and is a little taller but Okorie is 10 lbs heavier.

[BeenLurkin]

Watching the basic highlight packages from some of these guys around the last few days and man …. Okorie looks like Dillingham….and Christian Anderson looks like a dog. De larrra plays like a Luka maybe? Has that euro shiftieness…haven’t watched the bigs yet and the Philin and stirtz looked out of reach so I haven’t seen them. Don’t watch college at all so my judgement is useless…by Yeah okorie looks like a Rob Dillingham clone to me.

I also thought dilly had a chance and looked good in summer league so don’t listen to me

[BeenLurkin]

Just watched a small sample of some game film breakdown so not highlights and what immediately struck me about Philin vs the other guys I watched was the kid shoots right hand but fineshes and attacks the rim left handed mostly? Or at least is super comfy doing it. Watch highlights of Anderson or okorie and find me one lefty finish…I’ll wait. Main point is Philon could translate sooner if he legit can finish at the rim and has the handle to shake guys like a young Edwards beyond the arc…I’m sold!

[BeenLurkin]

Maybe the workout signals the potential shift in draft spots based on trades in the works or talks progressing to a point where we need to kick better tires?

[Lipoli390]

Maybe the workout signals the potential shift in draft spots based on trades in the works or talks progressing to a point where we need to kick better tires?

I think this is just the Wolves front office preparing for multiple contingencies. Media reports have repeatedly indicated the Wolves are exploring possible trades for a star or borderline star - with Giannis, Kyrie, Ja Morant and Derrick While all mentioned as possible Wolves targets. Given TC’s big trade for Rudy several years ago and his pursuit of Durant last summer, it’s highly likely that these reports are true. We’ve also seen TC make significant deals for non-star players - examples including his trades for Ayo and Mike Conley/NAW. In addition, we’ve seen TC do all sorts of draft maneuvering up or down nearly every draft since he’s been here. TC’s record as our PBO has been mixed and so far underwhelming but I give him credit for what appears to be a pattern of exploring nearly every conceivable contingency under different hypothetical circumstances.

I’d like to see TC trade up for a player he really likes and finally hit on a winner. I like the idea of infusing some young talent into this roster and TC is overdue to finally live up to his reputation out of Denver as a draft wizard. However, while I think trading up is a distinct possibility, I think it’s the least likely scenario. I still expect the Wolves to trade down or out of the 1st round as part of a deal for an impact veteran although not necessarily a star.

With all that in mind, I have no doubt the Wolves front office folks are serious about possibly moving up in the draft and that they really like Philon. I also have no doubt that TC has contingencies for moving down in the draft with players he’d take in the upper second round in lieu of picking at #28. And of course, no doubt TC is exploring trade scenarios that would include trading out of the draft, packaging our #28 pick with a player or two for an established veteran.

[BeenLurkin]

I do not recall ever hearing a rumor of what the wolves might do under TC actually happen. It’s all been a surprise swerve and I think TC is smart and connected and a good enough card player to not let stuff slip out. If it’s smoke so far it’s been a screen and not a fire….

[BeenLurkin]

Not sayin I like how he has played his hands…but he doesn’t let his cards show