Draft Recap: 2026

We haven't done a full on draft recap in awhile but luckily Chat GPT is on hand to help us out! I fed the robots our draft and it kicked out a round by round recap and analysis, followed by some draft superlatives at the bottom. Apologies for any errors and I can finally say, "none of the errors are mine!" It's the AI!!! Thanks for a quick and efficient draft everyone!

Round 1: The Year of the FUNK

The 2026 SlamNation Draft will be remembered for one thing: FUNK’s full-scale takeover. The Coalition didn’t just control the top of the draft — they became the draft. Armed with an arsenal of traded picks, FUNK kicked things off with Cooper Flagg at #1 overall, a move as inevitable as it was seismic. The next two selections — Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe, both acquired via pre-draft deals — turned Round 1 into a private showcase for FUNK’s rebuild. And because three wasn’t enough, they also grabbed Kon Knueppel at #5, effectively walking out of the round with four of the top five rookies in the class. If SlamNation had a “Process,” this was it perfected — ruthless, coordinated, and weirdly elegant. The rest of the league just watched, equal parts horrified and impressed.

Beyond the FUNK fireworks, other teams tried to plant their own flags. SBUK stayed steady at #4, selecting Ace Bailey, a high-ceiling forward who’ll eventually slide in next to Embiid and Franz as part of the next-gen core. TRUO stayed loyal to potential over need, adding Shaedon Sharpe, while MEMM went with a name that perfectly fits their chaotic rebrand: Jordan Poole, a player who can drop 35 or implode by Tuesday.

The middle of the round was all about definition. ABCX, perpetually rebuilding but occasionally inspired, found a rare bit of clarity with Donovan Clingan, giving LaMelo’s offense a much-needed defensive anchor. SOUR made the first true surprise of the night with Yang Hansen, an untested international center who rose up both the NBA and SlamNation boards in a matter of weeks — a classic Trieu pick. MELO grabbed Mark Williams at RD1.10, solidifying a defense-first frontcourt, while SWMP added Jalen Suggs, hoping for the breakout year that’s always felt a season away.

The back third of Round 1 belonged to the contenders shoring up depth: ILCN took Rudy Gobert, the kind of low-drama pick that fits their Luka-led stability; SPDE doubled down on interior dominance with Jarrett Allen and later Naz Reid (thanks to a pre-draft swap with SCRM); SQSQ slid in a steady veteran in Payton Pritchard; and KSKT closed things out with Norm Powell, a pure bench bucket who fits their “steady hands” philosophy.

When the dust settled, Round 1 felt like two drafts at once — the top half about tomorrow, the bottom half about today. FUNK walked away with the future; the rest of the league tried to make sure that future doesn’t arrive too soon.

Round 2: The Balancers and the Opportunists

If Round 1 was about the future, Round 2 was about balance — teams trying to steady themselves after the fireworks, to fill in the cracks, or in some cases, double down on their identity. After FUNK’s historic rookie raid, the rest of the league collectively exhaled and started making pragmatic picks.

SQSQ kicked things off by taking Kevin Porter Jr., a swing-for-upside move that says as much about their confidence as it does their risk tolerance. MELO followed with Cameron Johnson, a sensible, system-fitting shooter to pair with Durant and Jaylen — the kind of plug-and-play vet that keeps MELO competitive without crowding their core. With the pick acquired from the pre-draft Giannis trade, CHMK took Christian Braun, another team-first wing who fits their high-IQ, multi-positional mold. The SWMP used their pick on Toumani Camara, adding defensive edge and rebounding hustle to a roster desperate for grit.

But by pick five, the balance tipped back toward the contenders. SPDE added Immanuel Quickley, a move that feels borderline unfair — a perfect guard complement to Booker and Maxey in a system that thrives on spacing and tempo. KSKT followed with Andrew Nembhard, one of the steadiest hands in the league and a natural fit beside Haliburton (and a bit of poetic redundancy if Tyrese’s Achilles recovery drags). ILCN struck next with Egor Demin, a high-upside rookie guard out of Europe who already fits their Luka-led ecosystem — smooth, smart, and slightly ahead of schedule.

SOUR went practical with John Collins, reuniting with a familiar face in Trieu’s eternal quest for frontcourt flexibility. SBUK jumped right back into the youth pool, snagging Tre Johnson, another rookie for their new-generation rebuild. CHMK doubled down later with Tari Eason, a defensive wild card who fits Mobley and Giannis’ intensity perfectly — one of those picks that screams “we’re going to regret letting them get him.”

Then came the late-round values. FUNK somehow got richer, selecting Khaman Maluach—yet another rookie—an athletic, developmental big who looks like he was generated in their youth lab. BUFF opted for pure experience with CJ McCollum, giving Brunson and Sabonis a steady veteran scorer. FJUB added Bilal Coulibaly, a sneaky upside wing still growing into his role, while ABCX made the night’s most delightfully chaotic pick — Draymond Green, a spiritual mascot for their “vibes before wins” strategy. TRUO quietly got Dereck Lively, a perfect defense-offense pairing with first rounder Sharpe, and MEMM closed the round on a strong note with Santi Aldama, a versatile big who fits their long-term structure and short-term box scores.

Round 2 wasn’t headline-grabbing, but it was revealing. The contenders found depth, the rebuilders kept hoarding potential, and the middle-tier teams made moves to stay alive in the arms race. It’s the round that separates the good from the patient — and in 2026, patience might be the new currency.

Round 3: Veteran Glue, Youth Depth, and the Culture Picks

Round 3 was where the 2026 SlamNation Draft truly took shape — the round where contenders shored up cracks and rebuilders planted their next seeds. MEMM opened with Malik Monk, adding a shot-happy wing who can explode for 30 on any given night — the perfect microwave presence to offset Ja Morant’s streaky availability. TRUO grabbed Mitchell Robinson, finally securing a defensive anchor and rim protector to stabilize their bruising frontcourt. Then ABCX went with Keyonte George, a pick that fit Oliver’s philosophy perfectly — betting on high-usage chaos guards who might one day figure it all out.

FJUB picked up Bub Carrington, a pick steeped in long-term optimism after their middling 2025 season. BUFF zigged veteran with D’Angelo Russell — a stabilizing guard who brings efficiency and spacing to Roger’s playoff-caliber lineup. FUNK then took Jared McCain, a second-year guard but still very much in developmental territory, continuing Jon’s accumulation of young, high-feel backcourt talent. At pick RD3.7, the reigning champions SCRM used their pick from the Anthony Edwards trade to select hometown Toronto rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, an old-school banger whose rebounding and intensity fit Jordan’s identity to a T.

From there, the round transitioned into proven, flexible role players. SBUK added Valkyries super fan Brandin Podziemski, one of the smartest all-around guards in the class, while ABCX came back for seconds with Cam Whitmore — a true buy-low upside play who could become a dynasty staple. ILCN secured Jaden McDaniels for defensive balance, and KSKT picked up Nic Claxton, a solid, switchable big who fits perfectly next to Zion and Porzingis.

Then came the biggest contender statement of the round — SPDE, clearly all-in on a title run, landing Bradley Beal and Jrue Holiday, with the latter arriving via trade from SCRM. The pairing gives Randall an elite veteran backcourt rotation around Maxey, Booker, and Wembanyama — a clear signal that Spade’s chasing banners, not prospects. Sandwiched between those two picks was SWMP selecting Devin Vassell, an ideal 3-and-D swing piece who complements Jokic’s playmaking perfectly.

Finally, MELO and SQSQ closed the round on steady footing — De’Andre Hunter and Tobias Harris providing their trademark blend of quiet reliability. Both are fantasy glue guys: unsexy but essential, the kind who keep you competitive every week even when the stars sit.

Round 3 was about veteran dependability met selective upside. Rebuilders like ABCX, FUNK, and FJUB used this stretch to deepen their pipelines with NBA-ready youth, while contenders like SPDE and SCRM went for culture and chemistry over flash. It wasn’t a headline-grabbing round — but when the dust settles, this is where championship depth and future stars were quietly built.

Rounds 4–6: The Architecture of Depth

By the time Round 4 rolled around, the adrenaline had worn off, and the real drafting began. This is the territory of builders — the GMs who know their rosters, remember every FAAB mistake from last season, and are quietly thinking about playoff matchups in March. The big names were gone, but the smart teams made it count.

SQSQ opened Round 4 with Kyle Filipowski, a sophomore big with just enough stretch to complement their veteran frontcourt. MELO continued their youth layering by adding Isaiah Collier, another future piece to pair with Stephon Castle. SCRM, even after winning the 2025 title, drafted like a team allergic to complacency — grabbing rookie Derik Queen and Herb Jones, two players who fit the system’s mix of development and defense. SWMP leaned on reliability, selecting Donte DiVincenzo, while SOUR took a more calculated swing with rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner, a fundamentally sound rim protector who could earn rotation minutes right away. KSKT followed with Nique Clifford, a quietly intriguing athletic wing who might outplay his draft slot.”

Further down, CHMK got another plug-in defender in Cason Wallace, and FUNK, naturally, couldn’t resist another rookie, snagging Cedric Coward, because apparently Jon has a clause that requires one prospect per round. BUFF added Kyle Kuzma, the ultimate mid-round metronome, while TRUO took Bobby Portis to stabilize their frontcourt bruisers. The round ended on a classic Trieu note, with SOUR drafting Kelly Oubre Jr., guaranteeing at least one 38-point, three-tech season highlight.

Round 5 brought a different energy — the pragmatists moved in. MEMM opened with PJ Washington, one of those guys who instantly makes any lineup look balanced. TRUO grabbed Brice Sensabaugh, another flier for the future. ABCX and FJUB both dipped into the youth pool again — Ayo Dosunmu for Oliver, Kyshawn George for Eric — while BUFF continued to quietly crush value with Jonathan Kuminga, a pick that feels like it should have happened ten spots earlier. FUNK’s pick of Scotty Pippen Jr. drew some side-eyes, but that’s the fun of their rebuild — it’s half player development, half art project. CHMK’s Jase Richardson was one of the most universally praised late rookie grabs, while SBUK and SOUR kept the veteran spine solid with Moussa Diabaté and Aaron Nesmith. ILCN added Aaron Gordon because, well, Frank only drafts rotation guys he can trust.

By the time Round 6 started, the GMs who still had energy were the ones who live for this part — the depth freaks. SQSQ kicked it off with Neemias Queta, a practical pick if not a spiritual one, while MELO added Wendell Carter Jr., the type of low-drama center every contender needs. SCRM used their pick on Nikola Topić, quietly setting themselves up with the long-term PG of the future. SWMP countered with Walter Clayton Jr., one of the most SlamNation-y names in existence. SPDE got maybe the best pure value of the late rounds with Gradey Dick, who could easily outproduce half of Round 3 if the shot comes around.

The middle stretch of the round was pure identity drafting: KSKT taking Keon Ellis, ILCN continuing their Euro pipeline with another foreign point guard in rookie Kasparas Jakucionis, SOUR taking a chance on Adem Bona, and SBUK rounding out their rotation with TJ McConnell, the patron saint of steady point guards. CHMK grabbed Ty Jerome — an unsexy but logical depth pick — and FUNK got back to grown-ups with Tyus Jones, because even mad scientists need someone to run point. BUFF landed Rui Hachimura in a quietly perfect fit, and FJUB added Chris Boucher, an evergreen fantasy flier.

The round closed in classic SlamNation style: ABCX — because of course — took Damian Lillard, the biggest “why not?” pick of the draft, TRUO added Saddiq Bey for toughness and spacing, and SWMP wrapped it all up with Aaron Wiggins, one last piece of hustle depth to round out their rotation.

If the early rounds were about dreams, these were about discipline. The true contenders — SCRM, SPDE, KSKT, SBUK — came away sharper and deeper, while the rebuilders — FUNK, ABCX, TRUO — doubled down on long arcs and unknowns. And somewhere in the middle, the veterans — BUFF, SOUR, MELO — quietly turned good teams into dangerous ones.

Every SlamNation champion in history has been built in rounds like these. This was where 2026 started looking real.

Draft Superlatives

Team of the Draft – FUNK Coalition

Four of the top five picks, all rookies — Flagg, Edgecombe, Harper, and Knueppel — plus more young talent later. A total rebuild masterclass.

Best Pick – SBUK with Ace Bailey

Landing a potential franchise cornerstone at #4 was both safe and brilliant; a perfect bridge from contention to retooling.

Biggest Reach – SOUR with Yang Hansen

A bold swing on an untested international prospect at #9. It could look visionary—or just very Trieu—in a year’s time.

Most Efficient Draft – ILCN

Every pick was measured and logical: Demin, Fears, Jakucionis, Gordon. A clinic in pragmatic team-building.

Steal of the Draft – SPDE with Gradey Dick (#85 overall)

A proven shooter who slipped far too late; ideal depth for an already elite roster.

Biggest Mystery – MEMM

A strange but somehow coherent mix of Jordan Poole, PJ Washington, Monk, and Aldama—chaotic but workable.

Smartest Champion’s Draft – SCRM

Jordan fortified his title defense with Herb Jones, Jović, and Topić—defense, development, and patience in perfect proportion.

Best Late Value – MELO with Wendell Carter Jr. (#82 overall)

A rock-solid veteran who fell way too far, rounding out one of the best-balanced rosters in the league.

Stock Up – Chamberlain Conference

The deeper, sharper side of the draft. SCRM, SBUK, and SPDE all drafted like franchises with playoff calendars already circled.

Stock Down – SWMP

Competent but uninspired; Hendricks, Clayton Jr., and Wiggins fill minutes, not highlight reels.

Overall Theme – The Era of Depth

This was the year teams stopped drafting stars and started drafting systems. Every contender left deeper than they arrived.

🏁 Closing Thoughts

The 2026 SlamNation Draft didn’t crown any instant contenders, but it revealed every franchise’s intent. FUNK rebuilt the future. SCRM fortified the present. The Chamberlain sides deepened, while the Russells gambled. In a league that’s learned to prize patience over flash, this draft felt less like a sprint and more like a decade-long relay — and every team just passed the baton to who they’ll be next.