2026 Liveish Draft Reactions - Complete

[Clinton]

HELLO HELLO, i am once again going to try and give some tewwible analysis of all your draft picks. Yes i know, 75% of GMs strictly want this to be Heimer rn(yes, we have done the studies on RP giveth and likes given) and thats okay. We here at ClintInc. know you have a choice for your SLN draft coverage and we are thankful for the folks at home tuning in.

Heimer is currently getting his engagement photos taken w/ the future wifey, but he might be joining later for all of you Heimer d-riders.

After learning of an early start to the draft, THANKS BOBBY, i have some catching up to do. SO LETS BEGIN!

1. Los Angeles Clippers -- Darryn Peterson -- SG
Bobby loves combo-guards who have PG status and there was ZERO chance he was going to take anyone else according to insiders. Peterson follows in the footsteps of DRose and Markelle Fultz to take the mantle for a team that 99% of the league wants to see win. It is going to be fun watching the Mamadook and Peterson destroy the league very soon. Pretty cool that this team got a haul for Fultz and can instantly juice their rebuild efforts. I think there was a clear top 2 in this draft and Bobby snagged perhaps the future face of SLN with this pick. His stip is wild right? It seems like such a tease. Ashes knew it would be used...so what is the catch? Does he turn into Jesus Shuttlesworth if he stays at the 2? IDK thats up to Bobby to wonder. Great pick, great fit. Go Clippers.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers -- AJ Dybantsa -- SF
My insider provided information about one of AJ's private workouts and holy shit is this man about to STRAP THE FUCK UP. That defense is looking scary good and his game screams franchise changer. I heard numerous reports about Cleveland being approached aggressively for this pick but in the end Manty keeps it and gets his guy. Mike will kick my ass if i give too much info away and ruin our pod later so i shall digress. AJ probably fits anywhere between SG, SF, & PF and will probs be a stud forever. This is a solid pick to keep building in the loaded East and the Cavs also have their frp next draft as well(SHOCKING!). Cavs have cap space and now their new face of the franchise. Lets see what else the Greek Freak has up his sleeves this offseason.

3. Atlanta Hawks -- Cameron "schwarzenegger" Boozer -- PF
Heimer sent me a picture earlier of some body builder who at first i thought was Cameron Boozer but on second glance was a white guy named Arnold Schwarzenegger. No clue who that guy is but i do know that Boozer is one strong dude. I guess you viewers at home are now wondering who I used my scouts on and how i know so much about these guys. It is because i am damn good reporter and NO OTHER REASON. I thought this was Boozer/Ament range and Heimer tucked his tail and went with the safer pick. No harm no foul. Boozer's C+ defense is closer to C than B- but if it ever gets to B or B+ then I think Boozer will be a top tier asset for Hotlanta. If he scores, rebounds, and down the line learns how to play defense then i think it makes up for not being stocky and chilling with 2 turnovers or so. I know you all frown upon scoring bigs who arent the stockiest but last time i checked Sabonis got a ring carrying the Kangz frontcourt.

4. Dallas Mavericks -- Nate Ament -- PF
I have to wonder, did Nate's parents just not care when they named him? They just moved some letters in his last name around and BOOM. Nah, they are probably good people. But uhm yeah, Nate Ament, misterrrrr POTentIAL. First thing i thought looking at him was that dude could be Bazley on steroids. Instead of A+ rebounding, its A+ defense instead. Now do i think Hoff keeps him at PF? The same guy that played with the upbringing of Jaren Jackson Jr? That same Hoff? Someone check if he has already been moved to SF. Could he be Scottlanta Barnes esque? Hoff will have fun molding him and thats all that matters. I didnt think Ament made it out of the top 4, so once again perfect board so far.

5. Toronto Raptors -- Tounde Yessoufou -- SF
The Tyler PeterSun model for Inside offenses has been adopted in Toronto and boy are they leaning in haaaard. This pick has all the makings of creating a Marvin Bagley impact for Toronto in the near future. Glad im not in the East because i despise Bagley and couldnt handle dealing with another wing like him. It is pretty OP to have a SF who starts with B rebounding. If his outside doesn't come along, Tounde can still have a very illustrious career because he was drafted to an Inside Offense team. He seems to be jacked w/ steals based on his profile, so hopefully his defense can come around for Jeremy's sake.

6. Sacramento Kings -- Koa Peat -- PF
Yeah, i really only studied the top four of this draft so yea this should be fun the rest of the way. Koa Peat finds him home in Sacaramento, who are looking to Three-PEAT as WCF Champs this upcoming season. See what i did there? Yeah you did. I know vision/passing means higher turnovers but i also believe it means better shots and easier buckets for those around a player. Jesse did well having Sabonis, who is a really good passer in his frontcourt. While im unsure Koa ever reaches the same stature of Jabrony, he could be an excellent replacement in the same vein. Point blank, he scores and rebounds at the 4 and is another chess piece type of player that the Kings have found success with in recent years. Will his defense ever come around is the major question mark though. If it doesnt, do not let Jesse market him like a world-changer because if there is one thing i know, Jesse is a slut for stocks and defense.

7. Utah Jazz -- Jalen Haralson -- SG
The Jazz are at the start of what looks like a reset. Every player currently rostered is on the last year of their deals and no one seems young enough to stay past this upcoming season. Grundle taking perhaps his future lead guard with this pick is not a bad move at all. He gives me Dinwiddie vibes but WAY BETTER. My thought with Dinwiddie at the beginning was always "will he be better as a SG?" It is kind of cool seeing the reverse of it now. Now i think Ralph will probs camp his outside to make it as viable as possible because C+ at PG is pretty epic long term. If it doesnt break that way where he can handle point duties, well then you still camp outside and he possibly make it as a plus-rebounding SG or legit 1-3 combo guy. POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS. Look to see the Jazz in the lottery again next season but this is a great piece to start the Jazz's youth movement.

--Made it to Mantypas' casa, back to it...

8. Vancouver Grizzlies -- LaBaron Philon -- PG
ROLL TIDE ROLL BABYYYY. Vancouver enter this upcoming season needing a playoff appearance or to hit .500. Can Labaron help? Boy do i hope so. After watching a whole season of him IRL, i think he has the juice to do a lot and be in the running for ROY. Ashes profile is about as accurate as you can get for Philon. I do believe this pick can go one of two ways. The first is that he becomes a legit starter for the Grizzlies in 3 seasons or so after perhaps an SC or just solid camping and TC...the goal for every draftee, right? LMAO. The second is that he needed the NDL to ever reach his true ceiling but will turn out to be a solid starter. I love Labaron and based on the file, Josh got the 5th highest scouted pot guy who is a point guard. Knowing that point guards can have some spectacular TC pop, i think this is perfect for him. Nice snag Grizzlies. Lets hope you got your pointgawd of the future here.

9. Boston Celtics -- Isaiah Evans -- SG
Passing on more of a project in CJ Ingram, Joe takes Isaiah Evans as hopefully his new two-way SG. First and foremost, I know Joe hates me currently after failed trade talks this past season but in-return i do not hate this pick for him. I love the long term idea of Evans in SLN. A league that is filled with wings who can shoot but dont play defense or board, Evans has a good shot to be another Oladipo eventually. Joe hates tanking and Evans seems to be a helpful piece that will make sure that does not occur. Alright im done glazing this pick, but i really do fuck with the long term outlook of Evans.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves -- Mikel Brown Jr. -- PG
What type of pointguard do you snag when you have three ball dominant players in KAT, Giannis, and Ace Bailey? A dude that can feed the rock and hit the open J when things break down. I get the worry with Brown though. D+ inside is scary for a point guard(his outside outlook is probs OP) and he lacks defense. Now, if the defense can come around, Mikel can be the dude for this team. If it doesnt then he could turn into a spot starter and bench 1-2. Pankin has to keep throwing darts at the PG board until one hits again. The rest of this team is set up to win but they really do need a table setter.

-- Alright im pretty tired today, so i am going to pick this back up tomorrow when my mind works and im not bashing picks.

— Post Day 1 FA Update — lets see how far i get

11. Los Angeles Lakers — Brady Koehler — PF
Armed with a lottery pick from a previous trade, the Extractor takes tweener Brody Koehler with his pick. He looks weird to start but weird does not mean this pick sucks. His outside looks beyond legit, so perhaps juicing inside, strength, and dealers choice? This team needed a PF/SF so its fine. Once his def and rebounding goes off, this could turn into a legit pick. Moving him might get him to Bari or Randle vibes? Idk i gotta move onto the next pick. Would i have made this pick? Probs not, but can it be understood through the lens of GX? Entirely.

12. Sacramento Kings — JT Toppin — PF
Story time: The moment i dropped this draft from my life is when Jesse took Toppin. I scouted him and thought holy shit, ill …then Ashes tossed him in the combine games and my chances turned bleak. I thought ay, maybe i can snag 20 from Josh and maybe get him to which Manty responded “You really thought Toppin would last to 20?” K bro. Yeah whatever, i really dig Toppin as a premier win-now guy and that thought him being far down in the file meant he could fall. Fuck me right? Fun fact, the other person i scouted was Jacob Cofie…both draft by the Kings, weird? I THINK NOT lol.

13. Dallas Mavericks — Dash Daniels — SG
When you get a chance to pair brothers and unlock a hidden stip, you take it, right? First though, Dash? Did the Daniels’ parents fall in love with the Incredibles? Do they have a sister named Violet? I have questions and need answers. Do i believe there was further reason for making this pick than to pair the brothers? Maybe? Hey if you get another Dyson then this pick was a top tier pick. He has fun starting ratings and notes AND more importantly got that teen boost(weird thing to be hype about lmao). Team is devoid of bigs but i guess non were worth taking this early.

END OF LOTTERY
BEGINNING OF NDL STASH POSSIBILITIESSSSS

14. Boston Celtics — Malachi Moreno — C
So uhm, remember how i said there were no bigs worth taking well little did i know that Malachi Moreno was prime for the taking and who know could be fucking crazy with NDL boosts for the at least the next two seasons. Snaps, he has a profile too? This will be a classic butt build for Moreno…one that lacks FT shooting prowess.

15. Utah Jazz — CJ Ingram — SG
Stash picks are usually loved by this writer and CJ Ingram could have a fun runway in the NDL. Having a starting rating at inside above a C+ for a SG is primo for more gains, and CJ looks to need all the help possible to start. He is a 19yr old with A pot and having that Inside and stock potential is a huge plus for long term success in SLN. The beauty of this is that he can theoretically get massive gains to his outside and be a long term two-way SG. Nice snag Ralph.

16. New Jersey Nets — Thomas Haugh — SF
Haugh skirts the line of diminished of gains and screams 3 & D wing who is a PLUS rebounder. These guys dont grow on trees and with the right development this is a piece that is wanted by most the league. Im unsure if his volume will ever sniff starter viability but Haugh looks to be a future chess piece for a winning team if his development breaks right. Not bad as the first pick in the Kittles GM run, with Steven being promoted to president of basketball operations.

17. Los Angeles Clippers — Cayden Boozer - PG
Whats the play after snagging your PG of the future with the first overall pick? Snagging a developmental point guard that could possibly provide an enormous trade haul down the line. The possibilities are endless with two top tier point guards though. Where Petersun is a combo-guard who could excel at either spot, Boozer is a pure point guard long term. Having a 19yr old point in the NDL without diminished gains is always a boon for teams. Good on Bobby for doubling down with how the board fell for him after loading up on front court players in recent drafts.

18. Los Angeles Clippers — Joseph Tugler — PF
Looking at Speed Tugman in a certain light, you understand this pick. You get a booty sweat at the 4 who can further grow that cake in the NDL and becomes a cheap resigning because his inside is so damn low. Now two things are very important here. The first is will his stocks be great enough to counteract his high turnovers long term. The second is will his FT numbers ever become a major detriment to a winning team. In general he needs the pot boost and strictly BUTT camping and this pick works. If Bobby keeps him in SLN, i wonder his long term ability to be a contributor.

19. New York Knicks — Cedric Coward — SG
Congratulations to Nav and the Knicks winning a championship this past season. Does anyone else love these colors? My favorite color scheme since maybe the Nuggets. Hokay onto Cedric Coward. Showing two-way potential, even as an older prospect, is still great as an NDL stash. I love putting older guards that fall down the board into the NDL and they usually work for me and the league(reddick, hood, kennard, divincenzo, hawkins?). His notes read really well for a future dude who could be viable as a 5th starter in spot duty and a plus backup 2/3. Just make sure those handles get looked at Nav.

20. Indiana Pacers — Hansen Yang — C
Hansen takes me as a polarizing player in the future. I am a slut for polarizing C/PF who maybe not have the stocks but get boards and get fouled. So some of these guys have to be looked at thru the lens of Zubac and Edey. Hansens FT numbers might be too low to ever reach a good valuation on his ability to get to the free throw line. Can his stocks ever make you okay with his turnovers? Will his rebounding ever touch 12 per game? A lot of questions that could be answered through the correct NDL development. You camp him fully as a butt, with strength, then you know he will turn it over and get to shooting 60% from the line. This is a fair play by Tongpapi. I havnt seen him like guys like this but Hansens base is pretty fookin nice as a long term rotational butt.

21. Cleveland Cavaliers — Darius Acuff — PG
Cleveland had reportedly held out hope for a phat RP package to get out of this pick but instead had to pivot when no such bag appeared. Acuff is a nice long term play for a Cavs team in desperate need of good point guard play. I like that his plus rating to start is defense. He definitely needs NDL boosts to his strength imo. Classic JS/3P/Handles with a boost to strength and steals with choice points should make this Acuff a viable starter for this team long term.

22. Atlanta Hawks — Darius Adams — SG
Armed with my pick, Heimer takes someone i mightve picked. Idk you take your future SG last season in Jase, who is showing legit two-way potential. Then this season you double down and take a future scoring only guy? Cant knock the hustle in covering all bases. Dont get me wrong, i think Adams will get tons of output in the NDL but wouldnt that just take away from Jase? I thought this pick would be more fun being that it was my pick for Heimer and we both wanna collaborate on live analysis for the draft. Sigh. It would be cool if Adams turns into an A/A guy. That could be OP because i know no one in this league camps perimeter defense/steals/strength for these guys. Who knows Heimer, could you have gone with a developmental big? If the board didnt allow it then fuck it.

23. Phoenix PeterSuns — Darrion Williams — SF
Ashes seems to have made a concerted effort of infusing the league with players who have two-way potential. He has seen how the league has diminished the value of guys with no defense and said fine, you fuckboys want zero volume but better defense? Enjoy. Williams looks fun for a future where Phoenix is running…OUTSIDE? He looks exactly like Haugh just with less scouted pot. The league will be smitten over Williams just like Haugh if both develop correctly so good play here. Tyler needed a guy like this because he already has young players who have volume.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers — Shelton Henderson — SF
I like the player, i am unsure on the team fit. Will Manty camp these guys after trying hard to sell these picks is the million dollar question. His notes are basic but he looks like a guy who could be a dude based on the inside/outside/def plus ratings to start. The Cavs did well with their second pivot of the day and became a real winner of the first round. Lets hope Shelton gets camped and developed.

25. Milwaukee Bucks - Yanic Konan Niederhauser — C
I mean if you’re going to draft a 24yr old who really needs to develop, might as well go with the Best Name in the draft. I might just name drop Niederhauser on pods because its fun to say. YKN is a great acronym as well. Alright, actual ball talk now, sorry. His notes read as a potential butt which is nice but his ratings and age are a worry. Yeah no idc, this is all about his name. Just camp him Derek, he will turn into a league wide phenomenon.

26. Phoenix PeterSuns — Bennett Stirtz — PG
Guaranteed Tyler doesnt camp this dude long term. He could become a solid backup/third choice guy for this team which is a nice snag on a rookie contract. His starting ratings are really nice and could make him a long term guy in SLN. Yeah, its a solid team building pick. If you wanted more, write your own.

27. Miami Heat — Hudson Greer — SG
Two players in this class have names directly related to pixar movies. Dash(the incredibles) and Hudson(cars), wonder what the top 100 birth names were around this name and how heavily influenced by pixar they were. Alright yeah, Hudson Greer, is pretty legit and ANOTHER two-way potential based player. I like that Greer has an easy camp build here. His defense seems good enough to camp steals, you can camp his outside and use choice points to boost his inside/strength/handles. Nice scoop Scoops.

28. Denver Nuggets — Bryson Tiller — PF
After releasing one of this writers all time favorite albums in T R A P S O U L in 2015, Tiller decided to work on his basketball and enters SLN as a future scoring big. Damn, really shouldve kept 27 and i couldve played on the Tiller thing for a long time smdh. But yeah, i like these guys as long as they are uber efficient, get to the line, and give me sub 9/10 boards per 36. His defense is low but if it gets to B- with rebounding at A-, i think Tiller becomes well liked. I mean look at guys like Naz or even Trezz(if u squint really fucking hard), they get buckets and are winning players. Yeah comparing to Trezz was out of pocket but still! Nothing of note on his handles but nothing of note on his vision is a mixed bag. I think this could be a fun play long term and thing Tiller will turn into a perennial MLE guy.

29. Denver Nuggets — Dame Sarr — SG
Will we look back at this pick and think wow, was Sarr the best SG taken in the 20s this draft? Probs not but if i flipped this pick with Heimers, i wouldnt of hated on Heimer as much. Everything O6 ever told me on guards in the draft is that if there inside is that high to start, take em. His defense needs work but is starting C+ is pretty nice long term but i do think he will turn it over a bit. If the defense never develops this pick might be a wash. Fuck, do i like Heimers pick more now? Eh idk. Just fyi Dame Sarr is NOT related to Alex. Sorry Kipke, i gave up on this one.

BONUS for Merv

30. Orlando Tragic — Xavien Lee — PG
So up until this point, i thought this pick would give me something to write about. Upon checking the Magic roster, i am lost. Do i see an outcome where Xavien turns good? Yes. Does Merv camp his second rounders? Unlikely. The rebounding is a major positive and the handles are too. Outside looks legit af. The negatives though might kill him if he isnt camped. A lack of defense and strength is worrisome, especially with taller, stronger guys taking over the position as of late. I understand everyone is scared of passing/vision(still unsure if they are two seperate things) but Xavien needs it long term if he doesnt get it naturally. At least Merv picked up the 3rd year option and PGs usually pop in TC. It would be cool if he turns out viable in the future as a backup PG. Lets hope Merv makes it so.
Was wrong about a bunch of analysis when it came to Mervs prowess for camping and developing his 2nd rounders. Im telling you, knee jerk af with this sometimes. But yeah Merv has a long history of making second rounders viable in this league and Xavien has an opportunity to be his next Lakeland success story.

Alright done with my out of pocket, knee jerk reactions to these picks. Good luck with all these players and i hope they all turn out well for everyone.

[jwoo]

I was excited about this until I saw the lukewarm Tounde take

[jwoo]

Actually I take it back that’s a fair take

Except we don’t run inside offense

[mantypas/CavsCzar]

HES BACK!

[bobby]

why do people wanna see me win? i need some haters BAD.

feel like the autistic team manager checking into a game and going game 1 aaron nesmith

[jwoo]

why do people wanna see me win? i need some haters BAD.

feel like the autistic team manager checking into a game and going game 1 aaron nesmith

[heimer]

mamadook!!

[heimer]

idk about tucking my tail - i think it takes more balls going for the traditional big versus the guy with LOADED potential

[Joe]

I don’t hate you Clint! But I coulda saved you from your Bamba / Jrue predicament and you’d have ended up with CHA 27 after Lou retired…smh

[jwoo]

Bash some picks!