The junior big out of Spain was projected as a one-and-done prospect when he first suited up for Mick Cronin at UCLA. But he struggled to earn a spot in Cronin's rotations. After transferring to Michigan this season, Mara has rehabilitated his value, and now could be selected near the bottom of the first round. He's one of the best shot blockers in college, averaging 2.6 rejections a night - along with a career-best 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per.
Philon, a big combo guard, has been enjoying a breakout sophomore season in 2025-26. Through 24 bouts with Alabama, he's averaging 21.3 points while slashing .507/.396/.777, 4.9 dimes, 3.5 boards, and 1.3 swipes per game. He's expected to be a mid-to-late lottery selection, meaning he'll be right within the Bulls' striking range. But would Chicago really want to add another ball-dominant guard next to incumbent starting point guard Josh Giddey, who's still just 23 and has room to grow? That remains to be seen.
North Carolina star Caleb Wilson, a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA draft, is out with no timetable for return after he suffered a fractured left hand the 75-66 loss at Miami on Tuesday, the school announced. X-rays taken during the [Miami] game were negative, and he returned to play later in the second half vs. the Hurricanes, but additional imaging done in Chapel Hill revealed the fracture. The evaluation process is ongoing to determine the timetable for Wilson's return.
We are still exactly five months away from the 2026 NBA Draft, where the Miami Heat own just one pick. In the first of a three-part series, we will be discussing which guards fans should be keeping tabs on as that date approaches. Yes, Miami is already loaded in the backcourt. But this class is filled with very good ones. Sometimes, you just have to take the best available player and figure it out later!
The Washington Wizards pursuit of Trae Young wasn't only for how he can impact the team this season, but what his addition could mean for the team's long-term plans. Washington has high hopes for what Young's arrival could offer for the team's future plans, especially when it comes to the development of talented prospects like emerging star Alex Sarr and Young's running mate in the backcourt Tre Johnson.
Nate Ament could emerge as a worthy high-risk, high-reward target for the Miami Heat in the 2026 NBA Draft, especially if this organization does trust its developmental system. In FanSided's Christopher Kline's latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft, the Heat roll the dice on Ament with the No. 19 overall pick. Even though he's been a bit hit or miss so far this season, he has the high-end raw talent that should make him an appealing target for Miami.
It's not a stretch to say that Carr - teammates with freshman guard Tounde Yessoufou, another highly touted prospect - has been Baylor's best player thus far. Listed at 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Carr is an exceptional athlete and a lights-out shooter. He has an exceptionally high release, currently burying 42.6 percent of his 5.2 3-pointers per game - with a steady dose coming from NBA range.
It has been a downright terrible opening stretch for the 2025-26 LA Clippers. Between the Aspiration scandal, the ensuing salary cap circumvention investigation involving Kawhi Leonard and this week's messy public breakup with future Hall of Famer Chris Paul, there's been a steady stream of bad news coming from Inglewood. Not to mention the Clippers are 6-16 and 13th in the Western Conference, a disastrous start given a welcome respite by Wednesday's blowout victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
