They need multiple bigs with vuc gone and pat williams trade bait.
Wish they could get Mara at 15 but he'll be gone.
Collins is fragile
Need a real center but nobody great at 15.
Wilson and Johnson add athletic length.
Bennett Stirtz a projected Lottery Pick at #10
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Wish they could get Mara at 15 but he'll be gone.
Collins is fragile
Need a real center but nobody great at 15.
Wilson and Johnson add athletic length.
Reading through ESPN, they projected him to go to the Raptors at 19. I doubt it'll happen, but I'd love to see him be a Laker.
19. Toronto Raptors
Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa Senior
Combine measurements:
Height without shoes: 6-2½ | Weight: 186 | Standing reach: 8-2½ | Wingspan: 6-6
Stirtz shot the ball extremely well in drills at the combine, plus measured and tested fairly well, helping himself overall. He has drawn interest inside the top 20, with teams hoping that his high-level shooting might give him the versatility to play off the ball. Though his shooting was streakier than anticipated at Iowa (35.8% from 3), he carried a heavy workload and was asked to create for himself far more than he'll need to in the pros. His ability to navigate ball screens, limit mistakes and knock down open shots gives him a path to a useful bench role in the right situation, despite turning 23 in the fall.
Toronto can go a couple of different directions at this slot, with a need for a creative guard as well as a long-term center. Stirtz would be an immediate boost to their backcourt as a plug-and-play option, helping improve spacing and giving them another half-court playmaker. - Jeremy Woo, ESPN
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for Monday, June 23, and will be airing on ESPN and ABC at 7 p.m. CT.
ESPN NBA mock draft solidifies Bennett Stirtz as a first-round talent
Bennett Stirtz proved he can play with the best of the best this year at Iowa, and it has him trending towards being a first-round pick.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
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First of all, why are you up so early, rascal?19. Toronto Raptors
Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa Senior
Combine measurements:
Height without shoes: 6-2½ | Weight: 186 | Standing reach: 8-2½ | Wingspan: 6-6
Stirtz shot the ball extremely well in drills at the combine, plus measured and tested fairly well, helping himself overall. He has drawn interest inside the top 20, with teams hoping that his high-level shooting might give him the versatility to play off the ball. Though his shooting was streakier than anticipated at Iowa (35.8% from 3), he carried a heavy workload and was asked to create for himself far more than he'll need to in the pros. His ability to navigate ball screens, limit mistakes and knock down open shots gives him a path to a useful bench role in the right situation, despite turning 23 in the fall.
Toronto can go a couple of different directions at this slot, with a need for a creative guard as well as a long-term center. Stirtz would be an immediate boost to their backcourt as a plug-and-play option, helping improve spacing and giving them another half-court playmaker. - Jeremy Woo, ESPN
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for Monday, June 23, and will be airing on ESPN and ABC at 7 p.m. CT.
ESPN NBA mock draft solidifies Bennett Stirtz as a first-round talent
Bennett Stirtz proved he can play with the best of the best this year at Iowa, and it has him trending towards being a first-round pick.hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
Secondly, I don't necessarily agree with their notion of letting him be a plug and play role player just yet:" His ability to navigate ball screens, limit mistakes and knock down open shots gives him a path to a useful bench role in the right situation, despite turning 23 in the fall."
He'll get ample opportunities to compete for a starting role with the right team. Keegan was in the same category. An older rookie who filled the immediate need of a struggling franchise as a shooter. He was of course drafted higher, but filled that role nicely that year. Could Bennett step into a starting role somewhere? It's going to be very difficult but not impossible, especially if he has an impressive training camp performance.
Maybe I'm too optimistic?
First of all, why are you up so early, rascal?
" His ability to navigate ball screens, limit mistakes and knock down open shots gives him a path to a useful bench role in the right situation, despite turning 23 in the fall."
He'll get ample opportunities to compete for a starting role with the right team. Keegan was in the same category. An older rookie who filled the immediate need of a struggling franchise as a shooter. He was of course drafted higher, but filled that role nicely that year. Could Bennett step into a starting role somewhere? It's going to be very difficult but not impossible, especially if he has an impressive training camp performance.
Maybe I'm too optimistic?
I know first round guys often go sooner, but I'm not sure Keegan was "an older rookie", (he only played two years in college), certainly not compared to a grey beard like Stirtz, who was a four year player....First of all, why are you up so early, rascal?
" His ability to navigate ball screens, limit mistakes and knock down open shots gives him a path to a useful bench role in the right situation, despite turning 23 in the fall."
He'll get ample opportunities to compete for a starting role with the right team. Keegan was in the same category. An older rookie who filled the immediate need of a struggling franchise as a shooter. He was of course drafted higher, but filled that role nicely that year. Could Bennett step into a starting role somewhere? It's going to be very difficult but not impossible, especially if he has an impressive training camp performance.
Maybe I'm too optimistic?
It's the age factor. The age going into the draft. Those players are more mature in their persona and in their game, and generally more NBA-ready, but their ceiling is considered lower than the younger players.
Keegan also had a year of post-prep at DME Academy and was considered an "old" freshman being he turned 20 as he started college.
Brendan Hausen has worked out with the Memphis Grizzlies. Bennett's scheduled workouts with the Hornets, Bulls, and Raptors are in here. Nothing on Banks, but that doesn't mean that he won't get a workout somewhere. Source: Updated today 5/23/26.
And James Ham, an insider for Sac with lots of useful info on workouts, prospects, and more:
NBA draft workout tracker: Where prospects have visited in 2026
Rookie Wire examined every team in a comprehensive list and the prospects they’ve brought in for workouts before the NBA draft on June 23-24.
therookiewire.usatoday.com
And James Ham, an insider for Sac with lots of useful info on workouts, prospects, and more:
Brendan Hausen has worked out with the Memphis Grizzlies. Bennett's scheduled workouts with the Hornets, Bulls, and Raptors are in here. Nothing on Banks, but that doesn't mean that he won't get a workout somewhere. Source: Updated today 5/23/26.
NBA draft workout tracker: Where prospects have visited in 2026
Rookie Wire examined every team in a comprehensive list and the prospects they’ve brought in for workouts before the NBA draft on June 23-24.therookiewire.usatoday.com
And James Ham, an insider for Sac with lots of useful info on workouts, prospects, and more:
It will be interesting to see where Hausen ends up....
Overseas, right?
Where you been?It will be interesting to see where Hausen ends up....
Overseas, right?
I bet he’s been bustin’ Marge’s balls
Brendan Hausen has worked out with the Memphis Grizzlies. Bennett's scheduled workouts with the Hornets, Bulls, and Raptors are in here. Nothing on Banks, but that doesn't mean that he won't get a workout somewhere. Source: Updated today 5/23/26.
NBA draft workout tracker: Where prospects have visited in 2026
Rookie Wire examined every team in a comprehensive list and the prospects they’ve brought in for workouts before the NBA draft on June 23-24.therookiewire.usatoday.com
And James Ham, an insider for Sac with lots of useful info on workouts, prospects, and more:
Update: 6/2. Bennett has worked out for the Memphis Grizzlies. That makes four workouts for him: Chicago, Charlotte, and Memphis all completed. Toronto is still scheduled.