I'm glad I read the thread before posting but let's just say I agree with you.
I've followed the NBA and the NBA draft for 60 years and I've been pretty good about predicting who gets drafted and who doesn't get drafted. The NBA drafts on potential and MM's ceiling is as a good journeyman type who can be a good backup center or even a starter if they have multiple stars at other positions and don't ask much of the center (Chicago Bulls championship teams for example). No NBA team spends a first round pick on somebody with that ceiling. IMO, there is a near zero chance of MM getting drafted in the first round of the 2026 NBA draft.
I saw my posts and thought I came down a little hard on Moreno. You’re right — he hasn’t shown anything that would put him there…yet. If he works on a jumper in the off-season, becomes elite defensively and works on his ability to move laterally, he absolutely could be a 1st round draft pick SOMEDAY. I don’t think a lot of folks realize just how hard it is for a traditional center to get taken in the 1st round these days. If you’re getting taken first round as a big man, you’re either:
- An athletic freak that has defensive anchor potential (Khaman Maluach, Mark Williams, DeAndre Ayton).
- A skilled pick and pop big with guard skills (Dereck Lively, Derik Queen).
There are two recent players I can think of that were neither super athletes or had guard skills that were still first round picks as centers, Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan. Both were unique, in that they were both highly efficient in the low post offensively and defensively while having significant height above average centers. Clingan is 7’2” and Edey is 7’3”. Moreno is listed at 7’0”, but based on past experience with our measurements (with shoes) versus NBA measurements (without shoes) he is likely 6’11”. He has plenty of height, but not abnormal —- his best bet is to become highly skilled and that will take time. I hope his sophomore year he is an All-American —- and I believe it is possible with his work ethic. I should have taken the time to really say how much I love the kid and his game. I just see a zero percent chance NBA 1st rounder this year.