JBL 36 offseason ranks (pre-draft)

 Pre-Season Rankings 2026

 

With the rookie draft now complete, let’s have a look at the Top 5 JBL teams heading into JBL 36. This is mostly based on how much value their keepers/rookies have (JBL salary)  compared to their market value. 

 

Brussels Muscles

Timbo has a very strong quartet in Kessler, Edey, Amen, and Boozer. All of them are undervalued at their current JBL salary. The question on the 2 big men will always be can they stay healthy? Last year, Edey played just 11 games and Kessler only 5 games. The JBL lottery Gods shined on Timbo and got him the 2^nd overall pick which landed him ROY favourite Boozer. Things are starting out very rosy in Brussels for JBL 36.

 

Austin Powers/Cali

Year 4 of the Wemby project. The cupboard is stocked!  Wemby, NAW, Ayo, Naz, and a top rookie in Peterson.  Cali/Austin has never been set up for success as much as this year. Can their draft keep them as contenders? Will the location situation (Cali v Austin) be a distraction?  Oh wait, it’s fantasy hoops, they should be OK.  Pressure mounts in Austin/Cali as the Wemby-window nears its peak.

 

Dayton Yer Daughters

The prodigy continues to climb the power rankings each year.  Tyrese is the cheap superstar and Dayton’s loaded with fantastic values in Chet, Kon, and Ty Jerome.  On top of that he landed the 5^th overall pick at pick 11 in our draft. Could Keaton Wagler be a contributor from day one?  Dayton enters a 2-year title window with Tyrese at the helm to pull off the unthinkable.

 

Seoul Brothers

No rookie picks, no problem. Seoul did his business last year and brings back a ton of valued keepers. Trey Murphy, Moussa, VJ, Keyonte, and Jabari are all underpriced compared to what they would go for at Auction. And we know Seoul’s track record in the JBL, he knows how to assemble a winner.  Look out league, Seoul is raring to go.

 

French Lick Legends

The 5-time champs already have 6 players on their roster, including top rookie Caleb Wilson. He already has the stars – Maxey, Tatum, Kawhi and can now focus on balancing out the roster in the JBL auction. French has really been in a slump as of late, finishing 3^rd last year, 6^th the year before, and 4^th just 3 years ago. This comes after a 9-year run of 5 titles and 4 2^nd place finishes.

JBL Rookie Draft 2026

 2026 JBL Rookie Draft results:

 

First Round
1. Juan de Fuca - $15 - AJ Dybantsa
2. Brussels - $12 - Cameron Boozer
3. French - $10 - Caleb Wilson
4. Cali - $9 - Darryn Peterson
5. Bellingham - $8 - Darius Acuff
6. Norfolk - $7 - Hannes Steinbach
7. Golden - $6 - Yaxel Lendeborg
8. Maui - $5 - Morez Johnson Jr
9. Arctic - $4 - Mikel Brown Jr
10. Golden - $3 - Brayden Burries
11. Dayton - $2 - Keaton Wagler
12. Ham - $1 - Cameron Carr
13. Ham - $1 - Kingston Flemings
14. Ham - $1 - Aday Mara

Second Round
15. Idaho $1 - Nate Ament
16. Chilliwack $1 - Allen Graves
17. Bangkok $1 - Zuby Ejiofor
18. Dayton $1 - Chris Cenac
19. Idaho $1 - PASS
20. Arctic $1 - Karim Lopez
21. Maui $1 - PASS
22. Golden $1 - Sergio de Larrea
23. Norfolk $1 - PASS
24. Bellingham $1 - PASS
25. Cali $1 - PASS
26. French $1 - PASS
27. Brussels $1 - Trevon Brazile
28. Juan de Fuca $1 - Ebuka Okorie

 

Golden traded Payton Pritchard and pick #15 to Idaho for picks #7 and #10.

 

Thoughts:

• Top 4 were always the top 4 in some order
• Norfolk loves his rookie big men. Worked out well with Clingan a couple years ago. Could Steinback start?
• Golden wanted some rebuilding blocks – Yaxel and Burries could be good (in hindsight, I might regret not taking Wagler)
• This draft felt like a very strong top 11 – after that, it was murky. There will be others who “hit” but they might take time.
• And someone will surprise us – could it be Cam Carr? Okorie? Ament?
• My favourite 2^nd rounder – Allen Graves
• My surprised he didn’t get picked – Meleek Thomas