2026 NBA draft thread

[cow]

How does it change if you switch Anfernee Simons to Jordan Poole with a 10% of becoming a taller Damian Lillard?

I think it stays the same.

[mvossman]

I think it stays the same.

Me too.

[Winter]

The comps on here are interesting.  If we don't get top 4, would you rather have:

De'Aaron Fox
Deron Williams
Austin Reaves
Anfernee Simons
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Andrew Nembhard

Walker is having a heck of a year this year. If we drafted anyone close to that, it's a great pickup.

The problem with comping guys like that with our 2026 draft players is that Walker is now with his fourth team! Which I guess means everyone will be slightly disappointed with our new draft player his rookie year (and he won't be a starter until he's traded to someone else!)

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/pitlessball/status/2034348...91603?s=61

[mvossman]

Walker is having a heck of a year this year. If we drafted anyone close to that, it's a great pickup.

The problem with comping guys like that with our 2026 draft players is that Walker is now with his fourth team! Which I guess means everyone will be slightly disappointed with our new draft player his rookie year (and he won't be a starter until he's traded to someone else!)

I think the comp is with the developed NBA version of the player.  Most of those guys on the list (including Walker) were later (non lottery) draft picks.  It generally takes them longer (and are less likely) to develop.  The top two on the list were picked in top 5 and they were quality NBA players (or more) by their second season.  Hopefully whoever we get follows closer to that path.

[vfromlmf]

If Flagg + Burries can be Jalen Johnson + NAW sign me up.

[Scott41theMavs]

Mavs loss + Grizz win + Pels win = Mavs 2 games up on the Grizz and 1 up on the Pels. The Pels are going to win more games - the Mavs aren't catching them upwards. The Mavs have 12 games left while the Grizz have 14. If the Grizz win just one more game, then the Mavs can safely win 2 and retain the 6th-best lottery odds. One of the reasons that is huge is that the Mavs' last game is against Chicago.

What a wonderful night.

[F Gump]

Mavs loss + Grizz win + Pels win = Mavs 2 games up on the Grizz and 1 up on the Pels. The Pels are going to win more games - the Mavs aren't catching them upwards. The Mavs have 12 games left while the Grizz have 14. If the Grizz win just one more game, then the Mavs can safely win 2 and retain the 6th-best lottery odds. One of the reasons that is huge is that the Mavs' last game is against Chicago.

What a wonderful night.

The name of the game is Total W's - and wins alone. 

Mavs 23, MEM/NO 24 each.

Mavs have no cushion whatsoever to win any games. Sadly.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Walker is having a heck of a year this year. If we drafted anyone close to that, it's a great pickup.

The problem with comping guys like that with our 2026 draft players is that Walker is now with his fourth team! Which I guess means everyone will be slightly disappointed with our new draft player his rookie year (and he won't be a starter until he's traded to someone else!)

Strange, but true. Dyson Daniels is another good example. He languished on the N.O. bench, was traded to Atlanta, and now he's one of the league's best defenders.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.essentiallysports.com/ncaa-c...exclusive/
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7127440...tball-nba/

NBA scouts and execs compare who should be the number one pick.

[Mavs2021]

If Flagg + Burries can be Jalen Johnson + NAW sign me up.

JJ and NAW are a 0.500 team in the West. Yikes.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Maaaaaan, that was a big win by the Grizzlies. They had been sitting 1 game back, but with 2 less games played. Essentially, it was still in their hands to lose those and tie with Dallas. But now, if the Mavs loses out, 6th is theirs.

And the Pelicans look like they've figured things out.

[Dirknows]

Maaaaaan, that was a big win by the Grizzlies. They had been sitting 1 game back, but with 2 less games played. Essentially, it was still in their hands to lose those and tie with Dallas. But now, if the Mavs loses out, 6th is theirs.

And the Pelicans look like they've figured things out.

We’re not going to lose out, they will pick up at least a win or two when the team has a hot shooting night and the other team is off their game. Happened vs. Cleveland the other day.

[vfromlmf]

JJ and NAW are a 0.500 team in the West. Yikes.

Just being realistic. Jalen Johnson is playing at an All NBA level and NAW is a two-way guard who playing close to star level. More importantly they play great together. It was mentioned on the broadcast that JJ has more assists to NAW than any 2-man combo in the league. That's elite.

If the Mavs can draft a sidekick for Flagg, like NAW is to JJ, that's a huge win for Dallas. 

Next to Atlanta's "big two" they're starting McCollum, a 34 year old 6' 3" guard who is averaging nearly 20 ppg.

Would anyone be surprised if Kyrie posts similar numbers next year, at 34 years old, and coming off a major injury?

Atlanta also starts a point of attack stopper in Dyson Daniels who is averaging 12/7/6

Would anyone be surprise if PJW starts next season? He's not a POA stopper but he's a strong defender, better scorer, shooter and rebounder than DD, but not much of a playmaker.

Obviously, no comparison is perfect, but I see a lot of parallels. With time and development, maybe the Mavs could look a lot like Atlanta.

Kyrie - McCollum
Burries - NAW
Flagg - JJ
PJW - DD

Of course, by the time Flagg + Burries develop, Kyrie could be 35+ ........

[Chicagojk]

We’re not going to lose out, they will pick up at least a win or two when the team has a hot shooting night and the other team is off their game. Happened vs. Cleveland the other day.

I am not a gambler, but I would say over/under for Dallas wins for the rest of the year is 2.5 wins.   I would probably say similar for Memphis.  Maybe higher if they get their players back.   Utah is probably going to be under that.

[F Gump]

I am not a gambler, but I would say over/under for Dallas wins for the rest of the year is 2.5 wins.   I would probably say similar for Memphis.  Maybe higher if they get their players back.   Utah is probably going to be under that.

DAL - under
MEM - under

My hope is that the DAL under is the same or more under than the MEM under. 0-12 from here would be nice.

[Winter]

Duke and Boozer getting their butt handed to them by #16 Siena.

They've been down by double digits for much of the 1st half. Boozer is barely average, every other Duke player looks petrified. Siena is playing crazy.

Boozer and Evans finally carried the team to a win. Boozer was unreal at rebounding, scrapping for everything. He lived at the foul line. He was great.

Siena played five guys the ENTIRE game. No subs.

[Mavs2021]

Do the Mavs just draft Acuff and Thomas as their new backcourt?

[Winter]

Arkansas played a nice team game. They had 26 assists (Acuff had 7) and 22 dunks. But is was Brazile and Ewan inside the paint that made a difference. Hawaii had some perimeter moments, but they couldn't do anything with the Arkansas athleticism inside. Acuff had his standard game with 22 points, but this was a team effort.

I'd love to see Arkansas play Arizona in the Sweet 16.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Duke and Boozer getting their butt handed to them by #16 Siena.

They've been down by double digits for much of the 1st half. Boozer is barely average, every other Duke player looks petrified. Siena is playing crazy.

Boozer and Evans finally carried the team to a win. Boozer was unreal at rebounding, scrapping for everything. He lived at the foul line. He was great.

Siena played five guys the ENTIRE game. No subs.

You can't run your players in the ground like that. They were probably tired as they went 7 minutes without scoring a point. Oh what could have been. One of the biggest upsets ever. You best believe Duke will learn from this one going forward in this tourney.