2026 NBA draft thread

[Winter]

No offense to anyone, but I think it's time separate GM talk from draft talk in this thread. Maybe we could begin the GM discussion again in the designated GM thread.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Presti, please.

I think it all comes down to ownership stake. Back in the day, when Pat Riley was coaching the Knicks, he gave them a laundry list of what it would take for him to stay in NY. They said no and he bolted (although his contract was up).  The Heat said yes and the rest is history. 

I think if the Mavs offered Presti 5%, considering how much ownership stakes appreciate, it would be tough for him to turn down.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

No offense to anyone, but I think it's time separate GM talk from draft talk in this thread. Maybe we could begin the GM discussion again in the designated GM thread.

Or, perhaps, a "Thread Police" thread could be created. Just a thought.

[Dirknows]

Watching Wagler last night, I walked away a little less than impressed. He just looks so skinny out there. Feels like he might have the lowest floor of all guards in the top-10. Man, Acuff just keeps putting up big games, it's impossible to ignore at this point. If he is even 6-2 I would feel comfortable drafting him.

[cow]

I've been mulling how to get a pick in the late Lottery to get Burries. So...

Mavs get Jimmy Butler, Joan Beringer and GS' #1 (currently #11) and Wolves'#28

Warriors get Rudy Gobert, Klay #30
Wolves get Kyrie

This would be agreed to pre-Draft but finalized in the new year so that the Mavs still skirt the Apron.  The Mavs would get another pick and Butler's expiring deal would be nice at the deadline. Or, if the Mavs are making a playoff push, Butler would be a good vet next to Cooper.
The Warriors still need a center and Gobert lines up with Steph's timeline. And Kyrie has been rumored to be a player the Wolves and Ant likes.
*Don't get hung up on capo'nomics

Kind of feels like a shuffling the deck chairs on the titanic move for the Dubs.

[vfromlmf]

Really difficult evaluation on Peterson for me. He can make shots but I don’t see any leadership or alpha dog in his game. Arkansas knows who their best player is. It seems like Kansas doesn’t. Is that on Petersen or his teammates or his coach or his injury? The draft experts don’t seem concerned at all but I don’t know. Something doesn’t seem right.

[Chicagojk]

Watching Wagler last night, I walked away a little less than impressed. He just looks so skinny out there. Feels like he might have the lowest floor of all guards in the top-10. Man, Acuff just keeps putting up big games, it's impossible to ignore at this point. If he is even 6-2 I would feel comfortable drafting him.

I didn’t watch their second game but I think the Houston vs Illinois will be awesome.  Houston has a bunch of dawgs and it will be intersting to see Wagler looks.

Illinois has two Ivisic brothers.   Though to know which one is which.  I believe the transfer brother comes off bench and doesn’t have huge stats but he has some eye opening highlights at times.  He still has another year but someone to monitor.

Exhibit a…I believe his only points of the game. LOL
https://youtube.com/shorts/FaobpPXw_v4?s...z_X2Xo6ata

[Chicagojk]

The thing with Acuff is even though he is putting up amazing stats it doest’t feel like he is playing hero ball. He still passes the ball. Gives the ball up early and lets others shine. That can be tricky when you are on a heater for a few weeks.

[Winter]

Really difficult evaluation on Peterson for me. He can make shots but I don’t see any leadership or alpha dog in his game. Arkansas knows who their best player is. It seems like Kansas doesn’t. Is that on Petersen or his teammates or his coach or his injury? The draft experts don’t seem concerned at all but I don’t know. Something doesn’t seem right.

I see the same thing. I wouldn't take him in the top 5.

[Chicagojk]

I have come to the conclusion that Haugh or Luxembourg will end up on the Spurs or thunder and we will hate it for the next 10 years.

[Winter]

Looks like Arizona is going clean up against Utah State. Florida is losing to Iowa???

Agree about Illinois and Houston. Wagler and Flemings.

And if Arizona wins, it will be Arizona against Arkansas - Burries and Acuff.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Really difficult evaluation on Peterson for me. He can make shots but I don’t see any leadership or alpha dog in his game. Arkansas knows who their best player is. It seems like Kansas doesn’t. Is that on Petersen or his teammates or his coach or his injury? The draft experts don’t seem concerned at all but I don’t know. Something doesn’t seem right.

Agreed. All logic says you draft Peterson over Boozer 10 times out of 10, and yet when you watch the two, it's clear one LOVES basketball while the other just looks like it's an obligation. I can see a world where Boozer plays in the league 20 years and Peterson's game doesn't get better and he's out of the NBA within 10 seasons.

[Smitty]

Glad to see the board is catching up with me on Peterson. Every time I watch him I’ve been underwhelmed. He stands at the 3PT line and watches 70% of the time. He’s a bucket getter when he wants to be. Wish he had the intangibles because he does have talent. I’d like for it to be someone else that takes the chance on his upside. Too much risk for the Mavs, who need to get this right!

[mvossman]

Glad to see the board is catching up with me on Peterson. Every time I watch him I’ve been underwhelmed. He stands at the 3PT line and watches 70% of the time. He’s a bucket getter when he wants to be. Wish he had the intangibles because he does have talent. I’d like for it to be someone else that takes the chance on his upside. Too much risk for the Mavs, who need to get this right!

Its for different reasons, but I think Peterson is the big risk in the top 4 and Brown is the big risk in the next 4.  I hope Mavs are not in a position to draft either.

[Scott41theMavs]

Its for different reasons, but I think Peterson is the big risk in the top 4 and Brown is the big risk in the next 4.  I hope Mavs are not in a position to draft either.

I don't care about them being in a position for either one as long as they avoid them.

[F Gump]

I think we might have someone who will likely be a successful GM in the not too distant future already on the staff.  So, I don’t really enjoy this new habit of yours trying to disparage the people who were in the organization when Nico went rogue.  None of us really KNOW who knew what or who did what, but I’ve seen nothing that indicates anything beyond the single shooter theory being the accurate one.  This week Finley flat out denied any advanced knowledge.  These aren’t easy jobs to come by and once the deal was done, there was no point in publicly disparaging the deal while Nico was still the boss.

Nice strawman. Not sure why you went there after a nice reply, since it's not close to my REAL thinking/objections to Fin/Ricc as the new GM.

I am aware you have a strong pro-Ricc bias, but if you think expressions of my strong belief that they are not the right guy to sit in the big chair is an attempt to "disparage," then I guess I will have to keep disparaging away, and hope it won't be too obnoxious to you. I have a hard time seeing them (esp Ricc) as you do, and frankly I really have yet to see any reason to think either would even be under consideration if they weren't on the staff. To me, "underling already on Mavs payroll" is not even close to what is needed, except as a needed fill-in until they hire the real guy.

That's not to say they each don't have some management skills, nor to say they haven't made needed contributions. At least, according to them. But I'm looking for the guy with major skins on the wall, not the ones who've been doing mop-up work to fix some of Cuban's messes.

I have MANY specific reasons that I don't think either is the guy, but you seem to only want to hear or consider abject praise, so I won't bother. My summary is: I think the Mavs can (and must) do better. Way better.

Presti, please.

[Chicagojk]

I didn’t watch much of Kansas this year and missed the game today. I think for the most part they are boring. On the other hand, I could watch every Boozer game.

I agree something is missing from Peterson and concern is legit. With that being said, I tend to be heavily biased with the guys who watch these guys for years who are super high on Peterson. Offensively he is so skilled. I will do a deeper dive on him before the draft but I am still positive on him. While I think his games are boring, his highlights are crazy for a guy not 100%. Going off just highlights can paint a false picture and I get that, but he would fit in real nice in Dallas. As would the other top 2.

[Chicagojk]

Darryn Peterson season highlights

https://youtu.be/UXY7rAQIudY?si=Q2D3_V85hctgwAp-

No ceilings also dropped Burries and Brown season highlights if you are bored.

[GATA]

Mullins is going to be a stud. Hurley has held him back a little

[Dirknows]

Mullins is going to be a stud.  Hurley has held him back a little

I’ve been all about Mullins. UConn’s system will always limit one players ability to put up crazy shot attempts, but I think Mullins will be a very good pro.