2026 NBA draft thread

[Scott41theMavs]

One of the things I really like about a Mavericks\Wagler link-up is the feeling that Kyrie-Flagg-Wagler feels like a more useful combination of players than something like Kyrie-Flagg-Acuff. Acuff is a great offensive player, but without the ball in his hands a lineup with Acuff feels a little empty.

This may not be much an issue now if Acuff gets drafted by Utah, but a GM and a coach need to be in a conversation if both players are available when the Mavs pick.

I think this draft is going to be a giant crap shoot for the Mavs if they don't move into the top 4. It's "hope one or two of the teams above us has Vlade as their GM" or bust in terms of getting a probable star. I'm presuming Acuff goes top four. On the other hand, if the Mavs move up, then it's easy - 1st pick, grab Dybantsa. 2nd pick, grab Wilson. 3rd or 4th, grab Wilson or Acuff. If fourth and those two are gone, I would probably take Boozer, unexciting as he is due to how high his floor is, or consider trading down to get Flemings or Burries (or maybe Wagler).

[mvossman]

I think this draft is going to be a giant crap shoot for the Mavs if they don't move into the top 4. It's "hope one or two of the teams above us has Vlade as their GM" or bust in terms of getting a probable star. I'm presuming Acuff goes top four. On the other hand, if the Mavs move up, then it's easy - 1st pick, grab Dybantsa. 2nd pick, grab Wilson. 3rd or 4th, grab Wilson or Acuff. If fourth and those two are gone, I would probably take Boozer, unexciting as he is due to how high his floor is, or consider trading down to get Flemings or Burries (or maybe Wagler).

I think if the Mavs get a top 4 pick I would be happy with anybody not named Peterson.  If they get 4th and Peterson is the last one standing then pick Acuff.  If they don't get top 4, then it will probably be Wagler or Burries.

[michaeltex]

I haven't watched him much, but is there any chance that Boozer can turn out to be a Zion-type addition? He seems like he has the build and motor for that type of role. I know he likely won't be there when DAL picks, unless the lottery gods smile upon us once again, but never say never.

[F Gump]

I think if the Mavs get a top 4 pick I would be happy with anybody not named Peterson.  If they get 4th and Peterson is the last one standing then pick Acuff.  If they don't get top 4, then it will probably be Wagler or Burries.

I'm not a fan of Peterson as the #1 guy, and I was probably the first one here to start talking him down when he was the consensus top pick. But despite that, I'd have a hard time picking Acuff instead. To me the difference in D and size is significant, and meaningful, and I would probably be willing to bet that DP has a MUCH higher overall ceiling than Acuff. 

I like Acuff a lot, but I'm not picking him higher than 5. I think my FLOOR for DP would be 4, and maybe even 3 (behind AD and CW). In practical terms, I'm not sure he would even be available past 2 anyhow.

[Winter]

I'm not a fan of Peterson as the #1 guy, and I was probably the first one here to start talking him down when he was the consensus top pick. But despite that, I'd have a hard time picking Acuff instead. To me the difference in D and size is significant, and meaningful, and I would probably be willing to bet that DP has a MUCH higher overall ceiling than Acuff. 

I like Acuff a lot, but I'm not picking him higher than 5. I think my FLOOR for DP would be 4, and maybe even 3 (behind AD and CW). In practical terms, I'm not sure he would even be available past 2 anyhow.

As big a fan of Acuff as as I am, I don't think I could pick him higher than 5 either. I'm even on the fence whether I would take him over Wagler.

[Scott41theMavs]

I'm not a fan of Peterson as the #1 guy, and I was probably the first one here to start talking him down when he was the consensus top pick. But despite that, I'd have a hard time picking Acuff instead. To me the difference in D and size is significant, and meaningful, and I would probably be willing to bet that DP has a MUCH higher overall ceiling than Acuff. 

I like Acuff a lot, but I'm not picking him higher than 5. I think my FLOOR for DP would be 4, and maybe even 3 (behind AD and CW). In practical terms, I'm not sure he would even be available past 2 anyhow.

We agree on a lot, but we'll agree to disagree on Peterson. Acuff over Peterson 100 times out of 100.

[mvossman]

I'm not a fan of Peterson as the #1 guy, and I was probably the first one here to start talking him down when he was the consensus top pick. But despite that, I'd have a hard time picking Acuff instead. To me the difference in D and size is significant, and meaningful, and I would probably be willing to bet that DP has a MUCH higher overall ceiling than Acuff. 

I like Acuff a lot, but I'm not picking him higher than 5. I think my FLOOR for DP would be 4, and maybe even 3 (behind AD and CW). In practical terms, I'm not sure he would even be available past 2 anyhow.

I totally get this argument.  Peterson definitely has the higher ceiling.  But his intangibles are giving off big warning signs that he is not going to reach it.  I do think Acuff is a significant drop from the other three guys (including Boozer) so I hope (and think) your right that it will never come to this because Peterson will not drop that far.

[vfromlmf]

My argument for Peterson is credible people who know a lot more about basketball that I do put his ceiling at Kobe Bryant. If he doesn't get there, that's ok ... even for a number 1 overall pick. He was overhyped and his season was weird but he still put up historic numbers for a freshman while flashing elite perimeter defense. You can't pass on that. The only reason he'll slide out of the top-3 is if it's injury related.

On the other hand, picks 5-9 could go in any order and a case could be made that any one of them would be a top-5 pick in a normal draft (Acuff, Wagler, Flemings, Burries, Brown Jr)

[mvossman]

I haven't watched him much, but is there any chance that Boozer can turn out to be a Zion-type addition? He seems like he has the build and motor for that type of role. I know he likely won't be there when DAL picks, unless the lottery gods smile upon us once again, but never say never.

No.  He is a very different player from Zion.  More like Kevin Love or Banchero (only better).

[mvossman]

As big a fan of Acuff as as I am, I don't think I could pick him higher than 5 either. I'm even on the fence whether I would take him over Wagler.

You have Wagler potentially over Acuff and over Flemings?  Interesting.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I haven't watched him much, but is there any chance that Boozer can turn out to be a Zion-type addition? He seems like he has the build and motor for that type of role. I know he likely won't be there when DAL picks, unless the lottery gods smile upon us once again, but never say never.

TOTALLY different player athletically.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

 This may not be much an issue now if Acuff gets drafted by Utah

Zero chance the Jazz take Acuff.  Between George and Collier, they're STACKED at PG. Collier would start for half the NBA.

Edit - they're angling for Peterson, AJ, Boozer, Wagler and Burries in that order.

[numnuts23]

I haven't watched him much, but is there any chance that Boozer can turn out to be a Zion-type addition? He seems like he has the build and motor for that type of role. I know he likely won't be there when DAL picks, unless the lottery gods smile upon us once again, but never say never.

Boozer isn't near as athletic as Zion is.  

He has a better shot, extremely basketball smart and makes the right play 99% of the time.  Think of a modern day Tim Duncan.  Doesn't have the length Duncan has, but is that type of player.  Him and Flagg would be a pretty nasty combo.  The only concern is - does a smaller Tim Duncan succeed in the NBA these days.

[cow]

Zero chance the Jazz take Acuff.  Between George and Collier, they're STACKED at PG. Collier would start for half the NBA.

Edit - they're angling for Peterson, AJ, Boozer, Wagler and Burries in that order.

Boozer would be a fun story for them, but I hope the draft Gods punish them for their overt tanking.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Boozer would be a fun story for them, but I hope the draft Gods punish them for their overt tanking.

You know what's maddeningly stupid about the Jazz is that their roster is so good that if they were to land a top 3 pick, it wouldn't shock me if they were to finish top 3 in the West next season. 

George, Collier, Konchar 
Peterson, Sensabaugh 
Markkanen, Bailey 
Jackson Flipkowski 
Kessler 

Plus they've got other young depth. They've UNethically tank HARD to be the 5th "worst" team.

[Winter]

You have Wagler potentially over Acuff and over Flemings?  Interesting.

I'm not sure about Flemings. Read back on my post. It's really about the makeup of the Mavericks with Kyrie and Flagg. I just feel like there needs to be some thought about who would be the best fit on this Maverick's roster. I'm not convinced that's Acuff. Of all the players drafted in the top 10, Acuff needs to see the ball a lot to be effective. With Flagg and Kyrie, I might wish for less ball-usage out of a PG.

[mvossman]

I'm not sure about Flemings. Read back on my post. It's really about the makeup of the Mavericks with Kyrie and Flagg. I just feel like there needs to be some thought about who would be the best fit on this Maverick's roster. I'm not convinced that's Acuff. Of all the players drafted in the top 10, Acuff needs to see the ball a lot to be effective. With Flagg and Kyrie, I might wish for less ball-usage out of a PG.

I have been hammered here multiple times for talking about fit in this draft, but I don't think Kyrie should be part of that equation.  We are trying to land the second best player on this team for the next 10+ years and I don't think fit with Kyrie should impact that decision.

But on my original post I was mostly surprised you had Wagler over Flemings as well.  I presume that means you have Wagler at 5, which I think is higher than anybody else on here.

[vfromlmf]

What do you mean "land the second best"? Second best?! They have a chance to land a guy who has a chance to be the BEST player on a team WITH Cooper Flagg.

And then Flagg has a chance to be better than whoever we draft.

If we play this right, these guys can get into a recursive self improvement loop and be infinitely better than any team in the history of basketball.

[Mavs2021]

You know what's maddeningly stupid about the Jazz is that their roster is so good that if they were to land a top 3 pick, it wouldn't shock me if they were to finish top 3 in the West next season. 

George, Collier, Konchar 
Peterson, Sensabaugh 
Markkanen, Bailey 
Jackson Flipkowski 
Kessler 

Plus they've got other young depth. They've UNethically tank HARD to be the 5th "worst" team.

Top 3 is a stretch, but I think they´d have finished with a similar record to Portland/GS/Clippers this year and should be a safe bet for the play-in next year. Though that depends on how badly Ainge wants Dybantsa. What would the Mavs do, if Utah dangled Markkanen in front of them. A hypothetical trade down from Dybantsa to Peterson/Wilson/Boozer + Markkanen has risks, but short-term this would be pretty damn interesting. 100% healthy that´s likely a 50 win Mavs team.

[mvossman]

What do you mean "land the second best"? Second best?! They have a chance to land a guy who has a chance to be the BEST player on a team WITH Cooper Flagg.

And then Flagg has a chance to be better than whoever we draft.

If we play this right, these guys can get into a recursive self improvement loop and be infinitely better than any team in the history of basketball.

I seriously doubt anybody in this draft is going to be better than Flagg, but I guess we will see.