2026 NBA draft thread

[Smitty]

@DraftDeeper
The Masai Ujiri hiring with the Dallas Mavericks is fascinating because of where the Mavericks are projected to fall in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery. That mid-late lotto range is filled with impressive guard talent, however a lot of them don't fit the mold of players Ujiri has drafted previously with the Toronto Raptors (with a notable exception in Malachi Flynn). There is one, however, who possesses the athleticism/length that Ujiri has prioritized at other positions while having great upside of his own: Mikel Brown Jr.

[Smitty]

@DraftDeeper
2026 NBA DRAFT MAY TOP 60 BIG BOARD UPDATE

I will have more consistent revisions throughout these weeks leading up to the 2026 NBA Draft as I finalize all player evaluations and factor in any intel personally, privately gained. What Would I Do Mock coming tomorrow!

[KillerLeft]

@DraftDeeper
2026 NBA DRAFT MAY TOP 60 BIG BOARD UPDATE

I will have more consistent revisions throughout these weeks leading up to the 2026 NBA Draft as I finalize all player evaluations and factor in any intel personally, privately gained. What Would I Do Mock coming tomorrow!

I think Brown and Flemings are my two favorites in the Mavs' range, so I hope it actually plays out this way (or that the Mavs move up, obvs).

[Jakeospikez]

@DraftDeeper
The Masai Ujiri hiring with the Dallas Mavericks is fascinating because of where the Mavericks are projected to fall in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery. That mid-late lotto range is filled with impressive guard talent, however a lot of them don't fit the mold of players Ujiri has drafted previously with the Toronto Raptors (with a notable exception in Malachi Flynn). There is one, however, who possesses the athleticism/length that Ujiri has prioritized at other positions while having great upside of his own: Mikel Brown Jr.

I think the Mavs sort of already did this in the past. Isn't that why they ended up with Josh Green instead of Bane/Bey/Maxey? ?

[mvossman]

I think the Mavs sort of already did this in the past. Isn't that why they ended up with Josh Green instead of Bane/Bey/Maxey? ?

To be fair, that was a random gambler pulling the trigger.  Ujiri has had a lot more history of success at this.

[mvossman]

@DraftDeeper
The Masai Ujiri hiring with the Dallas Mavericks is fascinating because of where the Mavericks are projected to fall in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery. That mid-late lotto range is filled with impressive guard talent, however a lot of them don't fit the mold of players Ujiri has drafted previously with the Toronto Raptors (with a notable exception in Malachi Flynn). There is one, however, who possesses the athleticism/length that Ujiri has prioritized at other positions while having great upside of his own: Mikel Brown Jr.

If the Mavs end up top 4 it seems like Boozer would be the odd man out based on those preferences.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Any sort of Acuff fans basically saw a pitchfork go into their dreams with the Masai hire. About an anti-Masai prospect that you can find in the top 10.

[Smitty]

Any sort of Acuff fans basically saw a pitchfork go into their dreams with the Masai hire.  About an anti-Masai prospect that you can find in the top 10.

I think there’s some truth to that. Feels like Boozer (if top 4), Acuff, and Wagler all may be lower for Masai than the consensus. 

No way to know for sure. Every draft is different and there will be more than one voice in the room, even if he’s the ultimate decision maker.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

I think there’s some truth to that. Feels like Boozer (if top 4), Acuff and Wagler all may be lower for Masai than the consensus. 

Know way to know for sure. Every draft is different and there will be more than one voice in the room, even if he’s the ultimate decision maker.

Those were the names that I crossed off as well today (which is a bummer because I do like Wagler).  I think it will be really interesting if the Mavs land at #3 because Caleb Wilson is basically the type of player Masai would have made in a lab to go play for the Raptors in recent years.

Excited about the hire considering the options but I do hope that some of the voices in the room that you mentioned guide him in the direction of a little more emphasis on shooting than the voices that were in Toronto.  This summer should be really interesting now.

[Winter]

If the Mavs end up top 4 it seems like Boozer would be the odd man out based on those preferences.

I'm not sure we should read too much into a draft thinking Ujiri prefers a mertics-specific "type" of player. Ujiri still went out and got a stocky, 6'0" Fred Van Fleet when other players were available after the 2016 draft.

That being said, I could see Ujiri taking Peterson over Boozer if Mavs landed at #3 or #4 ... but I could see that from any GM.

[Jakeospikez]

I don't think Acuff is necessary eliminated. Will need to see his measurements, but even the Raptors have had short but stocky lead guards in Lowry and FVV. Quickley is the combo guard with length that didn't really pan out. There's been reports that Acuff is pretty strong with a plus wingspan so maybe he can bulk up a bit and be a serviceable defender. Seen some comparisons to Trey Young and there's no shot he's anywhere near that bad. Trey is short, skinny, and weak. Acuff is small but still way bigger than Trey. Masai def likes point forwards and Flagg is already here for that.

[mvossman]

I'm not sure we should read too much into a draft thinking Ujiri prefers a mertics-specific "type" of player. Ujiri still went out and got a stocky, 6'0" Fred Van Fleet when other players were available after the 2016 draft.

That being said, I could see Ujiri taking Peterson over Boozer if Mavs landed at #3 or #4 ... but I could see that from any GM.

He definitely has a type.  He likes athletic wings and he likes guys who can play defense.  Even the small guards on those teams (Fred, Lowry) were strong defensive players.

My guess is that he takes any one of the other top 4 guys over Boozer.

The tweet Smitty posted suggest Brown was his kind of guy, but Brown is not known to be a good defender.  I would argue Flemings is closer to an Ujiri kind of guy with his quickness and defense.

[mvossman]

I don't think Acuff is necessary eliminated. Will need to see his measurements, but even the Raptors have had short but stocky lead guards in Lowry and FVV. Quickley is the combo guard with length that didn't really pan out. There's been reports that Acuff is pretty strong with a plus wingspan so maybe he can bulk up a bit and be a serviceable defender. Seen some comparisons to Trey Young and there's no shot he's anywhere near that bad. Trey is short, skinny, and weak. Acuff is small but still way bigger than Trey. Masai def likes point forwards and Flagg is already here for that.

All of those guys were good to very good defenders and Acuff is terrible on that side of the ball.  It does not really matter as Acuff is very likely going to be gone before 8, and no chance Ujiri picks him top 4.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I feel like Dybantsa is the one sure thing. If the Mavs landed #1, are there any circumstances you'd move away from a true star? Would you rather have AJ or Flemmings, Ace Bailey, Isaiah Collier and an unprotected 1st?

[Winter]

He definitely has a type.  He likes athletic wings and he likes guys who can play defense.  Even the small guards on those teams (Fred, Lowry) were strong defensive players.

My guess is that he takes any one of the other top 4 guys over Boozer.

The tweet Smitty posted suggest Brown was his kind of guy, but Brown is not known to be a good defender.  I would argue Flemings is closer to an Ujiri kind of guy with his quickness and defense.

A lot of people like athletic wings who can play defense. That's not rocket science. The question for a GM is simply getting the best player in the lottery. 

I would literally hate the guy if the Mavs had #4 and he took Flemings over Boozer (or any other player other than Boozer at #4)

[mvossman]

A lot of people like athletic wings who can play defense. That's not rocket science. The question for a GM is simply getting the best player in the lottery. 

I would literally hate the guy if the Mavs had #4 and he took Flemings over Boozer.

That would never happen.  If Boozer is actually still there at 4 (I think unlikely) then I am sure he would take him. 

Everyone likes athletic wings who can play defense, but not many other GMs created a team of them.  I'm not suggesting he is going to ignore talent, just that he will definitely have a leaning/preference when its close.  I think he picks Wilson over Boozer, and probably Flemings over Wagler.

[Winter]

I feel like Dybantsa is the one sure thing.  If the Mavs landed #1, are there any circumstances you'd move away from a true star?  Would you rather have AJ or Flemmings, Ace Bailey, Isaiah Collier and an unprotected 1st?

AJ.

[Winter]

That would never happen.  If Boozer is actually still there at 4 (I think unlikely) then I am sure he would take him. 

Everyone likes athletic wings who can play defense, but not many other GMs created a team of them.  I'm not suggesting he is going to ignore talent, just that he will definitely have a leaning/preference when its close.  I think he picks Wilson over Boozer, and probably Flemings over Wagler.

OK, I can probably buy the "leaning\preference" thing, but I'm not sure that's a problem he'll have in the lottery. I think we're more likely to see that kind of preference later at #30 or the second round.

[mvossman]

I feel like Dybantsa is the one sure thing.  If the Mavs landed #1, are there any circumstances you'd move away from a true star?  Would you rather have AJ or Flemmings, Ace Bailey, Isaiah Collier and an unprotected 1st?

I'm probably on an island on this one, but if the medicals check out I think I would go Peterson.  I think he has a little higher ceiling than Dybantsa, he is a better defender, and he is much better off ball player.  The scouts say he was not the same player in college as high school due to the injuries, but he was starting to come out of it late in the season and was mid 30s minutes at the end.  

Regardless, I can't imagine a package that would entice you to back out of a top 4 pick in this draft.

[mvossman]

OK, I can probably buy the "leaning\preference" thing, but I'm not sure that's a problem he'll have in the lottery. I think we're more likely to see that kind of preference later at #30 or the second round.

That is probably true.  If Mavs get 2nd pick, I could see him going Wilson over Peterson (which I would be against).  Wagler and Acuff would likely be gone by 8 anyways, so the guys he would be choosing from are sort of his kind of guys (Brown, Flemings, Burries).  I definitely think he would take Burries over Philon.  Burries has some Fred VanVleet vibes.