2026 NBA draft thread

[khaled1987]

Its interesting that you can find warts in just about every player:
Burries:

He only drives in a straight line and can barely dribble if all. 

He is a 3 & D guard who might not be elite in either.

Burries has the lowest ceiling of the lottery picks IMHO,  but he is a guy you know he will be still in the league in some role 5 years from now

[Winter]

I think evaluators view "warts" in different ways. I there are warts you will likely clean up very quickly, and there are warts that suggest some real physical limitations.

[Mavs2021]

Peterson
Max vert 37.5”

Flemings:
Max vert 40.5”

Acuff:
Max vert 36.5”

Brown:
Max vert 39.5”

Wagler
Max vert 36.0”

Burries
Max vert 38.5”

Philon
Max vert 35.0”

Philon is still poor or is that the number from last year? Wagler and Peterson underwhelming for their size. Flemings is the clear winner here to make up for his measurements. Brown and Burries also  come out favorably considering injury and reputation.

[mvossman]

He only drives in a straight line and can barely dribble if all. 

He is a 3 & D guard who might not be elite in either.

Burries has the lowest ceiling of the lottery picks IMHO,  but he is a guy you know he will be still in the league in some role 5 years from now

This is a crazy take.  He is a three level scorer and I have not seen one mention of issues with his handle.

[dirkfansince1998]

Wagler more or less in the same category as Knueppel last year. Size and wingspan almost identical. Similar vert. Should greatly reduce the athleticism/defense concerns. If he doesn't have the quickness to play point of attack defense he has the size to defend wings.

[Winter]

This is a crazy take.  He is a three level scorer and I have not seen one mention of issues with his handle.

I haven't either and I just watched his scouting report video yesterday. In fact, I'm not sure he really qualifies as 3 and D for that matter. A lot of his points are drives to the bucket, putbacks and mid-range shots. He has almost twice as many 2-point attempts.

BTW, not sure people know this but Burries will be 21 years old when the season starts.

[mvossman]

I haven't either and I just watched his scouting report video yesterday. In fact, I'm not sure he really qualifies as 3 and D for that matter. A lot of his points are drives to the bucket, putbacks and mid-range shots. He has almost twice as many 2-point attempts.

BTW, not sure people know this but Burries will be 21 years old when the season starts.

That is why I called him 3 level scorer (not to mention a secondary playmaker). He is much more on offense than a 3&D player. The age is really the only ding on him (but it seemed silly to put that when Yaxel will be 24).  I agree with the statement that he probably does not have the ceiling of some of the other guys, but I don't see anybody outside the top 4 likely to hit a crazy ceiling.

[Smitty]

@tyler_rucker
Kingston Flemings has overtaken Alex Karaban on the leaderboard in the 3 point star shooting drill.

Having a day

[mvossman]

@tyler_rucker
Kingston Flemings has overtaken Alex Karaban on the leaderboard in the 3 point star shooting drill.

Having a day

Between this and his vertical, he may be making up for the measurements.  Three point shooting was one of his biggest concerns.

[Smitty]

[Smitty]

Between this and his vertical, he may be making up for the measurements.  Three point shooting was one of his biggest concerns.

His percentages are fine. It's the 3PT rate for him.

[Smitty]

[dirkfansince1998]

Shooting drills are probably the least important aspect of the entire draft process. Too small of a sample size. Only looking at real outliers. Peat and Jefferson being negative ones. Johnson Jr a positive one.

[Winter]

Morez Johnson right there with Burries, Evans, and Anderson in 3-pt percentage.

That's impressive.

[dirkfansince1998]

Morez Johnson right there with Burries, Evans, Tanner, and Anderson in 3-pt percentage.

That's impressive.

Crazy part is that he is up there in lane agility as well. 6'9/250. Quicker and more explosive than almost all guards.

[Mavs2021]

Can´t shoot, but jumps out of the building. I think Peja might want to take one of those fatherhood tests.

[mvossman]

His percentages are fine. It's the 3PT rate for him.

True.  My understanding is that he is not very good creating 3 point shots for himself, but he is quite good off the catch.  As the primary engine in Houston offense he did not get a lot of opportunities off the catch (thus the low volume) but in an offense with Flagg, you want somebody who can be effective off ball and it looks like this is something he will be better at than his 3 point volume suggests.

[Mavs2021]

With regards to vertical and 3pt shooting. With all off court injuries and attitude concerns, you´d expect to see Peterson be good at something at this combine.

[Chicagojk]

Flemings does look small in some of the videos I have seen from the combine.   That could be an issue for some teams.  Still though, I see some of his dunks and his head near the rim.   He is so fast too.  He will put a lot of stress on teams.   I think you could play him with Kyrie.  Especially for a team that is not a real contender.   It will be good minutes for him.   Ideally, I view him more of a guard than a point guard.   That is fine though.  I think Dallas is going to go with multiple creators on the floor all playing off each other.   I don't think the "real point guard" is going to be a big thing they need to solve.

Maxey is an all NBA talent, so I am not sure he gets there. But I see his play style similar to Maxey.

[Chicagojk]

I think a good few days for Burries.   I want a lot of debate and differing of opinions after 4.  That could be good for the Mavs.  For the most part, most in the lottery range have looked the part so far.