2026 NBA draft thread

[Chicagojk]

Mara is such an interesting prospect.   He is huge, moves well and is a great passer.   He played on an NBA front line last year in college.   On the other hand he was not great his first two years at UCLA.  While he played on a deep and great team last year, he still only played 23 minutes per game.  He provides no outside shot threat at the moment and I wouldn't want him trying to guard on the perimeter as much.    He is really fun to watch.

I think he falls outside the top 8 imo.  We will see though.

I personally think Ament is the one who is going to go higher.   Schmitz came from draftexpress, so I think it is important to listen to Givony.  They tend to think similar.  Now Masai will be the one who makes the pick, but my ears perked up when Givony said Ament would be a target in the 5-10 range and is the big wings teams covet.   Maybe I am reading too much, but I just found it interesting.

[JamesConway816]

Already was a big fan of a trade down scenario prior to the combine. Now I am even more convinced. But probably not easy to execute. Two mid firsts in this class would be huge. Position doesn't really matter. The Michigan trio, one of the guards, a big like Steinbach. Some of them will be available in the ~15 range.

I would not trade down from #9 but they do have

- Irving
- Marshall
- Gafford
- Washington
- Lively

+ #30 + #48 + the ability to absorb money

That is plenty enough to move up from #30 and / or acquire another 1st. I REALLY hope they go that route. 

Steinbach is a surefire NBA rotation big Imo. I would love to see him end up on the Mavs. Id try hard to move into the late lottery / mid teens range for him.

But Yaxel, Morez, Quaintance all look like they belong too Imo. Id be happy with each of those guys.

I sure hope we leave the draft with 2-3 guys to feel really good about and who can build a foundation for the Flagg era.

[Winter]

I feel like taking Johnson at 9 is an overreaction to the combine.  He was a very good college player as a sophomore, but nothing to suggest top 10 in this draft.  Measurables play a part, but I am more interested in what they actually do on the court than how they measure in drills.

I disagree. Several podcasts have recently put him in the lottery. Even the Locked on Mavs podcast that was just posted tonight went into this. He's probably the best defensive forward in the top 20. He's agile enough to switch on guards and big enough to play the 5 if needed. 

Today got peoples attention I think because of his strong shooting - which wasn't asked of him much this last year. It's hard to know if that sticks. #10-12 may be too high, but I think it's a lot closer to those picks than #20.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tAH1wUrCNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ZqHqVHUlc

[Smitty]

I disagree. Several podcasts have recently put him in the lottery. Even the Locked on Mavs podcast that was just posted tonight went into this. He's probably the best defensive forward in the top 20. He's agile enough to switch on guards. 

Today got peoples attention I think because of his strong shooting - which wasn't asked of him much this last year. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tAH1wUrCNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ZqHqVHUlc

Yeah. The NoCeilings guys have had him in the lottery for a while as well.

[loki]

If all the point guards are off the board at 9 I think I'd trade down for 12+17. Could grab Morez and someone like Stirtz.

[Chicagojk]

Feels like Johnson has replaced Peat as a potential late lottery pick and now Peat is going second half of the first round.   It makes some sense.  I am still a buyer of Peat but do have some major concerns.  Why did he not rebound better?  Supposedly he is changing his shot and couldn't shoot well from the perimeter anyway, so it will take time.   I just think for a 19 year old with his explosion and strength there is something to work with.   He is going to need time and going later may be best for him.   Whoever drafts him will really need to work him hard.

[Winter]

If all the point guards are off the board at 9 I think I'd trade down for 12+17. Could grab Morez and someone like Stirtz.

No Ceilings guys just said Stirtz was very impressive at the combine. I never thought much about him, but they came away impressed.

[Chicagojk]

I would not trade down from #9 but they do have

- Irving
- Marshall
- Gafford
- Washington
- Lively

+ #30 + #48 + the ability to absorb money

That is plenty enough to move up from #30 and / or acquire another 1st. I REALLY hope they go that route. 

Steinbach is a surefire NBA rotation big Imo. I would love to see him end up on the Mavs. Id try hard to move into the late lottery / mid teens range for him.

But Yaxel, Morez, Quaintance all look like they belong too Imo. Id be happy with each of those guys.

I sure hope we leave the draft with 2-3 guys to feel really good about and who can build a foundation for the Flagg era.

That is my hope.  Use #9 and then use an asset(s) plus pick 30 to move up into the first round.

Mavs don't need to do anything if they don't want to, but if they don't think they are going to invest 15-18 million to extend Marshall, now may be the time to move him.    Would 30, Marshall plus a second for a salary and early 20's pick work?   That is a lot to give up but if there is a player you really like..... Ideally I would love for the Mavs to leave the draft with two players in their top 15.

[loki]

No Ceilings guys just said Stirtz was very impressive at the combine. I never thought much about him, but they came away impressed.

I've gone back and forth on him, but I'd be very curious to see what he could do in a more up-tempo (normal) system. He might look quite a bit different when he doesn't have to play 40 mpg.

[mvossman]

I disagree. Several podcasts have recently put him in the lottery. Even the Locked on Mavs podcast that was just posted tonight went into this. He's probably the best defensive forward in the top 20. He's agile enough to switch on guards and big enough to play the 5 if needed. 

Today got peoples attention I think because of his strong shooting - which wasn't asked of him much this last year. It's hard to know if that sticks. #10-12 may be too high, but I think it's a lot closer to those picks than #20.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tAH1wUrCNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ZqHqVHUlc

As someone else mentioned earlier, shooting 25 3s in an empty gym really does not mean much.  Generally guys don't get asked to shoot threes much because they don't do it very well.  There is a reason 3 point volume has the best correlation to NBA 3 point shooting success.  The other is FT% which was decent this season and terrible last season.  An elite defensive forward has value, but he is not a creator, floor spacer or elite rim protector.  I'm not sure where I would put him, but it would not be in the top 12.

[mvossman]

If all the point guards are off the board at 9 I think I'd trade down for 12+17. Could grab Morez and someone like Stirtz.

I mean there are the top 4 and then 5 guards, so there about has to be one of those guards (probably more than 1) at 9.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I've read at least 20 players who are "now going in the top 10". LOL

[dirkfansince1998]

Boozer just as good as Dybantsa in the shuttle run + pro lane drill. Both better than Wilson. Not sure how much of an impact that makes for each of them but I think overall Wilson is the "loser" among the top four. Not that much bigger than Boozer and Dybantsa and as far as athleticism goes he wasn't as dominant as I expected him to be. Clearly the worst in the shooting drills.

[Winter]

Boozer just as good as Dybantsa in the shuttle run + pro lane drill. Both better than Wilson. Not sure how much of an impact that makes for each of them but I think overall Wilson is the "loser" among the top four. Not that much bigger than Boozer and Dybantsa and as far as athleticism goes he wasn't as dominant as I expected him to be. Clearly the worst in the shooting drills.

I think Boozer could still go #1.

[loki]

I mean there are the top 4 and then 5 guards, so there about has to be one of those guards (probably more than 1) at 9.

One of the 5 guards has to be left, but not one of the 5 point guards.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I feel pretty good about the Mavs at 9 because there's at least nine players who've looked like they'd be top 3 picks in a normal draft.

Dybantsa
Peterson
Boozer
Wilson
Flemings
Wagler
Acuff
Brown

You could do way worse than having Wemby, Jr in Mara.

[loki]

I feel pretty good about the Mavs at 9 because there's at least nine players who've looked like they'd be top 3 picks in a normal draft.

Dybantsa
Peterson
Boozer
Wilson
Flemings
Wagler
Acuff
Brown

You could do way worse than having Wemby, Jr in Mara.

[cow]

I think Boozer could still go #1.

He feels like the safest of all the picks with the highest floor.

[mvossman]

He feels like the safest of all the picks with the highest floor.

He is like the Burries of the top 4 guys.

[JamesConway816]

That is my hope.  Use #9 and then use an asset(s) plus pick 30 to move up into the first round.

Mavs don't need to do anything if they don't want to, but if they don't think they are going to invest 15-18 million to extend Marshall, now may be the time to move him.    Would 30, Marshall plus a second for a salary and early 20's pick work?   That is a lot to give up but if there is a player you really like..... Ideally I would love for the Mavs to leave the draft with two players in their top 15.

I still harshly disagree with their decision to not move Marshall at the TDL. Any contending team trading for him would have gotten two postseason runs out of him before he hits UFA. Now his value should be significantly less.

I like Burries A LOT but this draft is / was their best shot to select a robin. He is not quite that type of prospect Imo. I am sure hed be a top 10 pick five years down the road in a redraft but ultimately this team needs more than a safe rotation guy. That is why I am still SO SO disappointed about them drafting only at #9.

Brown Jr also gives me serious DSJ vibes. Super flashy and unlike Dennis he even has the physical attributes on top of elite athleticism but I question his feel for the game and ability to run a team.

Selecting only two spots higher would have made me a lot more optimistic. I rate all of Wagler, Flemmings and Acuff higher than Burries / Brown in terms of who I could see turn into a nr 2 option here.

Id probably still go Brown > Burries but could also understand them going an entirely different direction.