2026 NBA draft thread

[Dirknows]

That was mine.

I think that Lakers' pick becomes very valuable around the league, especially if it's perceived that Luka could possibly leave. I think if OKC has a roster a financial crunch, they would consider Caruso + #12 for the Lakers pick. 

As I said earlier, if the Mavs could either leave the draft with their future backcourt in Brown and Burries, or a combo of Mara + Brown/Burries, that becomes a monster young team.

Yeah, but if Luka leaves and the Lakers suck we will have traded possibly a very valuable asset. Cooper will 22 when that pick conveys, we need to look at this in more of a longer term rebuild, cuz OKC and SAS aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

[Winter]

Too bad he likely won't be there at 30.  He is a guy I would be cool with spending an asset to move up to get.

Probably not, but if there were changes to our draft status with OKC, he'd be my second pick.

[Smitty]

@noahweber00
Yaxel Lendeborg hasn’t met with the Mavericks yet, but said it would be “nice” to play for them.

He said Kyrie Irving was his favorite player growing up and called Cooper Flagg a “generational talent.”

He thinks that he and Flagg would complement each other well.

Says he’d be excited to play with Flagg and Irving.

[Smitty]

@noahweber00
Kingston Flemings said that he wants to be like Cason Wallace when he’s in the NBA.

Said he grew up going to his Richardson games, and his dad would tell him to watch Wallace closely.

[Smitty]

@noahweber00
Mikel Brown Jr. on the potential to play for the Mavericks:

He said they’re “definitely” a team he’s interested in.

Called it a great place to play, feels like he’d fit “really” well with Cooper Flagg as he could “ease the pressure off of him.”

Says he could learn from Kyrie Irving and Jason Kidd as well.

I later followed up with him, and he said “not yet” when asked if he’s met with Dallas.

[Winter]

@noahweber00
Yaxel Lendeborg hasn’t met with the Mavericks yet, but said it would be “nice” to play for them.

He said Kyrie Irving was his favorite player growing up and called Cooper Flagg a “generational talent.”

He thinks that he and Flagg would complement each other well.

Says he’d be excited to play with Flagg and Irving.

When you look at most of the teams above us, I'm sure most of those lottery players would love to play for the Mavs. You have Kidd, Kyrie, Flagg, new arena being built. Looks better than SAC, WAS, MEM and Brooklyn for sure.

[Smitty]

[Winter]

Interesting chart above. Peterson's usage seems a bit much for the position he usually plays.

[Smitty]

@esidery
Darius Acuff Jr. is drawing comparisons to Damian Lillard from a handful of NBA scouts.

When going back and watching Lillard at Weber State, an extremely similar playing style.

Acuff and Lillard also share a nearly identical measured height and wingspan.

[mvossman]

@esidery
Darius Acuff Jr. is drawing comparisons to Damian Lillard from a handful of NBA scouts.

When going back and watching Lillard at Weber State, an extremely similar playing style.

Acuff and Lillard also share a nearly identical measured height and wingspan.

He is the guy outside of the top 4 that has an elite ceiling.  I think he has a chance to approach Lillard level.  The thing is, with his defense, if his offense is a few notches below he is basically an elite 6th man.  A team picking after 4 that does not have a potential superstar would have to be tempted as he would be their best shot.  Given his measurements were better than expected/feared, I don't see any way he gets past 7.

[Smitty]

@DraftExpress
NEWS: Gonzaga-commit Jack Kayil is staying in the 2026 NBA Draft, agents Kevin Bradbury and Milan Nikolic tell DraftExpress.

The 6'5, 20-year-old point guard is receiving first-round feedback off an outstanding season in Germany with Alba Berlin.

Tough break for Mark Few.

[Smitty]

@esidery
Ebuka Okorie is officially keeping his name in the 2026 draft.

Okorie’s closest physical traits comparison is Dennis Schröder:

Okorie: 6’1.25” barefoot, 6’7.75” wingspan, 8’2” standing reach

Schröder: 6’1” barefoot, 6’7.75” wingspan, 8’2” standing reach

[Winter]

@DraftExpress
NEWS: Gonzaga-commit Jack Kayil is staying in the 2026 NBA Draft, agents Kevin Bradbury and Milan Nikolic tell DraftExpress.

The 6'5, 20-year-old point guard is receiving first-round feedback off an outstanding season in Germany with Alba Berlin.

Tough break for Mark Few.

Kind of hard for me to place him in rounds 1 or 2 except with some video of him shooting.

[cow]

https://x.com/Bullskickass/status/2054327825474142557

Wilson's backpedal is so awkward.

[dirkfansince1998]

https://x.com/noahweber00/status/2054631191219974162

One of my 2nd round targets. Undersized off ball guard but just like other smaller defenders he makes up for it with a strong frame and a low center of gravity. Hard to move. Good lateral quickness. Kind of guard that could have switched onto the Mavs version of KP without giving up any advantages.

[Mavs2021]

@DraftExpress
NEWS: Gonzaga-commit Jack Kayil is staying in the 2026 NBA Draft, agents Kevin Bradbury and Milan Nikolic tell DraftExpress.

The 6'5, 20-year-old point guard is receiving first-round feedback off an outstanding season in Germany with Alba Berlin.

Tough break for Mark Few.

Same league/same age:

Hayes 20 games / 0 starts / 25 MPG / 50/22/85 / 11.6 PPG / 5.3 APG / 3.1 RPG / 1.4 SPG / 0.2 BPG  3.5 TOPG / EFF 13.4 / +2.8 / Team 10th
Saraf 30 games / 16 starts / 23 MPG / 46/34/71/ 11.6 PPG / 3.0 APG / 3.9 RPG / 1.0 SPG / 0.4 BPG / 2.8 TOPG / EFF 11.0 / +4.9 / Team 2nd
Kayil  30 games / 5 starts / 21 MPG / 40/34/ 77 / 12.2 PPG / 3.5 APG / 2.8 RPG / 0.8 SPG / 0.1 BPG / 2.2 TOPG / EFF 10.8 / +3.8 / Team 2nd

Positive spin: Same numbers as a former #8 and #26 pick, projected late 1st / 2nd round (imho).
Negative spin: Hayes complete bust. Saraf nothing to write home about as a rookie either.

If these rumours are true, they probably based most on his international youth play for Germany. They won basically everything, except Steinbach/Anderson/Kayil losing to the Dybantsa/Brown/Johnson/Peat US Team in the U19 World Championships final.

[dirkfansince1998]

Scrimmage boxscore. Not all that meaningful in the bigger picture but still interesting to see them back in 5v5 action.

https://x.com/DraftExpress/status/2054656046996639824

[Mavs2021]

Scrimmage boxscore. Not all that meaningful in the bigger picture but still interesting to see them back in 5v5 action.

https://x.com/DraftExpress/status/2054656046996639824

Chinyelu and Bradley are two candidates I like for #48. Two older guys that can give you 10 rotational minutes.

[Chicagojk]

A lot of assumptions but interesting

https://x.com/samguertler/status/2054603...10203?s=61

https://x.com/samguertler/status/2054603...55470?s=61

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/draftdeeper/status/2054650...03107?s=61