2026 NBA draft thread

[hakeemfaan]

Also, and I know it's exhausting to have to engage in "who gets the credit, who gets the blame?" again so soon, but the more I read/hear the more it seems like this is going to be Schmidt, not Urjiri.

I think Ujiri is the long term strategy/manage the front office/negotiate contracts dude and Schmidt is the "decide who we want" dude, but could be wrong and I'm sure there's lots of discussion/collaboration. At least, I hope there is. But, my point is that I think with the draft and young players we're kind of living in the "what type of guy does Schmidt like" space more than the "what kind of guy does Ujiri like?" We'll see, but either way...better hands than the Mavs' future has been in for a while, I'm sure.

Ujiri knows how big this draft is for this franchise. I believe he has got Schmidt here to bounce ideas off of because he genuinely values his opinion.  I also feel he will give him a long leash on scouting, free agency, trades, but for this draft, Ujiri will  be the guy who makes at least the #9 pick.

[KillerLeft]

Ujiri knows how big this draft is for this franchise. I believe he has got Schmidt here to bounce ideas off of because he genuinely values his opinion.  I also feel he will give him a long leash on scouting, free agency, trades, but for this draft, Ujiri will  be the guy who makes at least the #9 pick.

Yeah, I hear you. That's just not the sense I'm getting at all from those who (claim to be) "in the know."

And so the next chapter of "all the good moves must've been Lindsey" begins, lol. At least Schmidt is actually called GM, and not assistant. I think Ujiri's role is more along the lines of what Cuban used to (try to) do, personally. Just a lot better, hopefully. The other day in an interview, he literally pointed over his shoulder at Schmidt and said something like "it's about what that guy over there likes."

[hakeemfaan]

Ok, I'll put my hat back in the ring, but without any sense of "knowing" which guy(s) Masai and Schmitz ought to take. Just my sense from what I've been hearing and reading.

1) Dybantsa
2) Boozer (has moved up for me, but lol not a Mavs concern)
3) Peterson
4) Wilson (has moved down for me)
5) Flemings
6) Acuff
7) Brown (has moved way up for me, presuming health)
8) Wagler
9) Burries (You absolutely do not pick this guy if any of the 8 above are still on the board - I have him above the next three with the positional supposition that he can create his own shot better than any of them. If that's wrong, then the player who makes it wrong moves up)
10) Mara
11) Morez Johnson
12) Steinbach
13) Philon (would never leave any of the above 12 players on the board to grab him out of some positional need. You want him, you trade down for more assets, period)
14) Ament (I don't like him, but if Masai/Schmitz pick him, I 100% trust their judgment)
15) Lendeborg (too old, but around this pick range, fine)
16) Evans
17) Graves
18) Carr
19) Okorie
20) Swain
21) Quintance
22) Lopez
23) Cenac 
24) Yessoufou

Michigan guys are standing out in the combine.  Philon had a really nice game against them. That should count for something.  I don't see him as just someone you take because he plays a position of need. If his stroke holds up, he is a legit difference maker.  

Having said that, I don't see Ujiri selecting a slight framed PG at #9 hoping his stroke holds up.   The size doesn't match up with Ujiri's drafting history and Philon has not proven over multiple seasons that his stroke is legit, for Ujiri to overlook his size preferences while drafting.

[hakeemfaan]

Yeah, I hear you. That's just not the sense I'm getting at all from those who (claim to be) "in the know."

And so the next chapter of "all the good moves must've been Lindsey" begins, lol. At least Schmidt is actually called GM, and not assistant. I think Ujiri's role is more along the lines of what Cuban used to (try to) do, personally. Just a lot better, hopefully. The other day in an interview, he literally pointed over his shoulder at Schmidt and said something like "it's about what that guy over there likes."

You definitely have access to more guys in the building.  I am just going on gut instinct and not fully believing what Ujiri is saying.  

I can't see  a guy who has built his reputation by drafting suddenly giving that up when having a top 10 pick, with no other high picks on the horizon, and especially when he has started a new job.  Of course chances are pretty high that both of them are going to be aligned for the most part anyway on the type of player they want.  It's just that if there is a clear disagreement, my feeling is for this particular pick Ujiri will win out, but Schmidt will get plenty of other chances where he will get his way as well.

[cow]

Watched an Acuff draft profile and what a rollercoaster that was.  I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop after his offensive strengths and boy did it with his defense.  I think he'd have to work really hard to get to slightly below league average.  I'm not sure how to counterbalance that with his supreme offensive ability which is impressive because it's really not based on top end athleticism.

[Knutsen]

You definitely have access to more guys in the building.  I am just going on gut instinct and not fully believing what Ujiri is saying.  

I can't see  a guy who has built his reputation by drafting suddenly giving that up when having a top 10 pick, with no other high picks on the horizon, and especially when he has started a new job.  Of course chances are pretty high that both of them are going to be aligned for the most part anyway on the type of player they want.  It's just that if there is a clear disagreement, my feeling is for this particular pick Ujiri will win out, but Schmidt will get plenty of other chances where he will get his way as well.

It goes a bit off this thread title, but for me the hiring of Ujiri and Schmitz signals a talent based rebuild around Cooper in the next three to four years - and that would mean to take risks to get more high draft picks in the next years by trading out the likes of PJ, Naji, Gafford and also Kyrie - when the value and the timing is right („product-market-fit“). 

By risk I mean things like projecting a teams next season going much worse than they anticipated and their pick ending up much higher than at the moment of the trade, because of one injury, or some clauses with protections being dependent on lottery results etc. 

So for sure we have to hit with this years picks - ideally with at least two like we did with Brunson in addition to Luka - and then have to fill up the talent pipeline these next seasons while OKC is almost unbeatable in SGAs prime to get on the talent level of the Spurs for the years 2030+

[Winter]

It seems to me that if you put together Riccardi, Schmitz, and Masai, you have a team of scouts that are incredibly well-versed in both national and international talent. While we focus pretty exclusively on the early pick, I think there will be some real interesting players after the first round that many fans have never heard of before. Some won't be drafted.

But if there's a skill that this FO offers, it may be finding a gem among overlooked talent after the first round. There's a lot of history in this FO. Guys like Schmitz have been tracking players for years.

[Smitty]

And so the next chapter of "all the good moves must've been Lindsey" begins

PLEASE NO. NOT AGAIN!!


Seriously though, I don't care who gets credit. I just want the new front office to be successful. Hard to imagine Masai won't be directly involved in every decision, in what will be his first offseason.

[Chicagojk]

It seems to me that if you put together Riccardi, Schmitz, and Masai, you have a team of scouts that are incredibly well-versed in both national and international talent. While we focus pretty exclusively on the early pick, I think there will be some real interesting players after the first round that many fans have never heard of before. Some won't be drafted.

But if there's a skill that this FO offers, it may be finding a gem among overlooked talent after the first round. There's a lot of history in this FO. Guys like Schmitz have been tracking players for years.

I don't know who should get credit between Nico, Riccardi, others, or all but for the first time this team was excellent in two ways the past two years.   Williams is an NBA player.    Nembhard is an NBA player.  I believe Cisse will eventually be an NBA player.  Poulikidas is promising for at least a two way.   Grabbing guys in a pinch in Kessler Edwards, Kai Jones and Tyler Smith are all NBA players...just may not have a spot in the league.   Some really nice finds for a team who had very little draft equity.

It always bugged me this team would always give away picks and never get any back in a trade.  A lot may wind up useless, but they are small equity in a trade.   Heck, the Bulls second next year and the Warriors fake first in the future can both be small assets to use in a trade.   

Schmitz may not work out, but at least I feel confident he is going to grind.  Hopefully we get more, not less picks moving forward.  Give him an opportunity to miss some and not let that cripple the franchise.  With that being said, I hope they don't move back from 9.

[Chicagojk]

Arrogance is fine. Good, even, to a point. 

Being intelligent enough to know you shouldn't call yourself "definitely a superstar" in an interview before you've played in a single pre-season NBA game is also good, imho.

I thought he was awesome last year.  The defense was bad but it appears the team knew that and was just trying to outscore teams.   They did a pretty good job.  There were reports that he was not a very good team player in high school.  He was last year at Arkansas.

The defense has to improve.   Saying it is one thing.  Doing it is another.    Just needs to take a rewiring completely.   He was a matador for most of the year.  It will also be interesting how he deals with not being on ball all the time.  I thought he did well giving the ball up at Arkansas, but he will need to do it more in the pros.  

It appears fans from 5, 6 and 7 all like him.  It is a weird fit with the Clippers.   I thought the Nets would go another direction, but their fans appear all in.   Supposedly the Kings really like him, so maybe they trade up for him.    I don't see him making it to 9.  He would be one of my top 3 guys hoping they make it to 9.  I see very little hope of that happening.

[Winter]

I thought he was awesome last year.  The defense was bad but it appears the team knew that and was just trying to outscore teams.   They did a pretty good job.  There were reports that he was not a very good team player in high school.  He was last year at Arkansas.

The defense has to improve.   Saying it is one thing.  Doing it is another.    Just needs to take a rewiring completely.   He was a matador for most of the year.  It will also be interesting how he deals with not being on ball all the time.  I thought he did well giving the ball up at Arkansas, but he will need to do it more in the pros.  

It appears fans from 5, 6 and 7 all like him.  It is a weird fit with the Clippers.   I thought the Nets would go another direction, but their fans appear all in.   Supposedly the Kings really like him, so maybe they trade up for him.    I don't see him making it to 9.  He would be one of my top 3 guys hoping they make it to 9.  I see very little hope of that happening.

Agree on all that. One analyst said on NBA TV yesterday that the he was certain Arkansas coaches had told Acuff not to foul out of a game (and I don't believe he ever did). I don't think his defense was technically bad. He just didn't get that close to opposing players to make any difference. Having said that, I'm not sure how much he can give to that side of the ball his rookie season. He will clearly need to improve.

One of those guards is likely to land at #9... only because I fully expect some team above the Mavs to make an unexpected move. Maybe grab Mara or something like that.

[Chicagojk]

There is no doubt he has a chance to wow in workouts. He has the talent. Although you can make the case that he did not play to that talent this year. Maybe it was injuries. Maybe the team. Or maybe just being young. Either way he will be a fascinating evaluation.

https://x.com/franfraschilla/status/2054...79399?s=61

[Smitty]

Sam Vecenie preseason mock from the Athletic

His tiers: 1-3, 4-17, and then 18 and beyond he views as question marks.
Vecenie's top 60:

1. Darryn Peterson, Kansas
   
2. AJ Dybantsa, BYU
   
3. Cam Boozer, Duke
   
4. Nate Ament, Tennessee
   
5. Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
   
6. Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
   
7. Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
   
8. Koa Peat, Arizona
   
9. Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
   
10. LaBaron Philon, Alabama
    
11. Braylon Mullins, UConn
    
12. Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
    
13. Brayden Burries, Arizona
    
14. Dash Daniels, Melbourne
    
15. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
    
16. Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
    
17. Thomas Haugh, Florida
    
18. Isiah Harwell, Houston
    
19. Karter Knox, Arkansas
    
20. Dwayne Aristode, Arizona
    
21. JoJo Tugler, Houston
    
22. Patrick Ngongba, Duke
    
23. Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
    
24. Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers
    
25. Dame Sarr, Duke
    
26. Miles Byrd, San Diego State
    
27. Milos Uzan, Houston
    
28. Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia Tech
    
29. Sergio De Larrea, Valencia
    
30. Isaiah Evans, Duke
    
31. Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
    
32. Braden Smith, Purdue
    
33. Hannes Steinbach, Washington
    
34. Christian Anderson Jr., Texas Tech
    
35. Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois
    
36. JT Toppin, Texas Tech
    
37. Cameron Carr, Baylor
    
38. Nate Bittle, Oregon
    
39. Adam Atamna, ASVEL
    
40. Flory Bidunga, Kansas
    
41. Boogie Fland, Florida
    
42. Paul McNeil, NC State
    
43. Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
    
44. Alex Karaban, UConn
    
45. Anthony Robinson II, Missouri
    
46. Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
    
47. Donovan Dent, UCLA
    
48. Richie Saunders, BYU
    
49. Darrion Williams, NC State
    
50. Alex Condon, Florida
    
51. Otega Oweh, Kentucky
    
52. Johann Grunloh, Virginia
    
53. Momo Faye, Senegal
    
54. Tucket DeVries, Indiana
    
55. Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
    
56. Ryan Conwell, Louisville
    
57. Mackenzie Mgbako, Texas A&M
    
58. Josh Dix, Creighton
    
59. Dailyn Swain, Texas
    
60. Silas Demary Jr., UConn
    

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Interesting to look back on... No Flemings or Wagler. Wilson jumped in that top tier. Mara now in the top 10 discussion after the year he had. Some other notable ones like Carr, Swain, and Steinbach being talked about in the lottery. Ament's season...

[Chicagojk]

Quintance dunking and shooting

https://x.com/nbadraftwass/status/205491...93085?s=61

[Smitty]

https://x.com/esidery/status/2054909381980848508?s=46&t=4w35gotNXtBJnqxbaL7e9w

[Winter]

Quintance dunking and shooting

https://x.com/nbadraftwass/status/205491...93085?s=61

Pretty surprised at that jump shot. He's going to need some time... but damn!

[Smitty]

Ok, I'll put my hat back in the ring, but without any sense of "knowing" which guy(s) Masai and Schmitz ought to take. Just my sense from what I've been hearing and reading.

1) Dybantsa
2) Boozer (has moved up for me, but lol not a Mavs concern)
3) Peterson
4) Wilson (has moved down for me)
5) Flemings
6) Acuff
7) Brown (has moved way up for me, presuming health)
8) Wagler
9) Burries (You absolutely do not pick this guy if any of the 8 above are still on the board - I have him above the next three with the positional supposition that he can create his own shot better than any of them. If that's wrong, then the player who makes it wrong moves up)
10) Mara
11) Morez Johnson
12) Steinbach
13) Philon (would never leave any of the above 12 players on the board to grab him out of some positional need. You want him, you trade down for more assets, period)
14) Ament (I don't like him, but if Masai/Schmitz pick him, I 100% trust their judgment)
15) Lendeborg (too old, but around this pick range, fine)
16) Evans
17) Graves
18) Carr
19) Okorie
20) Swain
21) Quintance
22) Lopez
23) Cenac 
24) Yessoufou

I like the rankings.. I found a site that's more user friendly on creating a board. Putting it together isn't easy... Someone earlier posted something like, "I've seen 20 names that are for sure going top-10". Funny, but it's difficult to stack them when you actually put the time into it. 

DRAFTBALLR // 2026 NBA Draft Scouting & Analytics

[Chicagojk]

Nate ament report. He also has some good ones of the guards


https://youtu.be/c1a-T3jLhUQ?si=e1sF6CEK5_CeF35h

[mvossman]

He will be around 6'4" in shoes. I don't see any issues with his measurement.  I don't see elite athleticism as a must for a PG either.  Elite athletes and PGs are a relatively newer phenomenon and even there truly elite athletes playing PG like Westbrook are rare.  Kyrie , Steph are not considered great defensively and it's their offensive skill more than raw athleticism that sets them apart. Even Westbrook for all his athletic prowess, was never a great defensive player.

If you go slightly back, there are tons of PGs who were not great athletes, but knew how to take care of the ball and run a team. 

The questions surrounding Philon are going to be wrt his shooting ability and if his 2nd year jump is a indicator of true potential or an aberration. If it's the former, he could well turn out to be one of the best guards in this class.  Elite athlete or not.

To be clear, I was not stating that you need elite athleticism to be point guard.  The conversation was specifically about his defense and my primary point was that it is very hard to be a plus NBA defender when you are that slight of build.  He weighed 176 lbs which is less than Trae Young.  That means he is going to get pushed around and obliterated on screens.  Physically there are things that can help mitigate a slight frame like elite length (his height and wingspan are perfectly fine for a PG but not elite by NBA standards) or athleticism.  His defense as a freshman was good at the college level when it was the primary thing he focused on, but in his sophomore year when he was a bigger part of the offense the defense cratered.  If you are drafting him anywhere near 9, you are doing it for the offense he demonstrated as a sophomore and I think its asking a lot to expect him to provide his sophomore offense along with his freshman defense, especially when I am skeptical that defense will translate to the NBA due to his size.

[Winter]

Bit of a dead spot today, so I'll post the following article from NoCeilings on Arkansas guard Billy Richmond.

Richmond now may actually leapfrog Maleek Thomas in the draft. He's been great at the combines, and his perimeter shooting really came around late this season. This is a player where you have to just throw out some of his Tankathon statistics. This is a particularly good article on why Richmond's physical archtype is so in demand in the NBA.

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/billy-ri...ng-forward

He could be there at #30