2026 NBA draft thread

[hakeemfaan]

I have a top 9 in this draft. Depending on Mikel Browns medicals, I have a top 8 in this draft. So I really dont understand all the trade down talk unless all top 8 are gone and you red flag Brown. Yes you can look back five years from now and say a bunch of good players were picked between 10-20 but that’s not how it works in the present. Trading down you’re likely going from a tier 2 player in this draft to a tier 3 player.

I think people get a little over enamored with the draft as it gets closer and they spend a bunch of time “doing their research” and want to pick a bunch of their pet cats.  If you’re telling me you can turn 9 and 30 into two top 20 picks, maybe that’s a different conversation. But I don’t understand the angst to trade down from 9, at all.

This team needs more high end talent, not guys like PJ Washington and Max Christie. I would make everyone on the roster available other than Flagg if I could trade up.

I don't know about high end talent. We are picking 9th. Not top 5.  Every player who has been slotted in that range for the Mavs have legit warts.  Brown (back and shooting concerns),  Flemings (wingspan, size), Acuff (if he falls..defense), Burries (is he close to his peak, what is the next level he can get to?).

PJ Washington for where he was picked (12th) has not really been great, but are we saying for sure if we stay pat, we'll get a better player than he has been?  I don't even know why Max Christie was brought up. He was a 2nd round pick.

As the draft is nearing, I am leaning more and more towards guys that have legit skills that I can see translating vs those who have potential but could be disappointments too.

For me, Flemings is someone that I have begun to love more and more if we stay at 9.  He has the jump shot.  I love the midrange game, and so for me, while Flemings size is a concern, I feel Flemings will open up a lot of space for Flagg.

[Mavs2021]

 

Despite all his foul baiting antics that he has picked up in the last couple of years which I don't like, I absolutely love SGA.  He has made those guys look much better than they are.  

Batman..we all mostly will agree who those rare breeds are.  Robin to me is someone who can carry the team  for a good portion of the season if the main guy is out.  Pippen for eg the year MJ was out, proved he is a legit 2nd option.

Pippen proved he was a #1 option. Kukoc was a #2 option. Better player than either Williams or Chet.

[Chicagojk]

I am in favor of staying at 9.   I also think Kyrie in on the Mavs to start the season.

Although, you can have some fun fantasy thoughts about trading Kyrie for 10 and then trading 9 to OKC for 12 and 17.   Then you are left at 10,12,17 and 30.    Probably way too many rookies but it is fun to think about anyway.

[mvossman]

I am in favor of staying at 9.   I also think Kyrie in on the Mavs to start the season.

Although, you can have some fun fantasy thoughts about trading Kyrie for 10 and then trading 9 to OKC for 12 and 17.   Then you are left at 10,12,17 and 30.    Probably way too many rookies but it is fun to think about anyway.

Lol, that is a scenario where I might actually be convinced to move back, especially if somebody (like Mara) outside of the (my) top 9 gets drafted before 9.

[hakeemfaan]

When I started looking at this draft, I started off with wanting some high upside guy and wanting the Mavs to take more risk.

As we near the date, I'm chickening out and getting more into the camp of those who want a high floor guy like a Burries or a Flemings because the Mavs cannot afford a miss on this pick.

I don't envy Masai or Schmidt at all. The previous regime has given them an almost zero margin for error.

I love this host and his breakdowns (looks like among guards who might fall to us, he has Brown, Flemings, Burries in that order):
https://www.youtube.com/@NBADraftjunkies/videos

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I love this host and his breakdowns (looks like among guards who might fall to us,  he has Brown, Flemings, Burries in that order):
https://www.youtube.com/@NBADraftjunkies/videos

I'd be happy with any of these 3 vs the names being discussed in a trade down scenario.

[khaled1987]

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba...uccounter=


NBA draft lottery proposal.

The idea that the 4th worst team in the league might end up with the 16th pick is wild.

[hakeemfaan]

I'd be happy with any of these 3 vs the names being discussed in a trade down scenario.

It depends upon the scenario. If some others jump up and one of these 3 is guaranteed to be there in a trade down scenario, even you wouldn't say no then.

In Masai I trust.

[mvossman]

It depends upon the scenario. If some others jump up and one of these 3 is guaranteed to be there in a trade down scenario, even you wouldn't say no then.

In Masai I trust.

That seems unlikely though.  In the typically discussed 9 for 12 and 17, even if all three guys (Brown, Flemings, Burries) are available at 9, they could all be gone by 12.

[loki]

The idea that the 4th worst team in the league might end up with the 16th pick is wild.

It really does seem like a disaster waiting to happen. The only upside is they might be forced to come up with a real solution in the near future.

[hakeemfaan]

That seems unlikely though.  In the typically discussed 9 for 12 and 17, even if all three guys (Brown, Flemings, Burries) are available at 9, they could all be gone by 12.

I'm assuming if they move down they would have accounted for that.  I am not going to question this brain trust.  Not now, not forever.  For a change the Mavs have hired one of the best front office teams. It doesn't mean they won't make mistakes. Masai himself had to move on from the Raptors, but there's nothing an ownership can do than hire one of the best.

Also, as I said, I personally am scared to lose a higher floor guy as the draft is nearing. I would not move down either and have changed my opinion of going after a riskier, higher ceiling guy. While every player in our draft vicinity has warts, they still have less question marks than ones in the next tier.  I don't want to take that chance, but that's why I said I don't envy Masai and Schmidt at all.

[Knutsen]

That seems unlikely though.  In the typically discussed 9 for 12 and 17, even if all three guys (Brown, Flemings, Burries) are available at 9, they could all be gone by 12.

I wrote it before - then they won’t do it until they have intel, that one other player will be taken. 

For example if you know OKC would go for Mara at 9 you do the trade. 

Or if you have a tier of more than 3 players you value the same that are available at 9 - then you do the trade and hope that you have a chance to get two of them or at least you get one and another talent of the next lower tier on top. 

If on the other hand a player drops or you have a clear „best player available“ at 9, then you definitely take him and be done with it. 

I used the analogy before, it would be the typical NFL trade back move that happens a lot of times in every draft.

[hakeemfaan]

Pippen proved he was a #1 option. Kukoc was a #2 option. Better player than either Williams or Chet.

I have been on so many iterations of this board over the years.  Old timers know that Hakeem and Pip are two of my favorite players (Zeke being the 3rd).  However, I've always conceded that Pip could never be a true #1 because a true #1 in the NBA always needs to be able to score year after year, especially in the playoffs, when defenses get tougher and are focused on taking out the primary option.  Maybe in his prime if he were without Jordan, he could have done it for a year or two, but he didn't have that natural scorer ability to do it year after year like the great offensive players the game has seen. Dirk even before his title was a true #1 than Pip, even though Pip is the better all around player.  Pip is like Jaylen Brown now.  He can definitely elevate and carry a team, but as a team goes through a playoff series and the competition gets tougher, it will become apparent that he is not a true #1 option.

SGA is a generational talent. He went lower because people underestimated him. Now when you look at his college highlights and his Clippers highlights, you can see that he has always been special.  It's frustrating that he has chosen to foul bait so much in recent years, but his creativity and midrange game are exceptional.

[Scott41theMavs]

I have been on so many iterations of this board over the years.  Old timers know that Hakeem and Pip are two of my favorite players (Zeke being the 3rd).  However, I've always conceded that Pip could never be a true #1 because a true #1 in the NBA always needs to be able to score year after year, especially in the playoffs, when defenses get tougher and are focused on taking out the primary option.  Maybe in his prime if he were without Jordan, he could have done it for a year or two, but he didn't have that natural scorer ability to do it year after year like the great offensive players the game has seen. Dirk even before his title was a true #1 than Pip, even though Pip is the better all around player.  Pip is like Jaylen Brown now.  He can definitely elevate and carry a team, but as a team goes through a playoff series and the competition gets tougher, it will become apparent that he is not a true #1 option.

SGA is a generational talent. He went lower because people underestimated him. Now when you look at his college highlights and his Clippers highlights, you can see that he has always been special.  It's frustrating that he has chosen to foul bait so much in recent years, but his creativity and midrange game are exceptional.

...and our new GM is a guy who saw this before others. 

[hakeemfaan]

...and our new GM is a guy who saw this before others. 

Wow..didn't know that. Just read up Schmitz' pre-draft evaluations of SGA after your post. 

As it is, I am at peace with what the new MBT will do.  Now even more so

[Chicagojk]

When I started looking at this draft, I started off with wanting some high upside guy and wanting the Mavs to take more risk.

As we near the date, I'm chickening out and getting more into the camp of those who want a high floor guy like a Burries or a Flemings because the Mavs cannot afford a miss on this pick.

I don't envy Masai or Schmidt at all.  The previous regime has given them an almost zero margin for error. 

I love this host and his breakdowns (looks like among guards who might fall to us,  he has Brown, Flemings, Burries in that order):
https://www.youtube.com/@NBADraftjunkies/videos

I am not sure if I will ever fully get there on Brown.  I did watch some interviews and he seems to be pretty well adjusted.   Although, I was thinking with Kidd no longer here, maybe I could warm myself to him  a little bit.   We need to see who they hire first though.

I think Kidd was pretty good with younger players.  Although, I think Brown is going to need to be coached hard to remove some of his shot and pass bad impulses.   Kidd either seems to let youngsters play through their mistakes and puts up with their mistakes or he just doesn't play youngsters.   I don't think that is the best for Mikel.

[hakeemfaan]

Looking up Schmitz ranking SGA ahead of Trae and Sexton in the 2018 draft, some things stand out: He is enamored by wing span, finishing ability, and ability to play at his own pace. He didn't hold SGA's primary weakness as a long distance shooter against him, but focused on his build and game to succeed in the NBA.

If Schmitz has a strong say, I can't see them taking Ament given his finishing troubles. You can build up hope that a jump shot will fix itself for a high FT % guy, but to build up hope that his jump shot will improve + his finishing around the rim will improve dramatically seems way too much optimism, at least to sacrifice a 9th overall pick.

[windjc]

Fleming is most like SGA in this draft.

[DallasMaverick]

Looking up Schmitz ranking SGA ahead of Trae and Sexton in the 2018 draft, some things stand out: He is enamored by wing span, finishing ability, and ability to play at his own pace.  He didn't hold SGA's primary weakness as a long distance shooter against him, but focused on his build and game to succeed in the NBA. 

If Schmitz has a strong say, I can't see them taking Ament given his finishing troubles.  You can build up hope that a jump shot will fix itself for a high FT % guy, but to build up hope that his jump shot will improve + his finishing around the rim will improve dramatically  seems way too much optimism, at least to sacrifice a 9th overall pick.

Sounds like Wagler.

Except for the wingspan.

[DanSchwartzgan]

 
If Schmitz has a strong say, I can't see them taking Ament given his finishing troubles.  You can build up hope that a jump shot will fix itself for a high FT % guy, but to build up hope that his jump shot will improve + his finishing around the rim will improve dramatically  seems way too much optimism, at least to sacrifice a 9th overall pick.

Flemings has the same concerns around finishing.