2026 NBA draft thread

[DallasMaverick]

Killerleft's new qualifier for a "good" draft:

1) We all go to bed tomorrow night with the Mavs having drafted ANYONE OTHER THAN ADAY MARA.

Even at #30?

[KillerLeft]

Even at #30?

Yep. Not a fan.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I have not even looked at a single clip of Mara but...

what if Lively is cooked? and they have a Gafford trade lined up? would that change anyone's mind?

[KillerLeft]

I have not even looked at a single clip of Mara but...

what if Lively is cooked?  and they have a Gafford trade lined up?  would that change anyone's mind?

Not mine. 

I get that he's unusually skilled, offensively, and that's great for him. 

End of day, he's a big who can ONLY function in drop coverage on the defensive end, and I just think the NBA has figured that out. That's basically why we're seeing the midrange scoring come back into vogue. I think NBA players will be salivating at the prospect of getting him switched onto them. Licking their chops. For me, the logical progression from there to "can't help you in the playoffs" is almost a forgone conclusion, with the BEST case scenario being that he holds up juuuuust well enough to get that Jake Poetl contract before the book on him gets definitively closed. 

I'm just not interested in a ride like that.

[mvossman]

I have not even looked at a single clip of Mara but...

what if Lively is cooked?  and they have a Gafford trade lined up?  would that change anyone's mind?

That would be a reason to go after Morez in my mind, not Mara.

[KillerLeft]

That would be a reason to go after Morez in my mind, not Mara.

Yeah, I personally don't think 1st round big is the right lever to pull in this draft, given where the Mavericks are with their roster, but if they do pull that lever Johnson is infinitely more exciting than Mara to me.

[Winter]

Yeah, I personally don't think 1st round big is the right lever to pull in this draft, given where the Mavericks are with their roster, but if they do pull that lever Johnson is infinitely more exciting than Mara to me.

It's much easier to want the guy who can protect the rim, guard 1-5, and play 30 mpg if asked than the big, lumbering guy who can only stay on the court in certain situations.

It's a little hard to know how much smoke we're getting about tomorrow, but I do believe the Mavs are trying their best to acquire another first-round pick (or a better one than #30)

[KillerLeft]

It's much easier to want the guy who can protect the rim, guard 1-5, and play 30 mpg if asked than the big, lumbering guy who can only stay on the court in certain situations.

It's a little hard to know how much smoke we're getting about tomorrow, but I do believe the Mavs are trying their best to acquire another first-round pick (or a better one than #30)

Agreed, only I think they're specifically trying to move UP from 30 to do it, not DOWN from 9. 

Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but that's what I believe. I mean, I'm sure they have prepared for dozens of scenarios that do any and all of that, which is great.

Also, even with TWO picks, I'm not sure I pull the "first round big" lever, personally. Maybe if Gafford is outgoing in a deal, which seems very possible. There's reporting out there that they're trying to use him that way. Even then...I STILL might think the backcourt holes outweigh the need to ensure Cisse is relegated to 3rd or 4th center. Truly, I might feel that strongly about it. But at least then it's debatable imo.

[Scott41theMavs]

I'm actually hoping a little bit that they come away from the draft with *three* players they plan to have on roster next fall.

[KillerLeft]

I'm actually hoping a little bit that they come away from the draft with *three* players they plan to have on roster next fall.

Oh, well sure. But even homers like us can't reasonably expect 48 to become something. I mean if it does, GREAT! I suppose I'd agree that it should at least be someone worth keeping on the roster.

[F Gump]

FWIW I don't think the hiring of May means they necessarily draft one of his players.

But it does mean they will have better intel for evaluating each of the 3 than they had before, and they might even get some insight into which NBA teams have been sniffing around which of those the most (in game-planning the Mav draft board for picks and trades). That's one benefit from hiring May so close to the draft -- he was left in the loop for what other NBA teams are looking at until yesterday. (Does anyone think that was cleverly planned, or just a fortuitous accident?)

That MIGHT make the consequences of a trade from 9 to 12 more predictable, as they consider it.

May might also offer added insight on the various Big Ten players that he saw up close and had to game plan against multiple times (there are several in the 1st round mix in various places, incl Wagler, Steinbach and Stirtz) and even some of the other NCAA players --MICH also played ALA (Philon), TENN (Ament), AZ (Burries) and others in big games.

[hakeemfaan]

Assuming no trades, I see this order from #5 with Burries coming to the Mavs.

Wagler, MBJ, Acuff, Flemings, Burries

[F Gump]

One draft note - I saw the mention of Ishchenko a couple weeks ago, and info that Schmitz had scouted him, but in looking at the videos available, I didn't think he really was worth mentioning here. The "mystery guy" idea is always enticing, but it's not all that great to get a mystery guy that no one else knows very well when he isn't really NBA material. I think the Mavs can do much better at 48.

Pick at 48 and stash him and hope he develops elsewhere for a few years? Maybe. I don't think he's NBA ready yet, at all. But playing the stash game depends on the other choices at 48, and also you need a player who you have some reason to think he will make a big jump over a few years. Iffy at best.

Maybe sign as an UDFA who might get a 2-way, if he looks unexpectedly promising in SL? Yeah.

The Euro guy that intrigues me is DeLarrea - I've mentioned him multiple times, and would be very interested in him at 30. But whether he is available, and who else is there, is certainly part of the equation, because even though it's a 23-25 player first round, it's possible some of those 23-25 players might unexpectedly fall there. Ya never know.

[F Gump]

Assuming no trades, I see this order from #5 with Burries coming to the Mavs. 

Wagler, MBJ, Acuff, Flemings, Burries

Yeah, that's chalk at this point. Very few mocks deviate far from this 5-9 sequence of picks.

[Torielp10]

Is burries floor a better defending jet terry? Different playstyles of course but I see his absolute floor could be a 6th man of year guy. I’m really really high on burries

[cow]

Is burries floor a better defending jet terry? Different playstyles of course but I see his absolute floor could be a 6th man of year guy. I’m really really high on burries

2011 Finals, Game 2, Chalmers wide open for three from an inbounds play to tie the game at 93 in the closing seconds.  Pretty sure that was some of Jet's handywork.

[DallasMaverick]

Assuming no trades, I see this order from #5 with Burries coming to the Mavs. 

Wagler, MBJ, Acuff, Flemings, Burries

So Ament, Mara, and Morez all below?

I think at least one ends up taken 5-8.

[DallasMaverick]

2011 Finals, Game 2, Chalmers wide open for three from an inbounds play to tie the game at 93 in the closing seconds.  Pretty sure that was some of Jet's handywork.

Small sample size.

Not defending Jet’s defense, but just pointing out that even exceptional defenders whiff sometimes.

[cow]

Small sample size.

Not defending Jet’s defense, but just pointing out that even exceptional defenders whiff sometimes.

It's just what comes to mind when I see Jet and defense in the same sentence.  Thank goodness for Dirk's left hand.

[F Gump]

Is burries floor a better defending jet terry? Different playstyles of course but I see his absolute floor could be a 6th man of year guy. I’m really really high on burries

JET is an interesting comp. Combo G who played a lot of PG and a lot of SG. A bit smaller than Burries. Great shooter. Long career. Stayed healthy.  (JET was a much better player than usually given credit for in Dallas.)

Side notes: JET was a winner. Played at AZ. Picked 10.

If Burries is getting another JET, is he worth pick 9? I think so.