2026 NBA draft thread

[cow]

Even accounting for the Russia thing and their ongoing ban from Euro League that limits the exposure, I look at Ishchenko´s stats, accolades and the highlights and I´m absolutely bewildered how he dropped to #56. He´s athletic, the highlight reel is a total package of ball handling, decision-making, lob passes, 3pt shooting, defensive awareness, footwork and vertical blocks, athletic dunks. That VTB league is still pretty strong, even if it´s only 10 teams and they were the 2nd best team; only team to win a play-off game against the CSKA juggernaut. It says he was an All-Star selection and ROTY. I think they got a HUGE steal with this kid. Gives me Andrei Kirilenko vibes based obviously on limited evidence.

Boulder of salt, but based on highlights you could reverse the draft order of he and Sergio and it wouldn't surprise me.  His athleticism pops off the screen.

[SleepingHero]

Yeah, I said yesterday Morez does not feel like a Schmidt pick.  He likes skilled guys.  He picked Yang Hansen for God's sake.

Honestly feel like thats a good counterweight to Masai's uber athletic size over everything mindset.

[Mavs2021]

Honestly feel like thats a good counterweight to Masai's uber athletic size over everything mindset.

De Larrea and Ishchenko both have size. Ishchenko is an athlete, too. What they did though was go international. Only four non-college players (Lopez, DeLarrea, Kayil and Ishchenko) were picked in this draft and they got 50% of them.

[dirkfansince1998]

De Larrea and Ishchenko both have size. Ishchenko is an athlete, too. What they did though was go international. Only four non-college players (Lopez, DeLarrea, Kayil and Ishchenko) were picked in this draft and they got 50% of them.

Had to make up for Nico's purge

[ThisIStheYear]

The Mavs are accumulating a staple of future guys to develop and come over and fill out the rotation. I’d keep both Euros overseas for a year. They’re better off there than in the GLeague. The Mavs already have enough fodder for this year.

[ThisIStheYear]

If the Mavs plan to compete next year, the next play shouldn’t be the MLE. It should be finding a $20 million shooting guard for their TPE (the only good asset they have from the Luka/AD trades). Since the Heat really can’t resign Powell, I’m thinking that’s the way to go. If everyone is healthy and gels and Flagg makes the 2nd year jump typical for GOAT level players, that’s actually a pretty salty team.

[F Gump]

Lawal might be springier than DJJ

When I saw the physical numbers, DJJ is the comp I thought of - freak athlete whose offense needs much work. I can see Lawal developing into that same player type. And I'm really a HUGE fan of DJJ and the way his gifts can impact a game.

But it took DJJ many years to get there. So if he has that in him, will the Mavs still be in the mix when he gets there? That's my disclaimer to myself.

[cow]

When I saw the physical numbers, DJJ is the comp I thought of - freak athlete whose offense needs much work. I can see Vasal developing into that same player type. And I'm really a HUGE fan of DJJ and the way his gifts can impact a game.

But it took DJJ many years to get there. So if he has that in him, will the Mavs still be in the mix when he gets there? That's my disclaimer to myself.

The Heat kept DJJ around and gave him chance and I pray we do the same here.  Again, grain of salt, but his highlight videos are littered with steals and blocks.  Wingspan adjusted, they are very similar.  One of the announcers mentioned a 49.5 inch vertical which can't be right.  I'm hyped about Rez, but we need these dude on the team even if he's at the end of the bench.

[F Gump]

Gotta be a stash, yeah?

Yeah, I would wager so.

The way he landed as a Mavs pick screams "stash" -- buy a trash tier pick, to draft the not-ready guy you scouted personally. You let him develop if he can. No hurry, since you retain the rights of a pick. But if you don't pick him and he gets past pick 60 to UDFA, and then develops into something in Europe, no one has exclusive rights.

From what I saw, Ishchenko's got a ton of work to be anywhere close to NBA level (or GL) level. He's nowhere near a player yet. But a stash of an almost-free pick is a perfect plan imo, since Schmitz scouted him and at least has some thoughts on whether one day he might evolve.

[mvossman]

If the Mavs plan to compete next year, the next play shouldn’t be the MLE.  It should be finding a $20 million shooting guard for their TPE (the only good asset they have from the Luka/AD trades).  Since the Heat really can’t resign Powell, I’m thinking that’s the way to go. If everyone is healthy and gels and Flagg makes the 2nd year jump typical for GOAT level players, that’s actually a pretty salty team.

I doubt Mavs are going to spend huge money on a 33 year old player.  The draft did not really suggest win now.  There was no hint of drafting for need/fit.  That doesn't give off the vibe of an org focusing on winning now.  It feels like this is going to be a process, and it will probably take a while.

[Mavs2021]

I doubt Mavs are going to spend huge money on a 33 year old player.  The draft did not really suggest win now.  There was no hint of drafting for need/fit.  That doesn't give off the vibe of an org focusing on winning now.  It feels like this is going to be a process, and it will probably take a while.

I agree 100% with your draft take and I´m not that interested in Norman Powell either, BUT you could also interpret it slightly differently. They drafted BPA/Upside and so far have kept the roster together. They did not do a veteran firesale. It´s a two phased plan. Phase 1 is the Cooper development phase with a veteran squad around him, while we develop his teammates for Phase 2 three years from now.  

This might change in the next two weeks or two days with free agency, but right now, that´s how I´d look at it. Give Cooper some veteran stability, so he can grow into the man. Then when he´s ready to take over, you hopefully have a Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren ready.

[meistermatze]

Masai and his streak of drafting a guy over 6'5 continues.

Dude just loves forwards.

I think this is the biggest takeaway from the last couple of days. This is no accident, and to me, it makes perfect sense. It's the latest step in the ongoing evolution of players becoming more and more skilled.

We now have centers who play like guards, which means you need to be able to defend every player on the floor. And the best way to do that is by switching everything.
Players like Coop are the prototype for this kind of player. Imagine having five of them on the court at all times, guys who can do everything AND DEFEND everything.
I think this is what the NBA will look like in a few years. If everyone can do everything offensively, then size and versatility become the ultimate tiebreakers between good and great.

It will take a Steph Curry level revolution to disrupt this next stage of evolution. Until then, Masai's vision will dominate the league.

I can see it. I like it.

[Mavs2021]

They´ll probably fix their C position, but stuff like the Veesaar saga are beautiful small things for our Luka 2028 campaign. We hear you. You need a young big that can finish lobs and play pick and roll. We have this senior ready. He was projected first round. We made him a promise. Just for you we spend 50 dollars to buy the #56th pick. Oops sorry Luka. Would have needed to trade a future 2nd to move further up. That was just too much considering how much we had to overspend to get you. Enjoy Lazyton.

[Chicagojk]

Intersting gambles. The uber athletic wing with nba athleticism but the rest in progress come and go. As for the international players. They are all good players but very few develop into nba players.

Although for years I have been asking them to care about these picks and look under every rock. You fail 9 out of 10, but the one you hit on can be an amazing find. The more time you put into this process the more times you magically get lucky.

[Chicagojk]

So Flagg/johnson or boozer/coward or Peterson/bailey?

Who in the west has the best two young building blocks (removing spurs and the remaining rosters on these three teams)

[DL2RimRocker]

Are all of these guys gonna be able to play in summer league?

[Mavs2021]

Intersting gambles.  The uber athletic wing with nba athleticism but the rest in progress come and go.  As for the international players.  They are all good players but very few develop into nba players.

Although for years I have been asking them to care about these picks and look under every rock.  You fail 9 out of 10, but the one you hit on can be an amazing find.  The more time you put into this process the more times you magically get lucky.

Amen to that. Details matter.

Regarding Summer League.

I don´t see any reason why De Larrea should not play Summer League. It´s not like he´ll be burned out from the European season. He´s just in the swing of things. Take 10 days off, come to Dallas, watch some World Cup, have a look at the city, meet the staff and then play some Summer League. Lawal should obviously be there, too. I´d love to see Ishchenko, but absolutely no clue whether there are any travel restrictions/work restrictions currently (probably not) or how fast you can get a work&travel VISA as a Russian citizen.

Even the no f**** given Mavs had Ajinca play Summer League, so I´d guess the more invested new FO and Dutsy May would like Ishchenko to play Summer League just to get a better feel for his skill level.

[FireNicoHarrison]

So Flagg/johnson or boozer/coward or Peterson/bailey?

Who in the west has the best two young building blocks (removing spurs and the remaining rosters on these three teams)

Flagg is the best player there... So ours.

[ThisIStheYear]

I doubt Mavs are going to spend huge money on a 33 year old player.  The draft did not really suggest win now.  There was no hint of drafting for need/fit.  That doesn't give off the vibe of an org focusing on winning now.  It feels like this is going to be a process, and it will probably take a while.

I’m more optimistic now.  Only the Mavs have the inside information needed to make a judgement.  However, if their reading is that Kai, DLive, and Gaff will be healthy, the team they put on the floor next season is practically identical to their 50 win NBA finals team, with Luka and DJj swapped for Flagg, Mo, and in my scenario, Norman Powell. The bench next year would also be notably better. Players like Luka, LeBron, and Flagg tend to take the leap to all star level their second season. For slightly lower quality players like Tatum or Cunningham, it may take three, but Flagg seems to be in the most elite tier of player. He might do it in two. Given this, you start to go for it while the Aprons align. Also factor in that the TPE is the only way to get much value for the Luka/AD trades, no one is taking PJ’s bloated contract off your hands, and you have no incentive to tank, and maybe you just go for it. Powell will still be an efficient 20 ppg shooting guard for a couple of years.

As for not drafting for need, I’m pretty sure they believe Mo fills one and that he was significantly better than anyone available. They probably have him rated 5. His season was great and his combine measurements, testing, and performance were epic. He also was reportedly the heart and soul of the national championship team, the team’s undisputed locker room leader despite his youth.

Regardless, they better use that trade exception while they have the chance. It’s the best way to leverage their Apron space with teams just giving good players away these days. They’ll look like chumps if they don’t, and the only thing they really need if healthy, is a quality guard.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

After remaining out of the first round of the NBA draft on Tuesday night, the Magic made multiple trades throughout the second round on Wednesday before ultimately landing on South Florida forward Izaiyah Nelson. Entering the night with only the No. 46 pick, Orlando sent that pick, which was used to select Tennessee forward Felix Okpara, to the Washington Wizards in exchange for the Nos. 51 and 60 draft picks, a league source confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel. Shortly after, the Magic then sent the No. 60 pick to the Milwaukee Bucks for cash, the Sentinel confirmed. Orlando used the No. 51 pick to select Nelson, the American Athletic Conference’s player of the year, the defensive player of the year and the newcomer of the year. The Magic intend to keep Nelson, a league source said. The team officially announced the moves and acquisition of Nelson and cash consideration late Wednesday night.

Orlando Sentinel