02-22-2026, 04:04 PM
(02-22-2026, 03:46 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: Someone in the chat yesterday was talking about trading down if you're the Mavs. I get that they need assets, but they also need to really nail this pick. I am of the school that BPA and being right about it does not include reaching - if your genius scout just "knows" that so-and-so is going to be a superstar but everyone else in the league sees him as a project or meh rotation player, you don't take your Giannis-type with the 6th pick if you can get him with the 13th pick. You trade down for a pick in the 10-13 range and get more assets. Moreover, if you find some simp who just has to have Tractor Traylor or Anthony Edwards or similar player (i.e. might be a highly-rated prospect but your genius scout sees through the BS and knows he's going to be a bust), sure, trade down a spot or two.
But if the only way to get the BPA, the guy who is going to help your team the most, is to stay put, that's whatcha gotta do. Especially in this draft. If I have the #1 pick, I'm taking Dybantsa and running. If I have the 2nd pick, then since I don't rate Peterson (flake + injuries) or Boozer (skillset not adapted to winning in the modern NBA), I am willing to trade down to 4 or 5 - unless the teams above were dumb as dirt and picked one of the other guys instead of Dybantsa; then I'm of course using the pick to grab him (cf. the '18 draft). Perhaps the same with #3 trading down to #5 - depends on how much I value either Flemings or Wilson above the other.
I'd take BPA if they land top 3. Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer in that order.
The 4th pick is where I think they could consider trading down. Is Wilson really the clear cut choice there? The fit with Flagg is odd due to his lack of shooting. I'm also concerned that Flemings may be getting overrated a bit. Everyone seems to assume he won't have defensive issues at the next level, but what happens if he measures out only .5" taller than Acuff? I think it could be smart to trade down few spots and pick up a future FRP if they can still draft one of Brown/Wagler/Acuff.