2026 NBA draft thread

[Mavs2021]

I agree with the first paragraph.  A top four pick changes everything and requires an additional guard whether it be via trade or signing.  Even if a good guard option is available in the late first, I don't think you rely on that as your primary backup at the position.

I don't think of it as squandering as much as I think of it as preserving flexibility.  Who is this magical player who will sign here for the MLE that a team without a GM (or one who has been on the job for five minutes) is going to commit to?  Manufacturing tradeable expiring salary will feel important later in the season when the new (expert) GM has had time to evaluate the roster and plan a path forward.

They trusted Finley/Riccardi to move that sloth AD and if the new GM is not in place for free agency, he´s not in place for the draft either. That means Finley/Riccardi have already made two decisions much bigger than whether to spend the MLE on Sexton or Simons. Neither will settle for the MLE in the first week of free agency either. That´s a late July decision, so no pre-free agency deal will be in place.

All that being said the new decision-maker will be in place for the draft. I think it´s going to be Lindsey and they know that already. Only question is whether Finley or Riccardi will be the official GM. I assume it will be Riccardi with Finley as Team Manager.