(05-24-2026, 12:23 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: 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.
Well I'll just say what I see... knowing full well that most wouldn't do this at all. But in general...
I personally think M. Brown is going to struggle with the NBA game. Flemings and Burries maybe less so. I like them all. But I also think guys like Carr and Johnson are going to be right there after year 2-3. Like Mikel Brown, many of those players between 10-17 have things they need to work on that may take time. But they are going to be be good players I think. Carr has great offensive instincts and shooting ability, but his defensive decision making was poor (as was Baylor's defense in general). He is explosive on offense, but will definitely need some time in other areas. I think M. Johnson is an enormous defensive player. He was the best defensive player on the best defensive team in college. Vecenie thinks he has a chance as all-defense type of guy in the NBA. He has good shot almost anywhere on the floor, but it needs work. He is a physical player, very mature, great teammate, and a great connector (Vecenie). Even Yaxel said he was the best player on the Michigan team.
So I look at guys like Carr and Brown and I feel like they are going to be on someone's bench on opening day, get a lot of minutes as rookies, and be solid players. I honestly am not sure it's going to be much different for Brown, Wagler, or Ament. Flemings too unless he's traded to the right team. The four guys at the top look great. Everyone below it has more work to do. But I'm thinking the long game here, not next year. And I could see reasons for moving down and adding a player.
Having said that, I don't think that's likely. What may be slightly more likely than trading down is the Mavs trading a player and acquiring a draft pick somewhere as compensation. I don't think that's likely either before the draft, but I would be happy with both scenarios.
It's much more likely we stand pat with #9 (I'm not sure about #30), and I think that's the pick we'll make. But the point is those other moves don't scare me when looking 2-3 years down the road.