2026 NBA draft thread

[hakeemfaan]

With Acuff, I'm going to go by what some experienced college coaches who have accurately predicted future success in the NBA have said...that he will be a star. Ideally, yes, you do want all 5 starters to be solid defensively, but if any position can be hid, it's a PG. Plus we just saw Brunson being a centerpiece of a title run, and we can spin it however we want, but Brunson can be targeted defensively. You try to minimize his negatives by building a solid defensive team around him, like the Knicks did, and like the Warriors did with Curry.

Wagler has the drive. When you have the drive and talent, then athletic concerns can be overcome. Even when he had a bad 3 pt game against UConn when they were eliminated, his overall shooting % was still not bad and he got 8 rebounds. He found a way to contribute.

Flemings has talent. I've been through many iterations of this discussion group for the last 3 decades, and one thing has been consistent. My firm belief that mid range shooters are more difficult to guard in the playoffs than standalone 3 pt shooters. Flemings has that. An average shooter can practice hard and become a decent 3 pt shooter because the distance is the same. Midrange requires a lot more natural ability.

I know all these guys have negatives, but IMO there is a clear tier in this draft (Burries is in the above tier), and I don't feel confident with the next tier. As I mentioned, sure a few years from now someone lower might be better than all of these guys, but you are really going out on a limb or are a super GM if you can identify that and take that person with the top 10 pick given what we know as of today. Also, with the Mavs having very few good picks (heck OKC and SA have swaps with us I believe...so sad), they can't afford to go wrong on this one.


I have more concerns about Brown than any of the above guys because Brown blew hot and cold and his overall shooting % is not very good.

Coming to Ament, I know Killer will literally kill me, but if the Mavs want to take a chance , Mara is the guy that I will take all day over Ament (even though I know he might never play more than 30 mins a game). Even accounting for his upside there is nothing that makes me jump out of my seat with Ament or anything that tells me he projects to be a star, whereas some of Mara's highlights wrt passing and recovery to block shots are just amazing.