2026 NBA draft thread

[F Gump]

Question (not a suggestion, just curious): Would a package built around Kyrie be enticement enough for LAC to do a #5/#9 Swap? I assume Garland would be in the deal, probably. There would have to be some other things that break in the Mavs' favor to make it fair, but Kyrie for Garland and #5 for #9 would be the nucleus of it.

IF Kyrie wants out, and IF the Mavs like either Wagler or Brown enough, I can see it. Caleb Wilson even, for those of you who think that would be a good pick.

If Peterson is there I do it in a second, but he won't be. I think that's as high as the Mavs could possibly get, sadly.

To me that's selling way low on Kyrie, where he's used to get you (only) a few rungs up the draft, to still be drafting in the very same value-tier of players.

Who knows whether it's smoke or not, but I'm seeing a lot of sports media people say that they are seeing clues the Mavs might be positioning to work to be really good this year. No 5-6 year runway in view. If so, I think the upcoming roster has to have Flagg as Batman and Kyrie as Robin (which avoids the need and cost to find those players), with pick 9 and perhaps a targeted player via trade also being put in position to play key roles. And except for the PG hole (which presumably gets more-than-filled with Kyrie and Pick 9 and/or a trade target), they already really have so many many many talented role players to fill the other roster needs as well as provide a lot of depth. 

Getting the right coach who can make that work would be vital.