2026 NBA draft thread

[mvossman]

I’m more optimistic now.  Only the Mavs have the inside information needed to make a judgement.  However, if their reading is that Kai, DLive, and Gaff will be healthy, the team they put on the floor next season is practically identical to their 50 win NBA finals team, with Luka and DJj swapped for Flagg, Mo, and in my scenario, Norman Powell.  The bench next year would also be notably better. Players like Luka, LeBron, and Flagg tend to take the leap to all star level their second season. For slightly lower quality players like Tatum or Cunningham, it may take three, but Flagg seems to be in the most elite tier of player. He might do it in two. Given this, you start to go for it while the Aprons align. Also factor in that the TPE is the only way to get much value for the Luka/AD trades, no one is taking PJ’s bloated contract off your hands, and you have no incentive to tank, and maybe you just go for it. Powell will still be an efficient 20 ppg shooting guard for a couple of years.

As for not drafting for need, I’m pretty sure they believe Mo fills one and that he was significantly better than anyone available. They probably have him rated 5. His season was great and his combine measurements, testing, and performance were epic. He also was reportedly the heart and soul of the national championship team, the team’s undisputed locker room leader despite his youth.

Regardless, they better use that trade exception while they have the chance. It’s the best way to leverage their Apron space with teams just giving good players away these days. They’ll look like chumps if they don’t, and the only thing they really need if healthy, is a quality guard.

Flagg and Luka are very different players.  Luka is an insane high volume creator.  That is not the kind of player Flagg is, and a teenage Flagg is not going to be in the ballpark of prime Luka creation wise.  Not sure what Kyrie is going to be either.  There is likely going to be some decline in his mid 30s.  No idea how much that will be.

This team still has a massive deficient in both creation and shooting.  Getting a 6th man type of player will help, but it won't be nearly enough to bridge the gap.  They are a long way away and spending cap/assets on a win now player on the wrong side of 30 doesn't seem like the way to go.