2026 NBA draft thread

[myconsumerclub]

I personally have a lot of faith in Kyrie to do well enough and Ryan is a decent enough backup floor gen so if we can snag anyone at 9 that we can be happy with I am all for it but if the risk of bust is too high you start to think outside the position of need as a criteria for selection and you go after the best player available and that could be a major find too and hopefully someone who is not likely to be a bust because he does not check all the boxes.

Dropping down might make more sense to me and a PG can be found later on who might be strong in a few areas that count. If you want a PG w\ size our 30th pick targeting Sergio de Larrea would be a nice gamble to take. That would open up 12 and 17 for other needs if we get a deal done w OKC.

With more picks comes greater odds we find players that fit well and produce results. I really think there is not a lot of difference between 9 and 12 so trading down is a good idea if it can get you an extra pick.

[Winter]

Sorry if this has been posted before.  This might give some insight into their mindset when it comes to a player like Carr as not being their choice:

https://x.com/reallatiflove/status/20560...37457?s=46

I don't think Carr would ever be an option at #9. He's the guy to go for if you trade down.

[Chicagojk]

It is always dangerous finding prospects late and then relying on highlights.   A lot of mistakes can be made there.  Although, here we are.   I watch highlights of Ebuka and I just keep thinking is there a gap with him and the other guards.    He is small.  He was very productive playing on a team that was not super talented besides him.   He has the stats.  He is young.  No one seemed to be able to stay in front of him.   It will be real interesting to see where he falls in the draft.

[Smitty]

@DraftDeeper
2026 NBA DRAFT PROSPECT RANGES POST COMBINE

Thought it would be a great exercise to put together a 2026 NBA Draft prospect RANGE board, showing projected draft pick ceilings AND floors, as I see them now. Board comprised of MY current Top 60 prospects.

Going back to this post from yesterday. I find it interesting, a good thought exercise. Nathan is one of the best out there and looking at the 'ceiling' of guys... he has 18 prospects with a ceiling of 9+, where the Mavs pick. Of course you have the Top 4, then you have THE5. The others are: Mara, Ament, Quaintance, Yaxel, Morez, Stirtz, Philon, Anderson, Okorie. I'd personally include Carr and Steinbach. So, when they say there are 20 guys that are going top 10, this is what they mean.

With that said, it feels like a trade back with OKC is just fine, if they aren't in love with who falls to them at 9. BUT it has to make sense for OKC also... Who are they trading up to get. They'd be wanting to jump MIL and GSW. So, Yaxel? Morez? Ament? IDK, just difficult for me to see it making sense from OKC's side right now.

What does make sense is OKC trading 12 and/or 17 for a future first. So, the '29 Lakers pick?? That's what we should be talking about more IMO. Is #12 worth an unprotected future first? #17? If not, how protected, and why would OKC say yes when others can and might offer something better, unprotected?

Who says no?:

DAL: Caruso + Pick #12
OKC: TPE + '29 FRP (LAL) Top-4 Protected?

[Winter]

I will absolutely not say no.

[Smitty]

@DraftDeeper
2026 NBA DRAFT UPDATED PROJECTIONS MOCK POST COMBINE

Different from what I published Friday, this is what I'm currently projecting for the 2026 NBA Draft First Round. I will do an updated projections mock with a full second round post early entry withdrawal.

[Smitty]

@DraftDeeper
2026 NBA DRAFT UPDATED PROJECTIONS MOCK POST COMBINE

Different from what I published Friday, this is what I'm currently projecting for the 2026 NBA Draft First Round. I will do an updated projections mock with a full second round post early entry withdrawal.

I like Zuby and have mocked him to Dallas plenty, but I'm picking I. Evans at 30 in this scenario. Flemings+Evans backcourt of the future... 
Really, Flemings-Max-Evans-Coop-Lively is the 23 and under lineup...

[Winter]

I like Zuby and have mocked him to Dallas plenty, but I'm picking I. Evans at 30 in this scenario. Flemings+Evans backcourt of the future... 
Really, Flemings-Max-Evans-Coop-Lively is the 23 and under lineup...

Evans would be in my top 2-3 picks at #30, but I'm going with Tarris Reed if he hasn't been picked.

[JamesConway816]

I would hold onto the LAL pick until I know how Luka will decide in 2028. Prestie is the last guy Id offer that pick. If he gets it the Lakers will implode. The dude just always comes out on top in his trades.

But DET just got bounced in game 7. They own #21 and have future 1sts to trade as well as the desire to get better quickly.

[mvossman]

Sorry if this has been posted before.  This might give some insight into their mindset when it comes to a player like Carr as not being their choice:

https://x.com/reallatiflove/status/20560...37457?s=46

It was posted earlier, but it got less traffic than I expected.  If this is any indication of the direction these guys are going to take I think its kind of big deal.  When Masai first got hired the thought was that they would go for guys like Caleb Wison, Ament, Carr or Morez.  But if this is the current mindset, it will be more like Boozer, Wagler and Burries.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

@DraftDeeper
2026 NBA DRAFT UPDATED PROJECTIONS MOCK POST COMBINE

Different from what I published Friday, this is what I'm currently projecting for the 2026 NBA Draft First Round. I will do an updated projections mock with a full second round post early entry withdrawal.

Getting Flemings at #9 would be a big W for me.

[Winter]

I kind of think this expectation of "type" in the Mavs draft is a little over-hyped.

Both Masai and Schmitz have chose different physical archetypes before in drafts. Both members of the FO (and even Riccardi) may have input here. In regards to Flemings, I was surprised this morning to hear a draft analyst consider Flemings and Philon as #s 9 and 10, and he went with Philon to Dallas because of his shooting. Burries was not in his top 10.

I'm starting to care a bit less about who the #9 pick is exactly. I'm starting to care more that we acquire a better selection of two picks somewhere in the first round of the draft.

[Winter]

Several 2nd round pick selections working out in Dallas

Dallas
#33 Zuby Ejiofor (PF, St. John's)
#48 Malachi Moreno (C, Kentucky)
#52 Milos Uzan (PG, Houston)
#54 Otega Oweh (SG, Kentucky)
#58 Maliq Brown (PF, Duke)
#75 Peter Suder (SG, Miami (OH)
UNR Keba Keita (C, BYU)

[mvossman]

I kind of think this expectation of "type" in the Mavs draft is a little over-hyped.

Both Masai and Schmitz have chose different physical archetypes before in drafts. Both members of the FO (and even Riccardi) may have input here. In regards to Flemings, I was surprised this morning to hear a draft analyst consider Flemings and Philon as #s 9 and 10, and he went with Philon to Dallas because of his shooting. Burries was not in his top 10.

I'm starting to care a bit less about who the #9 pick is exactly. I'm starting to care more that we acquire a better selection of two picks somewhere in the first round of the draft.

If by this you mean trading down, I think its probably not going to happen for the same reason that some folks want to do it.  This draft is so deep it does not make sense to trade up.  The OKC rumor was never that they wanted to move up, it was that they wanted to trade into a future draft, and knowing Presti the asking price is going to be high.  We finally have an FO that I'm not worried will get fleeced, but I still wouldn't want to trade with Presti.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I like Ebuka Okorie. He looks like a young Dennis Schroeder (hopefully a better teammate).  I'd be happy if they could maneuver and get him in the 20s and had him as their PG of the future.

On another note, if the Mavs are taking on three years of Alex Caruso's deal, then Lakers pick needs to be top 10 protected. But if it's simply a one for one, I'm okay with it being unprotected (though I'd prefer top 4).

For sh-ts 'n giggles, let's say the Mavs:
- Trade Lakers 2029 unprotected for #12
- Trade Gafford for Vanderbilt and #25
- Take on Zeke Nnaji for #26

How far up do you think #9, #12, #25, #26 and #30, collectively could get you?  Put the probability of this actually happening aside. I'm asking do you think Memphis would entertain this (I don't think they'd hang up the phone)?  Would you rather have just Cam Boozer or, let's say, Flemings, Lendebourg, Swain, Okorie and Ejiofor?

Again, I'm not saying this would happen. It's just a thought exercise of do you feel better with having one premium pick or five dart throws of varying degrees where it's possible one or more could be home runs, or just a big bag of nothing?

[myconsumerclub]

First of all no trades with the lakers till we use their pick it will be a lot more valuable if we do not help them improve. Trade Gafford to some other team who is willing to get us a pick.

You cannot make a deal with the devil when they owe you a pick that you hope is worth more because LeBronda retires and Luka decides to move on to Denver.

[mvossman]

I like Ebuka Okorie. He looks like a young Dennis Schroeder (hopefully a better teammate).  I'd be happy if they could maneuver and get him in the 20s and had him as their PG of the future.

On another note, if the Mavs are taking on three years of Alex Caruso's deal, then Lakers pick needs to be top 10 protected. But if it's simply a one for one, I'm okay with it being unprotected (though I'd prefer top 4).

For sh-ts 'n giggles, let's say the Mavs:
- Trade Lakers 2029 unprotected for #12
- Trade Gafford for Vanderbilt and #25
- Take on Zeke Nnaji for #26

How far up do you think #9, #12, #25, #26 and #30, collectively could get you?  Put the probability of this actually happening aside. I'm asking do you think Memphis would entertain this (I don't think they'd hang up the phone)?  Would you rather have just Cam Boozer or, let's say, Flemings, Lendebourg, Swain, Okorie and Ejiofor?

Again, I'm not saying this would happen. It's just a thought exercise of do you feel better with having one premium pick or five dart throws of varying degrees where it's possible one or more could be home runs, or just a big bag of nothing?

I don't think most teams want that many picks in a single draft.  You would probably be better off offering the Lakers pick in this situation.  I still don't think this is enough to get into the top 4.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

First of all no trades with the lakers till we use their pick it will be a lot more valuable if we do not help them improve. Trade Gafford to some other team who is willing to get us a pick.

You cannot make a deal with the devil when they owe you a pick that you hope is worth more because LeBronda retires and Luka decides to move on to Denver.

With all due respect, I think it's silly to limit yourself on who you'll trade with based on past situations. The issue wasn't that the Mavs traded with LA. It was that an idiot negotiated the terms. 

And, oh my...you seriously overrate Gafford as if he would be some singular key to setting up the Lakers into being a championship contender for years. Likewise, do I think Luka would like to play with Gafford again? Sure. Absolutely. Do I think Gafford is enough that would make Luka want to re-sign with LA longterm? He'll no.

[myconsumerclub]

Lets consider what kind of contracts we are loaded down with. Kyrie Cooper Lively probably Bagley 3 picks at least Klay Max PJ Naji Martin Gafford AJ and then you have Cisse who would be a nice 3rd string center. That is 15 right there with just these guys and maybe we can trade off someone or just buy out someone like AJ if nobody wants him

Trades need to be considerate of this fact and so do ideas were we obtain picks beyond our 3.

[Winter]

If by this you mean trading down, I think its probably not going to happen for the same reason that some folks want to do it.  This draft is so deep it does not make sense to trade up.  The OKC rumor was never that they wanted to move up, it was that they wanted to trade into a future draft, and knowing Presti the asking price is going to be high.  We finally have an FO that I'm not worried will get fleeced, but I still wouldn't want to trade with Presti.

I think there are ways to acquire picks. I'm not going to spend time imagining ways to do it. Like you, I have some faith that our FO will explore every possibility to make this a winning draft. If it doesn't happen, the optimist in me will believe the options were exhausted. This will be Masai's first draft in the Maverick's organization, and Schmitz's first real act as a GM. I would expect this FO to reach as far and as deep as they can to make this a memorable draft for the Mavericks organization.