2026 NBA draft thread

[Smitty]

@MavsFilmRoom
On this podcast, Krysten Peek says she’s hearing more and more buzz about the Clippers picking Kingston Flemings or Mikel Brown at #5 with some teams maybe getting “stage fright” with Keaton Wagler, with him potentially falling into the 8-10 range

Around the 10:30 mark here:

https://youtu.be/Uwp00Q6CZaY?si=6p2M4zeTIwsmxo3A

[DanSchwartzgan]

@MavsFilmRoom
On this podcast, Krysten Peek says she’s hearing more and more buzz about the Clippers picking Kingston Flemings or Mikel Brown at #5 with some teams maybe getting “stage fright” with Keaton Wagler, with him potentially falling into the 8-10 range

Around the 10:30 mark here:

https://youtu.be/Uwp00Q6CZaY?si=6p2M4zeTIwsmxo3A

For those insisting on a PG (or true PG), Wagler isn't it.  He's a variant of Burries (SG with some on-ball skill).  Unlike Burries, he has that one sure NBA skill that will always give him a place in the league.  But, he also has holes in his game.  He can't take anyone off the dribble.  Drive against close-outs - check.  Get downhill with use of a screen - check.  Take any NBA defender off the dribble.  Nope.

It doesn't mean he lacks value.  I've always wondered though why it is top 5/6 value.  I can absolutely see him falling.

[F Gump]

@MavsFilmRoom
On this podcast, Krysten Peek says she’s hearing more and more buzz about the Clippers picking Kingston Flemings or Mikel Brown at #5 with some teams maybe getting “stage fright” with Keaton Wagler, with him potentially falling into the 8-10 range

Around the 10:30 mark here:

https://youtu.be/Uwp00Q6CZaY?si=6p2M4zeTIwsmxo3A

I'm not buying that. Sounds like misdirection to me.

[Scott41theMavs]

I'm not buying that. Sounds like misdirection to me.

Sure! If teams below prefer those players, then the misdirectors can trade down and still get their (real) guy.

[mvossman]

I still think you're underrating Burries and Wagler a bit, and definitely underrating Peterson.

But everyone else makes sense. 

If I were to make a list it'd be:
Tier 1
1a. AJ Dybantsa
1b. Cameron Boozer
1c. Darryn Peterson 

Tier 2
3. Caleb Wilson 
4. Keaton Wagler 
5. Brayden Burries
6. Darius Acuff Jr. 
7. Mikel Brown Jr.

Tier 3
8. Aday Mara 
9. Kingston Flemings
10. Nate Ament
11. Hannes Steinbach 
12. Morez Johnson
13. Yaxel Lendeborg
14. Cameron Carr


Wagler, Burries and MBJ are all potentially good 2 way guards that can do a bit of everything. Acuff just has the it factor. Reminds me a lot of Marbury/Baron Davis. 

Despite my praise earlier this morning I still have Flemings a bit below his peers. He just looks tiny out there.

My tiers would be:

Tier 1:
Peterson
Dybantsa
Boozer

Tier 2:
Wilson
Acuff

Tier3:
Wagler
Flemings
Burries
Brown

Tier4:
Morez
Yaxel


Based on the Mavs situation at 9 I am a little more focused on floor than ceiling (which is why Brown is lower than most).  They have to get a quality starter with that pick.

[mvossman]

For those insisting on a PG (or true PG), Wagler isn't it.  He's a variant of Burries (SG with some on-ball skill).  Unlike Burries, he has that one sure NBA skill that will always give him a place in the league.  But, he also has holes in his game.  He can't take anyone off the dribble.  Drive against close-outs - check.  Get downhill with use of a screen - check.  Take any NBA defender off the dribble.  Nope.

It doesn't mean he lacks value.  I've always wondered though why it is top 5/6 value.  I can absolutely see him falling.

Positional size, elite shooter, high BBIQ, late bloomer.  His biggest weakness is strength and athleticism, but he does not shy away from contact.  But I agree, I never thought there was much separation among the 5 guards with the possible exception of Acuff.

[Smitty]

My tiers would be:

Tier 1:
Peterson
Dybantsa
Boozer

Tier 2:
Wilson
Acuff

Tier3:
Wagler
Flemings
Burries
Brown

Tier4:
Morez
Yaxel


Based on the Mavs situation at 9 I am a little more focused on floor than ceiling (which is why Brown is lower than most).  They have to get a quality starter with that pick.

And here I was thinking I had talked you into Brown throughout the year. Haha. I get it. I do appreciate that we can all put our name on it. It'll be interesting to look back on and see how wrong all of us were.

[F Gump]

Scott, I agree. I think there is a ton of trade talk with teams trying to mask their preferences and grab some extra value. But we are also being fed info that we don't know who really said it (to gauge what sort of agenda they might have) or whether that source might be either uninformed (and guessing) or just flat out lying.

Big Don Nelson used to call the week or so leading up to the draft as "Lying Time." It's the same player(s), same body of work, and now out of the blue this player or that is supposedly being deemed more (or less) desirable than they were a week ago? To me, that makes no sense. We'll see what happens.

[mvossman]

And here I was thinking I had talked you into Brown throughout the year. Haha. I get it. I do appreciate that we can all put our name on it. It'll be interesting to look back on and see how wrong all of us were.

He has moved up at least one tier for me since the beginning.  Early on I was complete no go on him.

[dirkfansince1998]

For those insisting on a PG (or true PG), Wagler isn't it.  He's a variant of Burries (SG with some on-ball skill).  Unlike Burries, he has that one sure NBA skill that will always give him a place in the league.  But, he also has holes in his game.  He can't take anyone off the dribble.  Drive against close-outs - check.  Get downhill with use of a screen - check.  Take any NBA defender off the dribble.  Nope.

It doesn't mean he lacks value.  I've always wondered though why it is top 5/6 value.  I can absolutely see him falling.

Actually think that the jump to NBA level defense won't be as big of an issue for him compared to his peers. A little bit like Luka. Wagler's offense isn't about him being able to get by defenders with speed or strength. It's a combination of elite pull up shooting and by far the best footwork of any guard in this draft class.

[DallasMaverick]

My tiers would be:

Tier 1:
Peterson
Dybantsa
Boozer

Tier 2:
Wilson
Acuff

Tier3:
Wagler
Flemings
Burries
Brown

Tier4:
Morez
Yaxel


Based on the Mavs situation at 9 I am a little more focused on floor than ceiling (which is why Brown is lower than most).  They have to get a quality starter with that pick.

So, Mara not in your top 11?

[dirkfansince1998]

Probably not fair because prior to his injury Brown was one of the highest ranked recruits in the country and the best player on the FIBA U19 team that won the world cup but the aggressive marketing campaign around him just triggers my snake oil salesman detectors. Feels like he has more podcast appearances than games played in college.

[mvossman]

So, Mara not in your top 11?

Nope. I think there is a good chance he can get played off the court in the playoffs.

[KillerLeft]

Peterson already scared of competing with Keyonte George?

No, same agent. Doing their puppet master stuff that's ruining the sport.

[KillerLeft]

I'm sure most have seen this already, but I thought this interview with Tommy Sheppard was pretty interesting. I've got it cued up to the part where they discuss the Mavs' draft. He seems pretty sure that Acuff and Brown Jr will be off the board first (damn), and makes a pretty good distinction between the other three. Obviously, his first instinct is to discuss the guards, because everyone on planet Earth knows that's what the Mavs need. 

https://youtu.be/bJFg-MP9s4k?si=bpUCeWr3dEM9D8pr&t=1284

[cow]

ESPN does a mock draft combining last years class with this years.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4897...a-peterson

...and Dylan Harper goes 5th.

#TrustNoOne

[SleepingHero]

Not sourced at all, but an interesting proposal. Would the Hawks even entertain something like this? Dyson Daniels, 2 FRPs this year, AND a future first for Peterson? If I was the Hawks I'd say yes, but Dyson is a big reason why that team is good.

[Scott41theMavs]

Not sourced at all, but an interesting proposal. Would the Hawks even entertain something like this? Dyson Daniels, 2 FRPs this year, AND a future first for Peterson? If I was the Hawks I'd say yes, but Dyson is a big reason why that team is good.

If they made that trade, Utah would be a bad city with a pretty good basketball team and a bright future.

The fact that it's so agonizing in terms of do you or don't you from Atlanta's perspective probably means it's a fair trade.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I'm watching the Locked On mock draft for their entire network.  The top four and Brown, Wagler, Acuff and Flemings were chalk for the first 8.

Dallas traded down with OKC, getting 12, 17 and taking Isiaih Joe into their exception.  OKC took Burries at #9.

Giannis was traded to Golden State, so Milwaukee ended up with 10 and 11 and took Yaxel and Carr.

Dallas took Morez Johnson at 12 (I'm not sure Johnson isn't better than Burries...and I like Burries).

Miami, Charlotte, Chicago and Memphis went Philon, Mara, Quantance and Ament at 13-16.

Dallas then took Ebuka Okorie at 17.  Stirtz and Swain were the other options they considered.

At 30, Dallas took Koa Peat.

[hakeemfaan]

I'm watching the Locked On mock draft for their entire network.  The top four and Brown, Wagler, Acuff and Flemings were chalk for the first 8.

Dallas traded down with OKC, getting 12, 17 and taking Isiaih Joe into their exception.  OKC took Burries at #9.

Giannis was traded to Golden State, so Milwaukee ended up with 10 and 11 and took Yaxel and Carr.

Dallas took Morez Johnson at 12 (I'm not sure Johnson isn't better than Burries...and I like Burries).

Miami, Charlotte, Chicago and Memphis went Philon, Mara, Quantance and Ament at 13-16.

Dallas then took Ebuka Okorie at 17.  Stirtz and Swain were the other options they considered.

At 30, Dallas took Koa Peat.

I understand need but any GM doing a deal with Presti or with Brad Stevens better think long and hard.  Even someone with Masai's pedigree.

I have my concerns about Burries, mainly related to not knowing how well he will handle defenses if he is the lead guard . However, I don't see Morez  comparable with the guards in the 9 tier because Morez doesn't have great handles. Hustle undersized centers, who "might" develop into good 3 point shooters are never greater than skilled guards with size, especially if Burries can play the point.  

I'm not saying those types of hustle guys are not valuable, but you can find those types of guys elsewhere. If Morez could initiate the offense like Draymond or if he already had a reliable high volume 3 point % that one could feel very confident about, I could at least see it, but at this point, I don't see him being in that same tier as a Flemings or a Burries.