2026 NBA draft thread

[SleepingHero]

Jesus, these rumors are brutal.  Hope its all smokescreen.

You have to imagine if the Mavs are trading back and considering Steinbach, that the trade gives them the things they are looking for at #9.

Backup PF is sort of thin if they aren't retaining Bagley.

[Mavs2021]

I have to say the Russian kid Ishchenko was not on my radar. Props to whoever dug up that Schmitz/Portland connection. I assume not even scouts travel to Krasnodar these days to watch a Russian 2nd round prospect let alone GMs. Probably saw him play in Moscow or Saint Petersburg anyway. I might just predict that he´ll be the Mavs pick in the 2nd round at #48 for the simple reason that they´ll struggle for available roster spots next season and they can stash him overseas for another year. Highlights also look really nice. Smooth, athletic, nice shooting motion.

[mvossman]

Whether or not OKC would do it depends on how badly they want to shed salary. But Im not sure why there is a pervasive narrative that PJ is a negative asset not worth an end of lotto FRP. Same with Gafford. (Not saying you are the one writing that, using you as more of a jump off point). 

Both are good players and fill needs for almost any playoff team and are on good contracts. 

It was rumored earlier this year that the Mavs offered Gafford for Mathurin and a future protected first and the Pacers considered it their fallback plan. That should be the value we're looking to extract minimum. PJ for salary and 12 is light given my own restrictions, but OKC wants to move up, not out.

There is a whole lot of room between negative asset and #12 in a strong draft.  I think OKC can get off that salary cheaply because those are decent players on decent contracts (there is a reason everyone is more than happy to take on that Joe contract).  If I am OKC, I would much rather spend #12 on Yaxel, who will be way more cap friendly and dump those contracts some other way.

As for the potential Gafford trade, the Pacers obviously did not value Mathurin and they were clearly desperate given the crazy trade they made for Zubac.  I hope the Mavs can find another desperate trade partner, but its not going to be OKC.

[FireNicoHarrison]

This draft will be a huge point to judge Masai.

[Scott41theMavs]

This draft will be a huge point to judge Masai.

After reading all these recent posts about trading back and the pitfalls thereof, I come away with Masai’s one job here being, “Don’t get cute, outchessed, and left holding a bag of crap.”

[Scott41theMavs]

Two days left until the first round.

[Mavs2021]

Two days left until the first round.

I´m not so sure. The Bucks have send a formal request to the NBA to postpone the draft, cause they need to think over the Giannis situation some more.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/mavsfilmroom/status/206873...60227?s=46

[OBX Maverick]

I’m reading repeatedly, including today in the Athletic’s draft guide, that the Clips potentially have a thing for Burries after his work out with them. Again, could be smokescreen, but  if it’s true, it definitely puts Flemings, Brown, and Wagler in play for us. 

Cannot wait for Tuesday lol.

[SweetFidelia]

It does seem Schmitz values positional size and positional flexibility. All these scouts talk about Burries being a primary ball handler in HS and chose Arizona to win. Go watch his HS championship game. He’s ridiculous. Just phenomenal around the rim and in transition, floater, euro step, range, change speeds while staying in control. Burries doesn’t quite have the wingspan of Dylan Harper (and he’s actually a few months older), but that’s a good comp for height & weight (0.75 in shorter, 2 lbs heavier). Jamal Murray is a great comp. Murray was not a PG at Kentucky, but he’s a pretty dang good one now. If Burries turns into Jamal Murray with better defense….thats really tough to pass up. I do like Flemings. I just watched some more highlights, so I wouldn’t hate it, but a Flemings-Kyrie backcourt would be a serious size issue. He’s not really anything other than a point guard, and his FG% around the rim is alarming not to mention attempting 5 floaters his entire college season. So, I would draft Burries 10/10 times if given the choice between the 2.

[hakeemfaan]

The other thing I don't get is this: IF Mara is the target, why would OKC even be worried about trading up? I reeeeeaaaaaalllly don't think he's in danger of getting picked before 12, especially if he gets by ATL (he will, I bet). My guess is that their target is someone else...like Burries.

Usually in these kinds of deals there is a gentleman's agreement among the trading teams that they are not trading with each other for one to backstab the other.  Of course they can't do anything if the Bucks or GS pick Burries in this scenario.

My bet is that if OKC does this deal it's for Yaxel because they're afraid GS might take him. OTOH If OKC does do a trade up with the Mavs and ends up picking Burries, it will be only because the Mavs have told them that they're not interested in him.

I also don't feel teams picking Mara are picking him just to counter Wemby but rather because he does have some intriguing tools to go with his size if he can defend in space. So if OKC is drawn to him and they feel that some team might trade up with GS or with the Bucks to snag him, that could also be another reason to move up.

[Torielp10]

Give me burries and trade up for peat and I think that gives us a good ceiling and floor. Burries is who I’ve wanted all along especially watching the conference finals and finals. If you could tell me that ament loves basketball, and is a hard worker I would bet on him if burries isn’t there. Even if he just becomes a really good defender and spot up shooter. Him at the 3 and coop at the 4 would be awesome imo.

[hakeemfaan]

It does seem Schmitz values positional size and positional flexibility. All these scouts talk about Burries being a primary ball handler in HS and chose Arizona to win. Go watch his HS championship game. He’s ridiculous. Just phenomenal around the rim and in transition, floater, euro step, range, change speeds while staying in control. Burries doesn’t quite have the wingspan of Dylan Harper (and he’s actually a few months older), but that’s a good comp for height & weight (0.75 in shorter, 2 lbs heavier). Jamal Murray is a great comp. Murray was not a PG at Kentucky, but he’s a pretty dang good one now. If Burries turns into Jamal Murray with better defense….thats really tough to pass up. I do like Flemings. I just watched some more highlights, so I wouldn’t hate it, but a Flemings-Kyrie backcourt would be a serious size issue. He’s not really anything other than a point guard, and his FG% around the rim is alarming not to mention attempting 5 floaters his entire college season. So, I would draft Burries 10/10 times if given the choice between the 2.

It's not that straightforward. If all GMs were so convinced of Burries playing the point, shouldn't he go much higher? What other glaring weakness or issue does he have if he can legit be a primary ball handler? Even his size would be a huge plus if he was slotted as the lead guard.  

He would automatically move ahead of Wagler and Brown for me if I had enough of a sample size in college of him handling tough defenses as a primary guard.  Acuff is the only one who would still be ahead of him mainly because Acuff shows flashes of the potential to be a generational type scorer.

Edit: I do agree that everything you're hearing about the Mavs (and I know smokescreens are prevalent prior to the draft) seems to point to them taking someone bigger and more physical than Flemings.

[OBX Maverick]

It does seem Schmitz values positional size and positional flexibility. All these scouts talk about Burries being a primary ball handler in HS and chose Arizona to win. Go watch his HS championship game. He’s ridiculous. Just phenomenal around the rim and in transition, floater, euro step, range, change speeds while staying in control. Burries doesn’t quite have the wingspan of Dylan Harper (and he’s actually a few months older), but that’s a good comp for height & weight (0.75 in shorter, 2 lbs heavier). Jamal Murray is a great comp. Murray was not a PG at Kentucky, but he’s a pretty dang good one now. If Burries turns into Jamal Murray with better defense….thats really tough to pass up. I do like Flemings. I just watched some more highlights, so I wouldn’t hate it, but a Flemings-Kyrie backcourt would be a serious size issue. He’s not really anything other than a point guard, and his FG% around the rim is alarming not to mention attempting 5 floaters his entire college season. So, I would draft Burries 10/10 times if given the choice between the 2.

The more I watch Burries, the more he grows on me. Watched most of a 50 minute highlight reel of his and saw plenty of ball handling skills and passing vision. I would be more than happy with him at 9. But as you say, other teams such as LAC may value him as well for his potential size and skills at the point.

[DallasMaverick]

https://x.com/mavsfilmroom/status/206873...60227?s=46

Holding their cards close to the chest

[Scott41theMavs]

The more I watch Burries, the more he grows on me. Watched most of a 50 minute highlight reel of his and saw plenty of ball handling skills and passing vision. I would be more than happy with him at 9. But as you say, other teams such as LAC may value him as well for his potential size and skills at the point.

I'm pretty well resigned to him going top eight at this point. He is that good, and he's a no-brainer if available at nine. I'm just concerned now that if Flemings is the only guard choice left at 9 that we're picking Ament. And if that happens, I'm almost fine with it at this point. It is what it is.

[hakeemfaan]

I'm pretty well resigned to him going top eight at this point. He is that good, and he's a no-brainer if available at nine. I'm just concerned now that if Flemings is the only guard choice left at 9 that we're picking Ament. And if that happens, I'm almost fine with it at this point. It is what it is.

If the Clips don't pick him at 5 (and 5 seems a bit high for him), he will slide. I know teams play things close to their vest and also a trade by some other team interested in him is possible, but most indicators are that he should be available for the Mavs at 9.

[KillerLeft]

My hopes are:

1) the right guy falls to 9 (hopefully Brown, but I'll take Burries) and the Mavs draft him.

2) the rumor about LA being interested in Gafford for #25 turns out to be true, and the Mavs take it. Then, using 25 and 30, they trade back up as high as possible.

I think this is actually a plausible scenario.

[OBX Maverick]

I'm pretty well resigned to him going top eight at this point. He is that good, and he's a no-brainer if available at nine. I'm just concerned now that if Flemings is the only guard choice left at 9 that we're picking Ament. And if that happens, I'm almost fine with it at this point. It is what it is.

If Burries is picked before 9 and Flemings is the only available of the guards, at that point do we trade? Do we pick Flemings and shop Kyrie? With Flemings, Ament, and Mara available there will definitely be some teams looking to move into that spot. Probably can get a sweet deal if we play our cards right. Milwaukee might want to move up at that point to secure Flemings if we are going to pass on him. This might be one of the craziest drafts we’ve seen in a bit.

[mvossman]

If Burries is picked before 9 and Flemings is the only available of the guards, at that point do we trade? Do we pick Flemings and shop Kyrie? With Flemings, Ament, and Mara available there will definitely be some teams looking to move into that spot. Probably can get a sweet deal if we play our cards right. Milwaukee might want to move up at that point to secure Flemings if we are going to pass on him. This might be one of the craziest drafts we’ve seen in a bit.

I will be really bummed if they pass on Flemmings.  Long term he might be the best fit with Flagg.  I'm much less concerned about his short term fit with Kyrie, but even then I don't think it will be that bad, especially if you stagger them.