2026 NBA draft thread

[DallasMaverick]

Is burries floor a better defending jet terry? Different playstyles of course but I see his absolute floor could be a 6th man of year guy. I’m really really high on burries

Brandon Roy comp?

[Winter]

My new flavor of the month at #30 is Richie Saunders. A 6'5" SG at BYU. He was projected first-round, but had an injury mid-season and has stayed in the second-round until about 2 weeks ago. Now I see him as a late first-rounder again.

This is a very good two-way player. Very active. Shoots a good 37% on threes, hits FT's at 80%, and has a lot of skill and awareness on both sides of the ball. Two podcasts that featured him both talked him up on defense as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0LwS8Qa6c

[dirkfansince1998]

ESPN has the Mavs picking Tre Donaldson at #48. Michigan PG in 24/25. And as far as I can tell their latest mock draft was published yesterday. Before the Mavs announced May as the new headcoach. Either insane luck or insider knowledge.

[cow]

JET is an interesting comp. Combo G who played a lot of PG and a lot of SG. A bit smaller than Burries. Great shooter. Long career. Stayed healthy.  (JET was a much better player than usually given credit for in Dallas.)

Side notes: JET was a winner. Played at AZ. Picked 10.

If Burries is getting another JET, is he worth pick 9? I think so.

Jet doing an interview post-career and picking KG over Dirk for his favorite teammate will always rub me the wrong way.  He was great in Dallas, a super sixth man, and you have to love the confidence he played with.  I'd still hope who we are getting at #9 can play better D and handle the ball a bit better even if they can't match Jet's stroke.

[dirkfansince1998]

My new flavor of the month at #30 is Richie Saunders. A 6'5" SG at BYU. He was projected first-round, but had an injury mid-season and has stayed in the second-round until about 2 weeks ago. Now I see him as a late first-rounder again.

This is a very good two-way player. Shoots a good 37% on threes, hits FT's at 80%, and has a lot of skill and awareness on both sides of the ball. Two podcasts that featured him both talked him up on defense as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0LwS8Qa6c

One of my not so hot hot takes is that Sharp and Saunders are better than Evans. Just as good if we are comparing their shooting numbers but they offer more playmaking and way better defense.

[mvossman]

Is burries floor a better defending jet terry? Different playstyles of course but I see his absolute floor could be a 6th man of year guy. I’m really really high on burries

I have seen Burries floor comp as Grimes.  I expect him to be better than that as he was better in college and I think he is better in the mental makeup category, but there are worse floors.

[mvossman]

One of my not so hot hot takes is that Sharp and Saunders are better than Evans. Just as good if we are comparing their shooting numbers but they offer more playmaking and way better defense.

Could be true.  Its hard for me to compare seniors to sophomores.  How much better would that sophomore look in two years at the college level?

[dirkfansince1998]

Could be true.  Its hard for me to compare seniors to sophomores.  How much better would that sophomore look in two years at the college level?

Sharp is a legit point of attack defender. A role he already played in his sophomore season.  Saunders has always been a more versatile player. Improved his shooting in the last two seasons.
With Evans there really isn't anything that suggests that he can be more than a high volume shooter. Only thing that changed compared to his freshman season is shooting volume.

[Winter]

Could be true.  Its hard for me to compare seniors to sophomores.  How much better would that sophomore look in two years at the college level?

You'll probably take Evans if they are both there at #30. But Evans could easily be gone then. 

Many of the best players at that point are older. Karaban, Jefferson, Reed, Veesar, Ejifor, Brazille, Miller,  and well, just about all of them in the second round are over 22. I'm not seeing a lot of true freshmen or sophmores at that point.

[F Gump]

My new flavor of the month at #30 is Richie Saunders. A 6'5" SG at BYU. He was projected first-round, but had an injury mid-season and has stayed in the second-round until about 2 weeks ago. Now I see him as a late first-rounder again.

This is a very good two-way player. Very active. Shoots a good 37% on threes, hits FT's at 80%, and has a lot of skill and awareness on both sides of the ball. Two podcasts that featured him both talked him up on defense as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0LwS8Qa6c

Intriguing numbers, but he is the oldest player in the tankathon top 60 draft list. Will be 25 when the season starts. I'm not sure what to make of that. I do know NBA teams like to be able to get players younger (few in the 1st round are 22 or older) and develop their own way, to some degree.

[Winter]

Intriguing numbers, but he is the oldest player in the tankathon top 60 draft list. Will be 25 when the season starts. I'm not sure what to make of that. I do know NBA teams like to be able to get players younger (few in the 1st round are 22 or older) and develop their own way, to some degree.

I just said this above, but nearly everyone in the late first and early second is a senior in college. in Tankathon's 60-player two-round draft, every player after Evans at #26 is a senior or international player. Veesar and Meleek Thomas are the exceptions, but that's it. It's slim pickings in regards to age.

[SleepingHero]

Three years from now, who is Robin and how did we get him?  By then, Kyrie isn't that guy.  Is Flemings?  Burries?  I think the best you hope for with either is good third guy, and even that isn't guaranteed.

Cap room in 2028 is a potential way to get that next Robin, but free agency is a bit of a crap shoot and 2028 is a long ways away.

If they take Ament, it tells me they see enough upside to go away from positional need.  Even if you don't see the upside as likely, surely most here at least think Ament's ceiling, if fully realized, is high?  Isn't the issue with him the likelihood of the ceiling being realized?  

I do like the de Larrea pick at 30 if it plays out that way.

A certain Slovenian may be back to play pseudo robin next to his ideal running mate Flagg....

[KillerLeft]

A certain Slovenian may be back to play pseudo robin next to his ideal running mate Flagg....

Dragic? He's a little long in the tooth at this point, imo, but I suppose he WOULD represent an upgrade to last year's PG play, even now. 

I don't hate it.

[Scott41theMavs]

Dragic? He's a little long in the tooth at this point, imo, but I suppose he WOULD represent an upgrade to last year's PG play, even now. 

I don't hate it.

Bwah hah hah.

[JamesConway816]

The hype around Morez Johnson has grown too much for my liking. When I see him I see Maxi Kleber type of upside. That is a really nice player to have but as of now I have serious questions about his outside shot and ability to floor it. There are other guys Id rather select in the top 15 range. Vecenie even has him at #9 in his latest mock. If he slides into the late teens then count me in.

Lendeborg otoh I could be talked into in the late lottery. Or Steinbach who I like a lot.

Also I cant say I am in favor of trading down. I would MUCH rather look the other way and move from #9 and/or the other picks.

If Gafford or Marshall + #30 lands you one of Yaxel / Steinbach then that is the way to go Imo.

Irving 
Burries | Christie
Lendeborg
Flagg | PJ
Lively 

+ one of Gafford / Marshall

No clear longterm Robin once Irving ages out but overall still an exciting group and good starting point.

[cow]

A certain Slovenian may be back to play pseudo robin next to his ideal running mate Flagg....

Don't do this to yourself bro bro

[KillerLeft]

I'm watching Game Theory's last mock draft right now, and they took Aday Mara at 9. Not even in a trade down scenario, just flat out at 9.

My goodness, I'm getting worried about tomorrow night. I don't think I can take much more of this waiting/worrying.

[cow]

I'm watching Game Theory's last mock draft right now, and they took Aday Mara at 9. Not even in a trade down scenario, just flat out at 9.

My goodness, I'm getting worried about tomorrow night. I don't think I can take much more of this waiting/worrying.

You'll feel better when we trade up to the four spot.

[KillerLeft]

You'll feel better when we trade up to the four spot.

I'd love it!

[loki]

I'm watching Game Theory's last mock draft right now, and they took Aday Mara at 9. Not even in a trade down scenario, just flat out at 9.

My goodness, I'm getting worried about tomorrow night. I don't think I can take much more of this waiting/worrying.

That would be a real shocker. Not really understanding their thought process when it comes to Dallas. Sam seems convinced drafting Burries is a good idea because of his fit with a 34 year old.