2026 NBA draft thread

[mvossman]

This probably needs to be evaluated in pairs, since the Mavs needed a PG out of those 2 picks -- but if they drafted Burries, not likely they needed 2.

Morez-DeLarrea   vs     Burries-Thomas

Who knows how those 4 careers will turn out. But we do already know one thing, which is that the path the Mavs chose yielded players who fit the new FO roster-building preference for positional size. The Burries-Thomas path would have had brought in relatively smaller players. If all 4 work out as solid NBA players, you will probably be glad you picked the bigger players.

I like Morez a lot and only time will tell who is better, but if we look at this roster right now, it would be more balanced if they had picked Burries over Morez.  I'm sure that will change eventually.  As a Burries fan it will be interesting to follow their careers.  I don't have any questions about the Sergio pick.  I can already see the vision.  He has starting PG upside.  Meleek is an undersized shooting guard.  He could turn into a quality rotational player, which is a win as a late first, but he does not have same upside.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I like Morez a lot and only time will tell who is better, but if we look at this roster right now, it would be more balanced if they had picked Burries over Morez.  I'm sure that will change eventually.  As a Burries fan it will be interesting to follow their careers.  I don't have any questions about the Sergio pick.  I can already see the vision.  He has starting PG upside.  Meleek is an undersized shooting guard.  He could turn into a quality rotational player, which is a win as a late first, but he does not have same upside.

This is a great post.

[ThisIStheYear]

This probably needs to be evaluated in pairs, since the Mavs needed a PG out of those 2 picks -- but if they drafted Burries, not likely they needed 2.

Morez-DeLarrea   vs     Burries-Thomas

Who knows how those 4 careers will turn out. But we do already know one thing, which is that the path the Mavs chose yielded players who fit the new FO roster-building preference for positional size. The Burries-Thomas path would have had brought in relatively smaller players. If all 4 work out as solid NBA players, you will probably be glad you picked the bigger players.

Good point. The alternative pair then may have been something like Burries and Peat.  Mavs had some good options.

[Knutsen]

Morez already has made up one spot in these after summer league rookie rankings!

Spoiler: Burries made the biggest jump up from 10 to 5, followed by the veteran Lendenberg from 11 to 7.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4935...n-peterson

[ThisIStheYear]

Burries was the best player in Summer League.

[myconsumerclub]

Burries was the best player in Summer League.

Morez would have been ranked higher and ditto for Sergio but the MBT decided we need to keep their games top secret. Cant have tape showing the rest of fhe league how great our rookies are. 



https://youtube.com/shorts/q4Pv5io1__g?i...02SJsOfgpx

[hakeemfaan]

You can't teach size.

I know it’s only SL but sometimes you see enough to know you were wrong. The one I completely whiffed on after being high on him initially is Killer’ guy Ament. 

That’s the guy I am having  regrets on who we missed out on. Not Burries. If Ament increases his strength and continues the progression on the flashes he is showing in the summer league, then he is going to be a handful in this league. 

With Burries vs Rez you can at least rationalize the pick due to Rez’ size. Can’t do it if Ament pans out.

[myconsumerclub]

REZ is going to be a monster on defense and he can play the 5 when Lively is hurt so he solves an issue as well as gives us a center that has a 3.

Sergio and all the other Euros will play more effectively when they are all able to relate to each other and form some European chemistry.

[FireNicoHarrison]

REZ is going to be a monster on defense and he can play the 5 when Lively is hurt so he solves an issue as well as gives us a center that has a 3.

Sergio and all the other Euros will play more effectively when they are all able to relate to each other and form some European chemistry.

We have players can know how to play basketball, not just role players with only 1/2 skills... That's an huge upgrade over our past rosters.

It will be a funny team to watch.

[myconsumerclub]

It will be real and it will be fun but if we do not get into the playoffs it won't be really fun.

[SkenfromLMF]

Can't do more to link this at the moment

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EKfLvWjsb/

[KillerLeft]

It will be real and it will be fun but if we do not get into the playoffs it won't be really fun.

Pretty big ask for this team imo. I hope they make it!

[Knutsen]

Can't do more to link this at the moment

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EKfLvWjsb/

Brutal how we drafted constantly shit players for years…

[mvossman]

Brutal how we drafted constantly shit players for years…

It’s not as bad as it looks when you realize that most of those picks were late first round.

[Scott41theMavs]

It’s not as bad as it looks when you realize that most of those picks were late first round.

Hopefully Masai will lead us into a Nellie-esque paradise of all late-round gems.

[dirkfansince1998]

It’s not as bad as it looks when you realize that most of those picks were late first round.

Bad part is the number of picks. 25 years. Only 16 first round picks made.

[Chicagojk]

Bad part is the number of picks. 25 years. Only 16 first round picks made.

One of the things I noticed with Masai in Toronto is he too moved a lot of picks.   In fact, in that video where he was trying to get Giannis in the draft, the reason why he couldn't move up with teams is because he did not have a first round draft pick in that draft.

Besides the uneven roster, I think my other disappointment is the team has drained even more draft equity this offseason.   It is not to say that I am against any of their moves.  I like all of them at the surface, but draining your asset pool more (even if they are all second round draft picks plus a pretty unlikely future first) is a little disappointing.

[Smitty]

I think my other disappointment is the team has drained even more draft equity this offseason.   It is not to say that I am against any of their moves.  I like all of them at the surface, but draining your asset pool more (even if they are all second round draft picks plus a pretty unlikely future first) is a little disappointing.

I can't believe there isn't more talk about this. I thought the majority of the board would be losing their mind. All the talk before the offseason was about selling off vets and stockpiling picks... Which draft picks seem to be the only thing people think are "assets". Not only did they not sell off one Vet for a (asset) draft pick... They sent out nearly all their future picks this summer.

I like all of their moves. Some more than others. But I wasn't one of the ones screaming to trade vets to add more picks to the stockpile. How do all those folks feel??

[dirkfansince1998]

I can't believe there isn't more talk about this. I thought the majority of the board would be losing their mind. All the talk before the offseason was about selling off vets and stockpiling picks... Which draft picks seem to be the only thing people think are "assets". Not only did they not sell off one Vet for a (asset) draft pick... They sent out nearly all their future picks this summer.

I like all of their moves. Some more than others. But I wasn't one of the ones screaming to trade vets to add more picks to the stockpile. How do all those folks feel??

Not a fan of the Marshall extension. And I would have expected at least one out of Gafford/PJ to be gone. But I think it's not necessarily about a lack of trying from the Mavs side (at least in Gafford's case). As far as I can tell there wasn't all that much talk about either of them if we ignore the Lakers/former Luka teammates rumors. Maybe they simply think that a deadline trade could net a better return.

Just looking at 2nd round picks. They have shown a willingness to use them in trades but also shown the ability to add them (Ish). Cannot really complain about them not valuing picks after this years draft.

Main issue for me is the roster structure. They haven't solved any of last years issues if the new guys aren't getting/able to get minutes over PJ or Gafford. As it is it's going to be difficult to find the right balance. Player development vs managing assets (cannot shut down vets that aren't included in the longterm vision without tanking their value) vs winning.

[F Gump]

I like all of their moves. Some more than others. But I wasn't one of the ones screaming to trade vets to add more picks to the stockpile. How do all those folks feel??

I have been the polar opposite of "trade vets to add more picks."

But I am also a STRONG fan of the skill to replenish picks - even in minor ways - as you make trades. It's been mastered by Presti who can get a pick tossed into a deal with regularity (which is one reason why I see him as a top GM) and we saw this to some degree when Lindsey was here where he would get a pick sent here when he sent one out. Very skilled. 

As for Masai, I do like the way the Mavs navigated the draft and the trades in it. But Masai doesn't seem to have that skill to replenish picks here and there as they go. I think it's a negotiating mindset, more than anything, but if you don't develop that skill it's a disadvantage. So in that area I've been disappointed.