2026 NBA draft thread

[KillerLeft]

Jason Timph on Peterson vs Dybantsa at #1

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ho...0750522559

https://youtu.be/fD5q7ROHNYE?si=sPhI_hlRQMGoNjZa

I gotta start watching these guys more soon (about halfway through my busiest season of the year for work). This analysis about both players is contrary to my first impression from the limited highlight videos I've watched. If Timpf is right (and I've never found him not to be), either player would fit with Flagg pretty well. Not that the Mavs are likely to be within reach of either, but one can hope.

[khaled1987]

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comme...610_3pt_5/

Os he the next Brunson? I like him over Brown tbh

[Smitty]

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comme...610_3pt_5/

Os he the next Brunson? I like him over Brown tbh

I like him a lot too. I said it in Discord but Dybantsa and Acuff are my favorite to watch this year. I’m not saying they’re the best 2 in the draft, just that I enjoy watching them. And cjeter mentioned a comp for Acuff that I actually think is fitting: Deron Williams

[DL2RimRocker]

I like him a lot too. I said it in Discord but Dybantsa and Acuff are my favorite to watch this year. I’m not saying they’re the best 2 in the draft, just that I enjoy watching them. And cjeter mentioned a comp for Acuff that I actually think is fitting: Deron Williams

Isnt there a concern about Acuff's actual size?
He's listed 6'2 but I've read concerns about his height being under 6'0.

[Smitty]

Isnt there a concern about Acuff's actual size?
He's listed 6'2 but I've read concerns about his height being under 6'0.

He’s listed at 6’3 190. Same as Deron Williams, which was part of the comp. It may not be accurate. The combine will settle it. I haven’t seen those same concerns anywhere. I did see the height concerns being talked about with Christian Anderson.

[KillerLeft]

(Only half serious): Is there concern over the identity of Acuff's uncle?

[Winter]

(Only half serious): Is there concern over the identity of Acuff's uncle?

I'm going to need context. I can't find anything relevant online. What are we talking about?

[DL2RimRocker]

He’s listed at 6’3 190. Same as Deron Williams, which was part of the comp. It may not be accurate. The combine will settle it. I haven’t seen those same concerns anywhere. I did see the height concerns being talked about with Christian Anderson.

If he's a legit 6'3 then I like him a lot more.
44% 3pt shooter, 22 ppg and 6.5 apg is pretty damn impressive.

[KillerLeft]

I'm going to need context. I can't find anything relevant online. What are we talking about?

Remember Rashaad Phillips, the guy who told everyone Luka was too slow to succeed in the NBA and should've been a 2nd round pick? He's Acuff's uncle and mentor, apparently (if what I've read on twitter/X is true). I don't think it should matter, but it's got some Mavs fans online predisposed not to like Acuff. I asked the question mostly as a joke - figured everyone here would've heard about it.

[Chicagojk]

If he's a legit 6'3 then I like him a lot more.
44% 3pt shooter, 22 ppg and 6.5 apg is pretty damn impressive.

I think there are concerns he is 6 foot barefoot.  He certainly does not look 6’3 to me.  He does seem to have long arms though.  Being a point guard only guy may lower him with the other top guards too.  As will his defense flexibility.  He is a fun watch though and I enjoy watching him.  All have some kind of question marks.  wagler does not have elite explosion and has not dunked this year.  Brown is my ideal prototype but I need to watch him closely.  I saw one game and he gave me some bad vibes.

[windjc]

Is Brunson really 6’ 2” though?

[Winter]

Remember Rashaad Phillips, the guy who told everyone Luka was too slow to succeed in the NBA and should've been a 2nd round pick? He's Acuff's uncle and mentor, apparently (if what I've read on twitter/X is true). I don't think it should matter, but it's got some Mavs fans online predisposed not to like Acuff. I asked the question mostly as a joke - figured everyone here would've heard about it.

I hadn't heard. But boy that's a stretch.

I guess I read it earlier, but I had forgotten who Rashaad Phillips was. And of course it doesn't matter to me. Luka is yesterday's news as far as I'm concerned.

[KillerLeft]

Luka is yesterday's news as far as I'm concerned.

Heard that.

[Dirknows]

I think there are concerns he is 6 foot barefoot.  He certainly does not look 6’3 to me.  He does seem to have long arms though.  Being a point guard only guy may lower him with the other top guards too.  As will his defense flexibility.  He is a fun watch though and I enjoy watching him.  All have some kind of question marks.  wagler does not have elite explosion and has not dunked this year.  Brown is my ideal prototype but I need to watch him closely.  I saw one game and he gave me some bad vibes.

Brown I believe was injured and going through a tough shooting stretch. I personally think he's more like the player we've seen lately than the one who started the year. Which is probably what scouts believed because he never really fell far on people's boards despite some abysmal play.

[DL2RimRocker]

I like Burries as a fit.

If the player we want isnt there when we pick, would it make sense to trade back for a late lotto pick and pickup another pick?

Not saying Burries is the guy but maybe someone else.

[Winter]

I like Burries as a fit.

If the player we want isnt there when we pick, would it make sense to trade back for a late lotto pick and pickup another pick?

Not saying Burries is the guy but maybe someone else.

It would for me. I'm not crazy about #7. I think there's better value between 10-15 as there is between 7-10 (assuming the typical top 6 are gone). I'd much rather have a player in the middle with a second draft pick than #7. 

But what do I know.

[Dirknows]

I like Burries as a fit.

If the player we want isnt there when we pick, would it make sense to trade back for a late lotto pick and pickup another pick?

Not saying Burries is the guy but maybe someone else.

If we pick 8 or 9, provided these teams don't move up in the lottery but OKC right now has projected picks 13 and 18, plus a bunch of future 1sts, Charlotte has 12 and 22 plus our first next year. I don't know what the trade value chart is to move to pick 8 or 9 but it's certainly a possibility to trade back.

[Mavs2021]

It would for me. I'm not crazy about #7. I think there's better value between 10-15 as there is between 7-10 (assuming the typical top 6 are gone). I'd much rather have a player in the middle with a second draft pick than #7. 

But what do I know.

I´m not trading down. There are too many good players in this range, just take the best. If there is somebody else you truly want send #30 and a future asset.

[DanSchwartzgan]

If we pick 8 or 9, provided these teams don't move up in the lottery but OKC right now has projected picks 13 and 18, plus a bunch of future 1sts, Charlotte has 12 and 22 plus our first next year. I don't know what the trade value chart is to move to pick 8 or 9 but it's certainly a possibility to trade back.

Another one to keep an eye on is Chicago.  They have their own pick (currently #9) and Portland's which is Top 14 protected.  Portland is currently 13 (10th in the west).  So, whether the pick conveys or not will come down to the play-in.  Are we going to see teams 'tank' their play-in games to stay in the lottery?  The Portland pick rolls over for two more seasons and then becomes a 2028 second.  

I'm not a fan of moving down to 12 or 13 to get an extra pick.  9 might be too far.  I only think these scenarios come into play if Dallas and Chicago (15th) or Dallas and Memphis (17th) both move up and you are moving from 3 to 4 and picking up the extra mid first.  I'm not sure these teams will give up a mid-first to go from 8th/9th to 7th.

BTW, we always point it out when Acuff or Brown has a big game.  So, I'll point out that Ament had a strong 29 point game Wednesday against OU.  Tennessee is 7-1 in its last 8 games and Ament has 29 point games against Alabama, Kentucky and OU during that span and a 28 point game against Ole Miss.  One of the things I like about him is the skinny little dude gets to the line.  In 13 SEC games he's averaging 8.6 FTA's per game.

[Chicagojk]

Crazy with the influx of foreign players in the NBA that this year it appears almost exclusively a USA draft.    Typically you find a lot of draft and stash in round 2 of the draft.   There are barely anyone mentioned from overseas in mock drafts.  Even by the guys plugged in.   Maybe a few of these guys are international guys who came over for college, but just weird seeing so little international prospects.