2026 NBA draft thread

[mvossman]

Wagler makes it to 9 mock draft

https://x.com/mattbabcock11/status/20622...89157?s=61

Don't really get Flemings to Clippers.  Does not make a lot of sense with Garland already there.

[Smitty]

APHoops (@APH00PS)
There is “growing evidence” that Brayden Burries and his representatives at Klutch Sports prefer that he get drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, per @AdamFinkelstein.

(via https://t.co/Sr4nyJu3vP)

Edit: His exact words are around the 14min mark in the video.

[KillerLeft]

APHoops (@APH00PS)
There is “growing evidence” that Brayden Burries and his representatives at Klutch Sports prefer that he get drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, per @AdamFinkelstein.

(via https://t.co/Sr4nyJu3vP)

Edit: His exact words are around the 14min mark in the video.

I have no trouble believing that Burries and Dallas want each other. The interesting thing for me is whether all involved view him as an off-ball or on-ball guard. The more I learn about him, the more I think he might be angling for a lead-guard opportunity, or at least the potential to ease into one, and the more sense that makes. 

This is all going to be fascinating.

[Smitty]

Some stuff for the nerds on Burries:


@HoopKeesee
Brayden Burries is the best transition prospect in the entire class.

-95th % in transition usage
-95th % in transition frequency
-79th % in transition efficiency

A testament to his motor, athleticism, and ability to excel in fast-paced settings. His game is built for the NBA.


@DraftCasual
Adjusted Usage vs Darryn Peterson

- Projects Per40 stats at 35% usg using player's game logs. Helps measures impact on efficiency/stats when scaling up/down usage.

- When we scale both players to 35% Usage, we see an uptick in Pts & Ast for Burries - while Peterson saw a big dip in Pts. Burries with better Shooting & Playmaking Efficiency.




@draymottishaw
In 293 minutes without Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries has an increase in AST% by +10.7% (11% to 21.7%) where his AST/40 jumped from 2.6 with Jaden to 5.5 without (+2.9) In those minutes where he has been a facilitator, he has shown that he can secure the ball well with an A:TO of 2.22 (higher than his 1.44 ato with Bradley). Lineup data via @CBBAnalytics


@MavsFilmRoom
Brayden Burries’ shot chart via hoop-explorer




Here's some efficiency and analytics numbers:

[Chicagojk]

I can see several prospects trying to stay away from Sacramento or Milwaukee.    Maybe if you are a guard, Brooklyn too.    Acuff may be the one guy who would be thrilled at Sacramento.  While the player/agent may have preferences on where they go if all things are equal.   You need to be careful with this.    Mavs are probably not targeting one prospect.    If you limit yourself too much, it could hurt you.

[Smitty]

While the player/agent may have preferences on where they go if all things are equal.   You need to be careful with this.    Mavs are probably not targeting one prospect.    If you limit yourself too much, it could hurt you.

I absolutely agree with the bold. We know for a fact that agents have steered their client to a team in the draft on many occasions, but I think everything we're hearing right now, 3 weeks out, is just smoke or fluff. Most likely not even sourced.

You could convince me however, that in a trade back scenario, agreed to just prior to the draft or pick(s)... that's where an agent/team could work back channels and make something happen? But is the agent willing to give up ~$4-5M for his client in that scenario?

Still, 3 weeks away, put out in the media, I don't believe much of anything. Gives us something to talk about though.

[michaeltex]

Excellent stats. Looks like he has the tools to contribute where we need it.

Wondering why his upper left zone on the shot chart is lower than the others? Is that an effect of location vs dominant hand/eye?

[Chicagojk]

Kevin O'conner latest Mock.


https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba...46253.html

Wagler gets to 8.  Burries and Flemings make it to 9.   He has them taking Burries.   Also says Klutch steered Lively to Dallas.  I don't remember hearing this.

Has Dallas taking Kayil at 30.

[Scott41theMavs]

I have no trouble believing that Burries and Dallas want each other. The interesting thing for me is whether all involved view him as an off-ball or on-ball guard. The more I learn about him, the more I think he might be angling for a lead-guard opportunity, or at least the potential to ease into one, and the more sense that makes. 

This is all going to be fascinating.

I've seen tweets that the Mavs are interested in Acuff, Wagler, Brown, Flemings, Burries, Philon, and Okorie. Even if we had a Presti-sized cache of high first round draft picks in this draft, there isn't room for all seven of those guys on roster. Reminiscent of "Kyrie might not be here in the fall." 

These reports are somewhat good in that none of the top five (non-Peterson) guards would feel like the castoff if the Mavs picked him at 9.

[Smitty]

Kevin O'conner latest Mock.


https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba...46253.html

Wagler gets to 8.  Burries and Flemings make it to 9.   He has them taking Burries.   Also says Klutch steered Lively to Dallas.  I don't remember hearing this.

Has Dallas taking Kayil at 30.

9. Dallas Mavericks
Brayden Burries, 6-4, Arizona freshman guard
Adam Finkelstein of CBS Sports reported that Burries hasn't taken many workouts and there is speculation that he's trying to angle his way to Dallas. I also have heard that same chatter, which is why he lands here. To add some more color to that reporting: Burries is represented by Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, who steered Dereck Lively to the Mavericks with the 12th pick in the 2023 draft, even though some teams picking higher wanted to select Lively. It would make perfect sense for Klutch to want Burries to be the guard paired with Cooper Flagg for many years to come. Burries is a physical, versatile scorer who can beat you from all three levels, rebounds like a forward and competes hard on defense. But he's a methodical creator rather than an explosive one, and his shooting history before Arizona gives scouts reason to wonder whether the efficiency is real or a blip.



Lot of smoke today for sure, but yesterday it was trading up for Acuff. The day before it was how high they were on Brown Jr... We don't even have a coach yet, and not a leak in sight there... I doubt Masai is having his draft opinions leaked to the media right now.

[mvossman]

Excellent stats. Looks like he has the tools to contribute where we need it.

Wondering why his upper left zone on the shot chart is lower than the others? Is that an effect of location vs dominant hand/eye?

I agree.  The numbers as PG are particularly encouraging.  My guess is the shot chart issue is more noise than anything else.  Three point shooting from a single college season is fairly small sample to begin with.  Splitting that up is going to make it even more noisy.

[DanSchwartzgan]

APHoops (@APH00PS)
There is “growing evidence” that Brayden Burries and his representatives at Klutch Sports prefer that he get drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, per @AdamFinkelstein.

(via https://t.co/Sr4nyJu3vP)

Edit: His exact words are around the 14min mark in the video.

They did some interesting trades.  3-way with Giannis to Boston and Brown to Atlanta with #8, #23 Dysen and stuff to Milwaukee.  They also had OKC trade #12 for future picks.

If you assume this is true and they plan to bring back most of the band and aren't real aggressive, does it look something like this with Burries?  From there, do you use MLE or TPE to try to land a guard?  

Lively      Gafford     Cisse
Flagg       Naji         #30
PJW         Klay         Martin
Christie                   Johnson
Kyrie        Burries     Nembhard

[mvossman]

They did some interesting trades.  3-way with Giannis to Boston and Brown to Atlanta with #8, #23 Dysen and stuff to Milwaukee.  They also had OKC trade #12 for future picks.

If you assume this is true and they plan to bring back most of the band and aren't real aggressive, does it look something like this with Burries?  From there, do you use MLE or TPE to try to land a guard?  

Lively      Gafford     Cisse
Flagg       Naji         #30
PJW         Klay         Martin
Christie                   Johnson
Kyrie        Burries     Nembhard

In the scenario above, the 8 deep is straight forward.  Lively/Gafford at center, Flagg/PJW/Naji at forward and Kyrie/Max/Burries at guard.  At 9 you have Klay who can play the 2 or 3.  It's light on playmaking so that should be the target.

[Smitty]

They did some interesting trades.  3-way with Giannis to Boston and Brown to Atlanta with #8, #23 Dysen and stuff to Milwaukee.  They also had OKC trade #12 for future picks.

If you assume this is true and they plan to bring back most of the band and aren't real aggressive, does it look something like this with Burries?  From there, do you use MLE or TPE to try to land a guard?  

Lively      Gafford     Cisse
Flagg       Naji         #30
PJW         Klay         Martin
Christie                   Johnson
Kyrie        Burries     Nembhard

I’m perfectly fine with it. Give me Ayo or Coby White and let’s see some entertaining basketball.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I’m still not a fan of PJ next to Flagg. He is a poor shooter. Heck, I’d rather have him play Center.

Cam Johnson would look good in that spot. A more willing and better shooter.

[Smitty]

@MikeACurtis2

New story: The #Mavs held predraft workouts today with a group including the following players:

Obi Agbim (Baylor)
Michael Ajayi (Butler)
Christian Anderson (Texas Tech)
Tucker DeVries (Indiana)
Wyatt Fricks (Marshall)

[Torielp10]

This game so far is selling me on burries. Big, strong, defense, and shooting

[Scott41theMavs]

This game so far is selling me on burries. Big, strong, defense, and shooting

I was about to say how this game was nuking the draft stock of the world's Acuffs and Flemingses and Philons.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I’m perfectly fine with it. Give me Ayo or Coby White and let’s see some entertaining basketball.

Or Isaiah Joe.

I watched a video where they talked about simply buying out Klay for maybe $5mm less than he’s scheduled to make.  He then gets to sign wherever he wants.  So, you are doing him a solid and potentially adding usable cap space beyond just the MLE amount.  Maybe you use that extra money to make a more competitive bid for Ayo or White.  

In the same video the guy proposed trading Klay for Monk and then letting Sacramento do the buyout of Klay.  I’m not advocating for Monk so much as the different ways of moving Klay.  It is kind of hard to find Klay deals to contending teams where you get back a logical package.

[Chicagojk]

This game so far is selling me on burries. Big, strong, defense, and shooting

A 6’1 guard could work too.  As much crap as Cuban talks about the Luka trade, he should get just as much for the Jalen screwup.  Anyway, I am finally enjoying watching Jalen again.