2026 NBA draft thread

[DallasMaverick]

I agree that's hard to imagine that ANY of the top 6-8 players just spending most of their time on the bench. A lot of these first rounders have had a lot more training and education about what it takes to be an NBA player that just a decade ago. They've been instructed on their weaknesses, lectured about their attitude, and trained to know what it takes. It's not hard for me to imagine the top 6-8 first-rounders in this draft won't get a shot at playing at least 20 mpg in their rookie season and none of them getting a whiff of G league. 

And yet, history says at least one or two will not make it even as a rotation player in this league. 

I can look at Braylin Mullins all day and think he was the next Ray Allen, and he still could fail miserably.

Just for fun, I looked back at the last 6 or 7 years’ drafts, paying particular attention to the top 8 picks.

It’s pretty mixed. A few genuine busts. A few genuine stars. A lot of rotation players. Several that it’s just too soon to tell.

I think it’s easy to feel like we’re going to get another star, especially since they just hit a home run with Flagg. But perhaps we should temper our expectations.