2026 NBA draft thread

[KillerLeft]

I think you’ve made a good point in the past about playing Flagg where he has the greatest advantage.  That may be Flagg at PF, but in a switch-heavy offense, does it matter that much?  You probably want him defending the other team’s weakest offensive forward to preserve him and take advantage of his off the ball defensive instincts.

I think Smitty has made a good point of asking who is the attainable target that gives you move for the buck than PJW…paraphrasing.  I had been searching the league for someone I like next to Flagg and was pleased that I came up with Jaden McDaniels.  The next day he posted that and I thought “crap, is he enough of a better fit to go through all you’d have to go through to swap them out (PJW would definitely be a poor fit with Randall and Gobert).  The tough thing about Forwards who can spread the floor for Flagg is they rarely also play D.  So a Cam Johnson or MPJr is good in theory (offensively), but you give up something defensively.  Is the overall product better with someone like that?  Is it worth the extra salary required (in most cases) or the assets you have to give up to make the switch?  I don’t think PJ is the long term answer either, but moving on from him doesn’t guarantee you are better off.


I think the skill set is more important than the label.  We need a forward who can take the other teams best forward on D and knock down 3’s and punish close-outs (being able to throw a pass on the way to the basket would be nice too, especially as we put more shooting on the floor).  But, they can’t be a slow-footed 250 pound guy or a glorified 6’5” shooting guard who is good at D.  Obviously if either of those is a star, you can figure it out.  But, short of that, I’ve got something in mind that is hard to find (and probably will have to be projected rather than currently present with these college Freshmen).

Ok, this is interesting and furthers the plot. 

You seem to be assuming that Flagg should be treated like an offensive superstar, despite the fact that he's already a defensive superstar. I'm not saying you're wrong...but that hadn't crossed my mind. 

I've been operating with the idea that Flagg will guard the others team's best forward, not "save it" for offense. Hence my post that Smitty quoted about how it will be easier to build around him than Dirk/Nash/Brunson/Luka. Hence my comparison to Garnett. You might have the right of that part, I'm not sure, but just so you know where I'm coming from...

I think they need a plus POA defender badly, but I don't think that has to be the other forward, and in fact I doubt it will be. I think it will be a guard. So, a forward who can shoot and is not a plus defender (but hopefully a good team defender) is what I had in mind. I'll say this again, in full knowledge that I'll get clowned: I think Thompson is a better fit with Flagg at the other forward spot than either PJW or Naji Marshall. I think one or both could actually be traded for air and draft capital and the on court product would IMPROVE by virtue of simply playing Thompson more and offering Flagg more space to operate.

I don't think Flagg has to be the primary offensive option to be the primary offensive option, if that makes sense. Dirk wasn't.