2026 NBA draft thread

[F Gump]

Regarding the #30 pick...

Since it's a FRP, there is 3 years of guaranteed money attached, correct? It was ~$2.75M last year (120% of scale), and will likely stay about the same this year, based on recent cap information.

So my question is whether or not it is worth it to take on 3 years of guaranteed money, at just under vet minimum $$, or trade back into the 2nd round where you have more flexibility in contract negotiations? Something like #30 for two SRPs, or a young developing player with a year or two experience?

I'm asking because NIL money will make some players go back to school if they think they'll draft higher next year, so late FRPs may be just selecting from the SRP pool anyway. So why tie up salary, even if it is relatively minor in the scheme of things? Instead, you still get rights and can put them on a "make me love you" deal. Just don't screw it up like they did with Brunson's contract and lose the RFA leverage at the end.

Good question. 

If I'm sitting there at 30 and I see no one I like all that much, then trading out and picking up extra future draft capital to do so makes sense. 

OTOH if there's a player I like to a strong degree that's sitting there to be taken, I would never trade down. Trade down and the player you like plus all the decent choices may be gone. 

As for whether pick 30 this year has any real potential, while it's possible NIL options might whittle down the choices, there's no guarantee a future draft will offer something better. Some years, by the time you get to round pick 25 or 30, it's all junk. This draft looks better than that.