2026 NBA draft thread

[hakeemfaan]

The only two guys we've discussed I have almost no interest in for the Mavs are Mara and Lendeborg. I like the profile of the latter, but I just can't wrap my head around drafting a 24 year old with this opportunity. You can say it doesn't matter, but it does to me.

Mara is just the type of player I don't enjoy watching and personally don't believe you can win with nowadays, especially as a highly-paid 1st round pick and expectations that he'd be an integral piece of how the team is constructed. You have Lively, and I'm nowhere near giving up on him. I'm more intrigued with Cisse in some ways than Mara, and I think the focus should be on finding CHEAP insurance for Lively, and when it's time to give up on Lively, I'll hope to have found another player like HIM, or I'll make finding another player like HIM my priority at that time.

When I see Mara, I am thinking stiff.  Then I see his in game play and he can keep up.  The thing that really impressed me was him chasing down a guard on a fast break and blocking the shot and another sequence where he went to the perimeter to guard and still dropped back quickly down low to block the shot. 

Combine numbers can say how Edey is more agile but the eye test is saying this guy moves faster during the game 

His passing is also top notch. 

I wouldn’t take him at 9 because I am still a bit scared but would definitely consider him if we drop down a few spots.  

I am not that high on priority. If he is one of the best players two years from now, we can move him or Lively.