05-24-2026, 10:49 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-24-2026, 10:50 AM by RasheedsBigWhiteSpot.)
Let's parse out a trade down like this...
At 9, at least one of the following will be there:
1. Dybants
2. Peterson
3. Boozer
4. Wilson
5. Flemings
6. Acuff
7. Wagler*
8. Brown
9. Burries
10. Mara
I feel like this top 10 is a tier above. Now, in a trade down to 12 and 17, can you find another seven players where the "juice is worth the squeeze"?
11. Lendeborg
12. Philon
13. Lopez
14. Johnson
15. Quaintance
16. Carr
17. Ament
I mean, I had to squint really hard to find 17 names that I liked.
So what would it take for me to want to trade back from 9 to 12?
First, it would take two players outside of that top ten going in the top 8. Is that improbable? Yes. But I've watched enough drafts to not be shocked if players like Ament or Lopez suddenly went top 8.
Secondly, Wagler has to go top 8, because I want nothing to do with him.
If all that happens, I'm comfortable moving to 12, because it guarantees me at least one top 10 player sliding to 12. And, there's another drop off around 17 or 18. Thus, if I can guarantee myself a pick from Group 1 and one from Group 2, I do it. Now if OKC is asking me to do it before the Draft, I wouldn't do it.
That said, I'd like to think all of this is moot. I think the Mavs should be able to pick up a third 1st by dealing something they have, whether that's a player or future pick. I've seen it suggested that Naji could get the Mavs a mid 1st because of his ascending play and great contract. I'd rather keep 9 and 30, and pick up 18 or 19 for Naji.
At 9, at least one of the following will be there:
1. Dybants
2. Peterson
3. Boozer
4. Wilson
5. Flemings
6. Acuff
7. Wagler*
8. Brown
9. Burries
10. Mara
I feel like this top 10 is a tier above. Now, in a trade down to 12 and 17, can you find another seven players where the "juice is worth the squeeze"?
11. Lendeborg
12. Philon
13. Lopez
14. Johnson
15. Quaintance
16. Carr
17. Ament
I mean, I had to squint really hard to find 17 names that I liked.
So what would it take for me to want to trade back from 9 to 12?
First, it would take two players outside of that top ten going in the top 8. Is that improbable? Yes. But I've watched enough drafts to not be shocked if players like Ament or Lopez suddenly went top 8.
Secondly, Wagler has to go top 8, because I want nothing to do with him.
If all that happens, I'm comfortable moving to 12, because it guarantees me at least one top 10 player sliding to 12. And, there's another drop off around 17 or 18. Thus, if I can guarantee myself a pick from Group 1 and one from Group 2, I do it. Now if OKC is asking me to do it before the Draft, I wouldn't do it.
That said, I'd like to think all of this is moot. I think the Mavs should be able to pick up a third 1st by dealing something they have, whether that's a player or future pick. I've seen it suggested that Naji could get the Mavs a mid 1st because of his ascending play and great contract. I'd rather keep 9 and 30, and pick up 18 or 19 for Naji.