2026 NBA draft thread

[hakeemfaan]

Look at it this way: the only other guys the Mavs have who are even close to Ament's size on the wing are PJW and Naji ...and one neither of them can shoot.

Oh, and you have Flagg -- but he can't shoot threes either! Of course, he's obviously talented and we all think he'll improve, right?

I think Ament can and will improve as a shooter because, like Fladd, he's talented and high character -- AND he has a strong history as a shooter. During his junior and senior years at high school, he was widely regarded as an elite recruit and versatile shooter. But like many high-volume freshman prospects, his overall efficiency fluctuated.

A standout six-game run during the heart of conference play where he shot 13-26 from three provides a look at his peak efficiency compared to his full-season totals. In another six-game stretch of conference play, he averaged 23.0 points while hitting 44.6% from the field and 37.5% from three. His mid-range shooting jumping from 24% in his first nine games to 39% in his next seven. Small sample but he only played 35 games as a freshman and he was playing injured in the postseason.

If Ament is there at 9 the Mavs have to take him and develop him. He's the only potentially obtainable guy besides Brown who I think could become the second best player on a championship team.

My problem with Ament is this.  If you had someone in college who could finish at the rim very well and was shooting FTs very well, you can say, that he can work on the jump shot and get better at it.  If you had someone who shot FTs very well, shot the ball very well, but had poor finishing skills, you can hope that with a bit more strength he would be able to get better around the rim. 

This guy literally lacks 2 of those things right now. He is not a good shooter and he is a poor finisher.  I know he had a late growth spurt and maybe it has affected him, but I would think growth spurt will help with finishing around the rim.  So it tells me he was poor in at least that area

Again if we were 12 or below, I would not have an issue given that other players who are available might also have significant issues.  However, at 9, in this particular draft, we will have the option of getting a guard who will have much more proven skills at scoring.  This team better be extremely sure if they bypass that and go and get Ament, knowing there are multiple areas as a scorer that he has to dramatically improve.