2026 NBA draft thread

[Winter]

I get why people love morez Johnson. I just don’t see him as a true number two player to build around. If we still had Luka and Kyrie and were on the cusp, he’d be my pick 10/10.

I think this is accurate to a point. But the Mavs are looking at a lot of players without much in the way of defensive chops. In fact, the Mavs legacy is currently a legacy of always "needing defense." 

From everything we hear -from Vecenie and the No Ceilings people- Johnson is the best defensive player from 5 to 20. He won't have the blocks of an Aday Mara, but he is the one of the few bigs (outside the top 4) who is entirely switchable with guards. Even better if he can play the 5 spot occasionally. His own teammates at Michigan thought he was the reason they were playing in the championship. He is also a guy that cleans up under the basket, has a decent short game facing the basket, and can probably give you about 14 ppg. His 3-pt shooting is decent and improving. He is a great connector piece for a team like the Mavs. His measurements, shooting stats, rebounds - everything really - is a plus for his position.

He is not the guy that really improves spacing, so you'd like to get a perimeter threat somewhere in the pick before him. I think that is just as important, so I'd like to have Johnson as a second pick. But I think he will be picked higher than #17 regardless of some mocks.