2026 NBA draft thread

[KillerLeft]

Pretty sure that it was KL who said that the Mavs have to be looking at Burries as a lead guard, because that possibility causes his ceiling to shoot up. It's not a positional question, but rather a quantitative commentary on his value and potential.

I don't know that they "have to be" looking at Burries as a lead guard, but there are loads of smart people out there who view him that way. In fact, I've basically become convinced that he IS a lead guard who simply didn't play that role for ONE SEASON due to his fit on one, particular team. It just so happens that this one season is the only thing most of us have to go on to study his game, so people are out there assuming he's an off-guard, but again, a lot of those with the contextual ability to zoom out and look at his experience as a whole say he's a lead guard, so...yeah, it will be interesting. 

I agree with your point that this changes the equation on his value quite a bit, if true, and I'll push back against Winter's point pretty hard. To me, there's zero chance that Burries is a better prospect for ANY team than Brown or Flemings if he's NOT a lead guard. I just feel that a guard (or player of any position, really, but especially guard) who can succeed ON ball is inherently and objectively more valuable than a guard relegated to playing off-ball. I think this is true from any team's POV, but it's an even more glaring distinction for a team in the Mavs' situation. 

I take Brown over Burries in that situation, UNLESS I'm convinced Burries can be my PG. Period. 

If I'm not convinced Burries is my PG but I don't like Brown, I trade down so that a team who likes Brown can get him and hope to get Burries a pick or two later. If ALL of Brown, Wagler, Acuff and Flemings are off the board before #9, then fine - I take Burries there. Again, if one of those guys is still there, BUT I think Burries can be my on-ball guy, fine - I can justify taking him over one of them.

There's a REASON the on-ball guards are all clumped together in that 2nd tier. It's the same logic as the NFL draft. If you're picking in a certain range, you're hoping to get a certain skillset.