2026 NBA draft thread

[mvossman]

To further clarify, the point I've been making is not aligned with the above, which seems to suggest that Burries would have to be made into a lead guard. What I've heard some people say that has me excited about him is that he's ALREADY a lead guard who just took a one-year break from that role so that he could attend a particular school and participate in a particular program. 

Obviously, he'd still require "development," just like all the other on-ball guys we talk about. Also, this take could be incorrect, but I've encountered it in multiple places, coming from people who've followed him for quite some time. I just want to clarify my feelings on it. IF you (the Mavs decision makers) don't think lead guard is a LIKELY fit for his role, I don't think you should take him at #9 unless all the on-ball guys are gone. I feel pretty strongly about that. But, if you DO believe in him as an on-ball guy, I can see some of his attributes seeming more attractive than some of theirs.

I guess LIKELY is another word we could be talking over each other.  There are other guys who I think are more likely to be able to take on lead guard roles, but not necessarily by enough to account for the lower floor.  If I am looking for the guy most likely to become a starter on a contending team then I probably go with Burries.  Not just because he has the best defense of the group and tools to potentially make it either on ball or off, but also because of his mental makeup.  He choose a talented team and took on a limited role seamlessly because he wanted to win.

But if I were of your mindset, and wanted the guy most likely to develop into a lead guard on a contending team I would probably go with Flemings.  He has the elite first step and high BBIQ that will carry over to the next level.  He also has good enough defense (for the 1) that you won't have to build your team around him (like Acuff).  But he can't fall back to another position due to his lack of size and limited shooting.  I would be happy with either guy.