2026 NBA draft thread

[Mavs2021]

I've struggled through this entire process over what I perceive to be holes in the games of these guys.

Flemings seems like a great guy and great leader.  I think the short arms matter.  He wasn't great at the rim (despite great athleticism) in college and I don't see that getting better in the NBA.  I won't complain if he is the pick, but I have worries about his star upside.

I'm much more worried about Wagler's lack of athleticism.  He's not good at finishing at the rim and can't get there anyway.  I see a better passing Duncan Robinson as a real possibility.

I don't like Acuff's D at all and I'm not a fan of what I hear when he opens his mouth.  I don't see a winning player in the playoffs.  In fact, I think he is a perfect 'get mine' guy on a bad team like Sacramento.

I do like Brown, but if he makes it to 9, then something is wrong...which means I don't like him any more and he might have a MPJ type fall.  I really think he's likely to go 5/6.

Burries to me seemed way off when he was being mocked in the 15-17 range earlier in the season.  I wish he had that one sure-fire NBA skill, but I do like his 'good at everything' even if he's great at nothing projection as a third best player on a good team.  He slots in nicely as a compliment to Flagg (and in a 3 guard rotation with Irving and Christie) as long as people aren't expecting star power.  I do think he will be a better pro than a college player and I tend to agree with you that his ceiling is higher than many project.   

With all that said, I've been much more open to trading down or looking elsewhere to add talent.  I'm not sure Flemings and Burries (if it works out that way) aren't so good that keep me from wanting two guys from the next tier...if they are the right two guys.  The issue is that you won't know that until after the picks are made.  You might have a good feel for who you will get at 12, but no way you know what will be there at 17.

I agree with that whole guard assessment. I certainly don´t see the need to move up, unless it´s to get one of the top 4 guys. And that will be virtually impossible, unless the Bulls do something dumb. 

I also think the Mavs/Hawks are in the sweet spots to get plenty of offers to trade down. One of Burries/Flemings likely makes it to #12. I don´t worry about #17 much. A couple of Philon, Okorie, Anderson, Stirtz, Johnson, Carr, Steinbach, Lopez, Swain will be there at 17. If that is the added value for still getting the option to pick Burries/Flemings (or Ament) at #12 with a very high probability, at the cost of Joe/Wiggins it is a complete no brainer to me.

#17 is also feels like another sweet spot, where you might extract further value: Hornets sitting at #18 looking for a big, Spurs at #20 looking for a big, Pistons at #21 looking for a shooter. Could ignite another bidding war for Quaintance, Steinbach, Graves, Stirtz....