2026 NBA draft thread

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Billy Richmond declared.  Probably won’t be on my target list at 30 but is probably a late first/early second if he declares.  His best basketball is ahead of him.  The shooting is the thing that will determine if he is a functional NBa player.

He reminds me of Ron Holland II of Detroit. Has a nose for the ball, very athletic, good defender with a suspect shot.

[mvossman]

"Why exactly do those vets need to be good next season? I think that is what plenty of us are complaining about. It's not one year with a botched tank job. It's the refusal to actually rebuild with a longterm plan. They don't need to be good next season."

I don't agree with this thesis. The Mavs have no upside to stretching out the misery. They won't get any draft benefits (for being a bad team) until 2031, so they need to go ahead and win. That also helps Flagg grow as a player -- the sooner you get him into playoff games, the faster he learns what THAT level of play is all about.

This team has a lot of talent. And a superstar in the works. If they hit in the draft (admittedly much iffier than it has to be, but they should have a good chance this summer at a solid starter or better), and find a good player in free agency with MLE, they could be competitive fairly quickly. It doesn't necessarily take years.

Not that I agree with it, but for the sake of discussion, I would also say that if they were to see things like you and plan to make this a slow arduous process, where they are trading their good players and blowing off a few seasons, they certainly want them to have been showcased in as positive a manner as possible in 2025-26. Gutting their value just before they trade them would not be wise. They certainly need more/better talent, and if they are trading away talent, they need talent in return.

But I'm expecting them in 26-27 to shoot at doing what PHX and POR did this season, neither of whom looked all that impressive in Oct, yet they each cobbled together a few good players and landed a playoff spot out of nowhere. I think if the Mavs can be healthy, they should be at least at that level. Flagg is a difference maker, and he will be even better next season. Put some talent around him, to open the floor and help him carry the load, and they have a good chance imo to take a leap.

PS - About Presti, he tanked because he had OKC picks that he could enhance. Unfortunately the Mavs don't have their own picks. That's the reality, and it would be stupid to tank if you don't have picks.

I'm not against trying to be competitive next season, but trading for Middleton and holding onto Klay while giving both significant minutes made no sense for a tanking team.  I seriously doubt it will be worth whatever value they might get from two 35 year olds at the end of their careers in a non contending season.

[F Gump]

I'm not against trying to be competitive next season, 

"I'm not against trying to be competitive next season" --- Me either. 

At THIS point, all the decisions made for the 2025-26 season were the product of inferior GM's, and irrelevant to the question of how to best build the future. Right? All that matters is where do we go from here.

As for what to do with players like Middleton and Klay for NEXT SEASON, I wouldn't expect them to ADD older guys on their last legs. But imo with players WHO ARE ALREADY HERE (or easily retained), they might add value where there are holes in the roster, and they can provide needed skills no one else has. Last season, that would have been PG/creation/shooting 3s. If you move them, does that help you be more talented*, or less so? 

I also think CF needs talent around him, to make him better. Not a stripped down roster. That's the goal for next season from about every angle, imo.


* "More talented" can be getting picks that are good enough to solve problems, or freeing cap room to sign players good enough to solve problems, or trading one player for another. But unless the player is just awful or too expensive, getting rid of a player without talent/assets coming back is usually NOT helpful to building a better team.

[Winter]

Let's say the Mavs are picking between 8-10. Let's say Wagler, Acuff, Brown, and Flemings are off the board.

Burries is available. Would you rather have Burries and your 30th pick, or two picks between 12 and 25?

[Chicagojk]

Really like Tanner. Same for Braden Smith. But I don't think modern NBA teams should have more than one (max two) tiny guards on the roster. Mavs already have Nembhard (assuming that Williams is gone). Personally I would happily give up on Nembhard if the Mavs can land one of the mentioned guys.

I like Smith as well.  I think he is similar to Nemhbard.  I really hope we keep Nemby as I think he can develop into a good backup point guard on the right roster.  Probably not right now though.   I think Smith is a second round pick.  Although I believe he gets drafted.

As far as the award for the guy who doesn't look like a player, but is sort of good here is Nick Martinelli.  OKC took a second rounder from Northwestern last year who had some moments.  Martinelli is probably better.   Has a chance to go in the second round.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITLuin5o4pI

[mvossman]

"I'm not against trying to be competitive next season" --- Me either. 

At THIS point, all the decisions made for the 2025-26 season were the product of inferior GM's, and irrelevant to the question of how to best build the future. Right? All that matters is where do we go from here.

As for what to do with players like Middleton and Klay for NEXT SEASON, I wouldn't expect them to ADD older guys on their last legs. But imo with players WHO ARE ALREADY HERE (or easily retained), they might add value where there are holes in the roster, and they can provide needed skills no one else has. Last season, that would have been PG/creation/shooting 3s. If you move them, does that help you be more talented*, or less so? 

I also think CF needs talent around him, to make him better. Not a stripped down roster. That's the goal for next season from about every angle, imo.


* "More talented" can be getting picks that are good enough to solve problems, or freeing cap room to sign players good enough to solve problems, or trading one player for another. But unless the player is just awful or too expensive, getting rid of a player without talent/assets coming back is usually NOT helpful to building a better team.

If nothing else it is an argument for not sticking with what they currently have and a reason to be concerned if they end up punting to Riccardi (which I think has a real chance of happening). I agree the stripped down roster ship has sailed.

[DanSchwartzgan]

As for what to do with players like Middleton and Klay for NEXT SEASON, I wouldn't expect them to ADD older guys on their last legs. But imo with players WHO ARE ALREADY HERE (or easily retained), they might add value where there are holes in the roster, and they can provide needed skills no one else has. Last season, that would have been PG/creation/shooting 3s. If you move them, does that help you be more talented*, or less so? 

I also think CF needs talent around him, to make him better. Not a stripped down roster. That's the goal for next season from about every angle, imo.


* "More talented" can be getting picks that are good enough to solve problems, or freeing cap room to sign players good enough to solve problems, or trading one player for another. But unless the player is just awful or too expensive, getting rid of a player without talent/assets coming back is usually NOT helpful to building a better team.

I'm in the "no point in being bad" or "let's try to be good" camp as well.  Just thought I'd suggest that the new GM isn't likely to make sweeping changes this summer.  If there is a no-brainer long term fit available with the MLE or TPE....absolutely.  Otherwise, the sweeping changes probably start at the TDL and the summer of 27.  I can see some setting-the-table type moves this summer.  The trade before THE trade type moves.  Creating more flexibility for 2027 type moves.

I think the "if" question on Middleton is less important than the "how".  Might we get a second and another TPE for a S&T?  Sure.  I think I'd rather have him on a structure where he is valued at the TDL and he and/or Klay could be moved for a real building block (or something that better leads to a real building block).  I'm all for trying to be the 26/27 version of Portland.  But, I wouldn't forego something tangible for the future to create the difference between a 4-2 first round series loss and a 4-1 first round series loss.  Cooper's development is enhanced by being surrounded by better players.  The team's long term plan is enhanced by getting the assets to "solve problems" as you say.

[Scott41theMavs]

Let's say the Mavs are picking between 8-10.  Let's say Wagler, Acuff, Brown, and Flemings are off the board.

Burries is available. Would you rather have Burries and your 30th pick, or two picks between 12 and 25?

Make it two between 12 and 20, and the answer is yes. Swain and Anderson.

[Winter]

Make it two between 12 and 20, and the answer is yes. Swain and Anderson.

My answer is yes, but I would take Graves, and either Evans or Swain.

[michaeltex]

I'm in the "no point in being bad" or "let's try to be good" camp as well.  Just thought I'd suggest that the new GM isn't likely to make sweeping changes this summer.  If there is a no-brainer long term fit available with the MLE or TPE....absolutely.  Otherwise, the sweeping changes probably start at the TDL and the summer of 27.  I can see some setting-the-table type moves this summer.  The trade before THE trade type moves.  Creating more flexibility for 2027 type moves.

I think the "if" question on Middleton is less important than the "how".  Might we get a second and another TPE for a S&T?  Sure.  I think I'd rather have him on a structure where he is valued at the TDL and he and/or Klay could be moved for a real building block (or something that better leads to a real building block).  I'm all for trying to be the 26/27 version of Portland.  But, I wouldn't forego something tangible for the future to create the difference between a 4-2 first round series loss and a 4-1 first round series loss.  Cooper's development is enhanced by being surrounded by better players.  The team's long term plan is enhanced by getting the assets to "solve problems" as you say.

I'm thinking about it in terms of moving the team culture from hanging on/losing/tanking to winning and expecting to win. IMO, DAL has been in the dumps, culture-wise, since the beginning of the 2024 season. It started with Luka out of shape and needing an in-season focused absence to get ready to play. Then the calf issue reared it's head, again, and the team was back in hanging on mode until his return. The THE TRADE happened, shocking the team followed by such a rash of injuries that the season became "what's the point", and a late tank was implemented. 25 started with everyone justifiably holding their breath for the next AD injury, despite the excitement of a shiny new #1 pick, and quickly became a lost season of low expectations (how few games was DAL even a favorite?) and an "ethical" tank into where we are today.

Personally, I want to see some positive growth in player development, including Coop, and a return to winning as a tradition, not an accident. That will require some professional GM-ing and competent coaching. DAL is still in limbo on the former and cautiously confident in the latter. Kidd did get them to the Finals just a few years back, so he's at least earned the chance. The last two years weren't due to coaching.