2026 NBA draft thread

[Chicagojk]

Wagler article

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...s-freshman

I have not watched Wagler yet but reading this reminds me of Kon.  A little different players, but some similarities.  Kon was higher ranked entering college but no one thought he would be a high lottery pick.  Both come from basketball crazy families.  Both just know how to play.  Can fit in and not make mistakes.  Both can shoot well.  Neither are ultra athletic but they use their size and body to get to the spots.

[ThisIStheYear]

Here's my thing with this (and Kyrie in general): IF the Mavs love a guy in their range, I'd hope "can he work on court with Kyrie" isn't a deal breaker. I have no problem with keeping Kyrie around another year, but I don't think "fit" with him should be that important. He's 34, and I'm almost as disinterested in giving him another contract as most of us were about AD. No reason to move him just to move him, but IF they have their eyes on a guard they really want and he can't exist on the court WITH Kyrie, well...I'd just as soon draft the kid and get something for Kyrie afterwards, myself.

Not only is it not a deal breaker, it’s not even a consideration.  The only consideration in terms of fit is Flagg.  I appreciate his contribution, but Kyrie has no real future in Dallas.

[Chicagojk]

I am not interested in trading any future picks anytime soon....with the exception of the future protected Warriors pick.  I would be willing to include this (with the addition of the Bulls second next year potentially) if I saw a player I really liked at 25ish in this years draft.   Including it with the OKC pick with to move up a few spots if I really liked someone.

Edit- anyone else getting weird screens when logging on to the site? Sometimes I get the board and other times I get ad sites?

[Scott41theMavs]

Edit- anyone else getting weird screens when logging on to the site? Sometimes I get the board and other times I get ad sites?

Me too. I remain logged in 24/7, but I always refresh the board when I check it, and sometimes it has come up as the ad site.

[KillerLeft]

Me too. I remain logged in 24/7, but I always refresh the board when I check it, and sometimes it has come up as the ad site.

Yep, it's happening to everyone. Not sure why.

[vfromlmf]

Just reviewed the remaining schedule and feel pretty confident in the Mavs landing with the 6th best lottery odds. I think they’ll pass New Orleans.

[Scott41theMavs]

Just reviewed the remaining schedule and feel pretty confident in the Mavs landing with the 6th best lottery odds. I think they’ll pass New Orleans.

Thing is, as poorly as we can nearly guarantee that this Mav team plays for the rest of the year - they likely win four or five more games tops - that's probably bad enough from a seventh-worst starting point with 20-odd games left to go to come away with at least a bottom-three-worst record in almost any other year. Due to the hyping of this draft and the abject shamelessness of their competitors, yeah, they'll probably finish with 6th-best odds.

[vfromlmf]

His mental toughness is elite. He was clearly having an off night. One of those games where he was getting good looks but they didn't go down. 1 of 11.

When he checked out Calipari said a few words and a couple of guys dapped him up but his team was winning big so it was more like, "hey, tough night, hang in there." Acuff didn't have a bad attitude at all, his frustration was contained, but palpable. 

Things totally changed when he went back in the game but it felt like it had more to do with his team losing a big lead than him trying to get his numbers. Felt like he put it in another gear when his team needed him. Literally like 7-8 possessions in a row, impacted the game on both ends. Super impressive. 

Obviously scouts see Flemings and others as more toolsy, but Acuff is just different. I don't know if it will translate to the NBA, but if it does he could be the best PG of the bunch. 

Also, Calipari can coach.

And now Acuff is drawing some Dame Lillard comps.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/noceilingsnba/status/20277...91869?s=61

[vfromlmf]

https://youtu.be/wLlGb-bIuVQ?si=SBfVkTbqRMB4k0vl

[Chicagojk]

I have seen Okorie mentioned before but have not seen a game. Looks impressive. Smaller guard but appears to be well built with long arms.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVRK_aJjo9F/?img_index=3&igsh=MTZ0MzM1cW80Z3E4Ng==

[Chicagojk]

Mara. Another guy mocked near the end of round 1 most times. Can he move fast enough for nba? Nice passer and shot blocker. Horrid free throw shooter.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/s/uxFTb4zH3u

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Mara.  Another guy mocked near the end of round 1 most times.  Can he move fast enough for nba?  Nice passer and shot blocker.  Horrid free throw shooter.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/s/uxFTb4zH3u

The same was kind of said about Zach Edey. He's played pretty well when he isn't hurt.

[Chicagojk]

What is the deal with Mikel Brown. In a 5 point loss he comes off the bench and plays just 21 minutes and shoots 2-10 for 5 points

[Winter]

What is the deal with Mikel Brown.  In a 5 point loss he comes off the bench and plays just 21 minutes and shoots 2-10 for 5 points

He has a back injury. It wasn't known if he was going to play until the last minute. 

By the looks of it, he probably should have rested. He was 0-6 for 3-pointers.

If Acuff has a good game tonight against Florida, it would not surprise me to start seeing him ahead of Brown in mock drafts.