2026 NBA draft thread

[loki]

The Grizz and the Pels are the concerns. We aren't going to catch the top five even if we go winless the rest of the way - they'll do in the most absolute of terms whatever is necessary to lose enough that we don't catch them. Kidd needs to do the same to make sure that the Grizz don't catch us and that the non-tanking Pels do catch us.

3/12 @ Memphis
3/16 @ New Orleans

Those could be the most critical games of the year. Fortunately the rest of the schedule is pretty brutal.

[Smitty]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Just in: North Carolina's Caleb Wilson broke his right thumb in a non-contact drill in practice Thursday and has undergone season-ending surgery, sources tell ESPN. Wilson is expected to be cleared during the NBA predraft process, where he'll compete to be the No. 1 pick in June.

[Winter]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Just in: North Carolina's Caleb Wilson broke his right thumb in a non-contact drill in practice Thursday and has undergone season-ending surgery, sources tell ESPN. Wilson is expected to be cleared during the NBA predraft process, where he'll compete to be the No. 1 pick in June.

Too bad. I wanted to see him play in the tournament.

[DallasMaverick]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Just in: North Carolina's Caleb Wilson broke his right thumb in a non-contact drill in practice Thursday and has undergone season-ending surgery, sources tell ESPN. Wilson is expected to be cleared during the NBA predraft process, where he'll compete to be the No. 1 pick in June.

Injury-prone, clearly.

[Scott41theMavs]

Injury-prone, clearly.

(sigh)

[vfromlmf]

Worth keeping in mind as we enter draft season... Nate Ament

Quote from Kidd in a recent And1Scape article "...it’s basketball. There’s no more positions. What’s your skill set? Can you handle it? If you can handle it, you can play."

And this from Hollinger on Feb 10 "He’s not a freak athlete, but his ability to handle the ball and shoot makes him a natural three despite his height..... He clearly has the basic skill archetype for a starting NBA small forward, which is arguably the most difficult position to fill. I’m not sure he can ever play himself back into the top five, given the seasons some of his fellow freshmen are having. But Ament still looks like a lottery talent."

And this from Vecenie "He’s getting to the line a ridiculous nine times per game in that run, as teams struggle to deal with his comfort on the ball and his ability to long-stride out on his drives to the rim."

And this "Jumbo Skill Player" Archetype: Jeremy Woo (ESPN) notes Ament fits the high-value archetype of a jumbo skill player who can both handle and shoot from range.

No Ceilings describes his handle as "polished for a guy his size," noting he moves gracefully and changes speeds effortlessly.

[Smitty]

Quote from Kidd, "...it’s basketball. There’s no more positions. What’s your skill set? Can you handle it? If you can handle it, you can play."

[Mavs2021]

Still don´t know who I like at #30, but Krievas, Chinyelu or Milan Momcilovic seem incredible value at #49, if we go by the latest Tankathon mock draft.

[Scott41theMavs]

Worth keeping in mind as we enter draft season... Nate Ament

Quote from Kidd in a recent And1Scape article  "...it’s basketball. There’s no more positions. What’s your skill set? Can you handle it? If you can handle it, you can play."

And this from Hollinger on Feb 10 "He’s not a freak athlete, but his ability to handle the ball and shoot makes him a natural three despite his height..... He clearly has the basic skill archetype for a starting NBA small forward, which is arguably the most difficult position to fill. I’m not sure he can ever play himself back into the top five, given the seasons some of his fellow freshmen are having. But Ament still looks like a lottery talent."

And this from Vecenie "He’s getting to the line a ridiculous nine times per game in that run, as teams struggle to deal with his comfort on the ball and his ability to long-stride out on his drives to the rim."

And this "Jumbo Skill Player" Archetype: Jeremy Woo (ESPN) notes Ament fits the high-value archetype of a jumbo skill player who can both handle and shoot from range.

No Ceilings describes his handle as "polished for a guy his size," noting he moves gracefully and changes speeds effortlessly.

How's his defense?

Polish and tall while being able to handle are nice. So are creation and not being a matador on defense.

[vfromlmf]

I've only seen Ament play twice. He wasn't impressive in the first outing TBH and he got hurt in the second game, so my view of him as a defender mainly comes from draft analysts. Seems his floor is a Risacher or "jumbo Max Christie" but scouts note higher upside than both. He needs to get stronger but he moves well and he shown the ability to stay in front of elite prospects, most notably Darren Petersen. Sounds like he reaches and fouls too much right now. He won't enter the league as a stopper and may never develop into one but man, that length can be disruptive. He's been praised for elite BBIQ.

I read Kidds quote and suspect Ament may end up higher on the Mavs board than others. He may not come with a star projection like the top 4 will but Ament could definitely be on the board when the Mavs pick, even if they don't get lucky.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

You know what speaks volumes about the state of the NBA right now? The Mavs have only won two of their last 18 games and, yet, they haven't moved any higher than the 7th worst record.

I honestly think the Mavs could go 0-19 to close the season (ending the season 2-35) and only move up one position merely because teams 1-6 will face each other. Those nights are going to look like a scene right out of The Deer Hunter, with teams playing Russian Roulette.

[Scott41theMavs]

Bloody Pels couldn't get the job done.

[ballsrchr]

You know what speaks volumes about the state of the NBA right now? The Mavs have only won two of their last 18 games and, yet, they haven't moved any higher than the 7th worst record.

I honestly think the Mavs could go 0-19 to close the season (ending the season 2-35) and only move up one position merely because teams 1-6 will face each other. Those nights are going to look like a scene right out of The Deer Hunter, with teams playing Russian Roulette.

The play for the bottom is more hotly contested than the play for the top...

[Chicagojk]

Some highlights


https://x.com/pitlessball/status/2030062...89710?s=61

[F Gump]

Some highlights


https://x.com/pitlessball/status/2030062...89710?s=61

That's an impressive video of Wilson. I know it's pure highlights that skips the bad stuff, but my prior (limited) observation of him only saw him as a very productive PF with quite a motor. I came away from that video thinking his raw athleticism is about off the charts. Wow.

[Mavs2021]

That's an impressive video of Wilson. I know it's pure highlights that skips the bad stuff, but my prior (limited) observation of him only saw him as a very productive PF with quite a motor. I came away from that video thinking his raw athleticism is about off the charts. Wow.

If he was shooting 35% from 3 pt range, he´d be the #1 pick. I think he has the most upside of them all, in an projected all-timer class.

[Scott41theMavs]

If he was shooting 35% from 3 pt range, he´d be the #1 pick. I think he has the most upside of them all, in an projected all-timer class.

He's certainly no lower than #2 on my board as it is.

If the Mavs lucked into the 3rd or 4th pick and both Collins and Dybantsa were off the board, I would trade down into the guard range (5-6) for an additional asset, albeit a juicy one.

[Knutsen]

He's certainly no lower than #2 on my board as it is.

If the Mavs lucked into the 3rd or 4th pick and both Collins and Dybantsa were off the board, I would trade down into the guard range (5-6) for an additional asset, albeit a juicy one.

If Silver doesn’t want to squander the chance to make Flagg THE next American superstar he better makes sure he gets a great running mate!

[Chicagojk]

Duke’s I. Evans has a lot of fans for a late first and I too like him. Although I am starting to believe I may even be more intrigued with his teammate Dame Sarr over Evans and others. Sarr is more of a projection and has struggled scoring for much of the year but is already showing to be a very good defender.

[Chicagojk]

As good as this draft is, 5-9 (some may have a few more in this grouping) really scare me.  All are having good seasons for freshman, but I think they fall in line with some past years...maybe with higher upside.  With that being said, I have no idea how to rate these players.  I can see wild swings of outcomes for all these guys.   Maybe watching them in the conference tournaments and NCAA tournaments will give me a better feel.   Not all in this grouping will work out.   It is just really hard to get a grip on which ones will hit.