2026 NBA draft thread

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Tankathon currently has the Mavs taking Dailyn Swain at #30, which I'd love. Of course, as a Texas fan, if he decided to go back to school, I'd love that as well.

[Smitty]

It has been a while since I read this, but I believe the 8th pick has one of the worst history of success (not positive, but something in the 6-8 range).  The theory is that the very best guys are gone and it is too early to start picking role players (or single skill players you hope develop other things).  So, teams take the projects who “might” put it all together and become a star in this range and often come up empty handed.

So, the multi-tool high floor guy is actually appealing to me in this range.  At the very least he’s a better version of Max Christie with more POA D and on ball creation.  I do think the Booker/Kentucky thing might be instructive here.  I’m not saying Burries gets 25 a game on a different team.  But, there may be upside that we don’t see because Arizona is so deep they don’t need him to do more.

I like Burries, I want to make that clear. A little pushback on better than Christie... It depends on the role. If Burries is playing the same role as Max is on this team, I still prefer Max. Burries is listed at 6'4 whereas Christie was "measured at 6’5.75 in shoes and a 6’8.75 wingspan at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine".

It's likely that Burries is closer to 6'3, if we look at the history of college guards getting their listed heights exaggerated. Of course that's not the end all be all, but a 6'3 shooting guard is what the NBA has been moving away from. Max is very switchable on defense because of his size and length. 

IF you think Burries is a true point guard in the NBA, then comparing him to Max is irrelevant. Burries will be 21 to start the season and still needs to show much more on the "PG" side of things for me to consider him a playmaker/initiator/creator for an NBA team full time. He does some of that in college, but in a secondary/off-guard/combo-guard kind of way. That's why I think he fits the SG 'role' in the league. And he would be considered undersized.

IF you have a big PG with him in the backcourt, it wouldn't matter much. He could play mostly off-ball and some on-ball on offense and guard the POA on defense. IF we're thinking of Flagg as the future Point-Forward, I can get behind it. But I'd also want Max, or someone with his skillset, at the small Wing (SF) spot for his shooting and switchability on defense as well.

[mvossman]

I like Burries, I want to make that clear. A little pushback on better than Christie... It depends on the role. If Burries is playing the same role as Max is on this team, I still prefer Max. Burries is listed at 6'4 whereas Christie was "measured at 6’5.75 in shoes and a 6’8.75 wingspan at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine".

It's likely that Burries is closer to 6'3, if we look at the history of college guards getting their listed heights exaggerated. Of course that's not the end all be all, but a 6'3 shooting guard is what the NBA has been moving away from. Max is very switchable on defense because of his size and length. 

IF you think Burries is a true point guard in the NBA, then comparing him to Max is irrelevant. Burries will be 21 to start the season and still needs to show much more on the "PG" side of things for me to consider him a playmaker/initiator/creator for an NBA team full time. He does some of that in college, but in a secondary/off-guard/combo-guard kind of way. That's why I think he fits the SG 'role' in the league. And he would be considered undersized.

IF you have a big PG with him in the backcourt, it wouldn't matter much. He could play mostly off-ball and some on-ball on offense and guard the POA on defense. IF we're thinking of Flagg as the future Point-Forward, I can get behind it. But I'd also want Max, or someone with his skillset, at the small Wing (SF) spot for his shooting and switchability on defense as well.

Agree with most of this, but personally I am a little disappointed with Max defense.  I don't think he is a plus defender and I think his long term outlook is role player off the bench.  I think Burries will end up a better defender and probably better all around player, but his size limitation at SG is a concern.

[Winter]

In the discussion of Burries - who appears ready to be drafted between 5-10 - I compared the following College stats:

Brayden Burries
PPG = 16.2
FG% = .582
FG% 3 = .395
FG% 2 = .575
AST - 2.5
Reb = 4.8
FT% = .804

Kon Knueppel
PPG = 14.4
FG% = .479
FG% 3 = .406
FG% 2 = .567
AST - 2.7
Reb = 4.0
FT% = .914

Knueppel was drafted 4th last year in what was considered a fairly weak draft. In this year's draft, Knueppel might very well fall between 5-9 - right where Burries will likely fall. Last year, all we could talk about was Flagg, but I don't recall any analysts seeing Kon as a potential ROY either. Both Burries and Knueppel played on two of the best teams in the NCAA.

This is not to say Burries will be Kon Knueppel his rookie year. I'm only posting the stats as an interesting comparison of two shooting guards whose stats aren't that different.

I think Knueppel is an elite 3-point shooter. I doubt Burries is ever that good, but very few veteran players are that good. Burries may end up being a better rounded player and a perfectly good player next to Flagg. I wish I would have watched him play more seriously, but I never thought his draft status would rise to the top 10 either.

[cow]

LOL   My focus is on Presti, doncha know?!?!

How about just a draw to somewhere in the top 4?

I've got Presti covered with Gould as his plan B.  Need that first pick for...whoever is good at college hoops.

[Smitty]

Kind of crazy that if the Mavs land the #1 pick the debates on here will likely be just as intense as if they stayed at 7-8. Lot of good options and a lot of differing opinions within the top 4 and then the next 6 or so.

[mvossman]

Kind of crazy that if the Mavs land the #1 pick the debates on here will likely be just as intense as if they stayed at 7-8. Lot of good options and a lot of differing opinions within the top 4 and then the next 6 or so.

I gathered that everyone on here would be for AJ if the Mavs get 1st.  It will get much more interesting if they land a top 4 but AJ is off the board.

[Smitty]

@draymottishaw
In 293 minutes without Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries has an increase in AST% by +10.7% (11% to 21.7%) where his AST/40 jumped from 2.6 with Jaden to 5.5 without (+2.9) In those minutes where he has been a facilitator, he has shown that he can secure the ball well with an A:TO of 2.22 (higher than his 1.44 ato with Bradley). Lineup data via @CBBAnalytics.
Brayden has a really solid baseline of being what is, in my opinion, an impactful rotation player. These are some of the signs you look for when looking for a player who can maximize their role and potentially exceed expectations.


This is at least encouraging for the ones that say Burries is a future NBA PG.

[F Gump]

You don't see a star after four because you devalue Acuff too much on the basis of defense. A guy who can take over a game on offense while serving as floor general is still a multi-year all-star in this league. 

True ^ but if he's a complete no defense guy, even if he's a great scorer, it will be an ongoing and annoying obstacle to winning. For a guy with similar lack of size, think Trae Young. 

The guy you really want plays good defense. And has some size (helping his defense potential, and more).

At some point you certainly have to take Acuff and overlook the lack of D, but at 3? I can't, when there are legit shots at another Haliburton or Jrue. No guarantees on any of these guys, but I can't ignore the lack of D. 

I would have Acuff with Wagler and Burries in the 5-6-7 on my board (not necessarily in that order). Acuff might be my last choice, but I think whoever is the last available will be ok, and may last until 8 or 9, because I would wager some team or 2 in the 5-10 range will want someone other than a  PG.

[Scott41theMavs]

I gathered that everyone on here would be for AJ if the Mavs get 1st.  It will get much more interesting if they land a top 4 but AJ is off the board.

Nailed it.

It's good to have a point guard. But this is the age of creational wings. The Mavs would have one of the most formidable foundations in the league with Flagg-Dybantsa as the starting wings.

[DallasMaverick]

I gathered that everyone on here would be for AJ if the Mavs get 1st.  It will get much more interesting if they land a top 4 but AJ is off the board.

The higher the Mavs draft pick, the less the GM matters.

(Trolling Mr. Gump)

[F Gump]

The higher the Mavs draft pick, the less the GM matters.

(Trolling Mr. Gump)

Troll away.

Presti, please. The more assets you give him to start with, the better.

Due to the way the NBA operates these days, there is NO scenario where having the BEST GM wouldn't matter. It's a league in which titles are won (and even competed for) based on the expertise of the GM at roster-building, and there are LAYERS of levels that impact the effectiveness of a team's roster-building results.. Getting a better draft pick doesn't really change that at all.

[ThisIStheYear]

I have no idea who the Mavs should take at 6ish now. I see I think 8 guys who could be great or a bust. But at 30, I’m pretty much set on Evans if he’s available. He’ll probably rise up the board though, unfortunately.

And at 6, yes, I’d consider Yaxel. I know he’s old but on the other hand, he really only played 11 high school games I think. He’s probably played about the equivalent of a college sophmore, and he’s still the 2nd best player in college basketball this season. My nightmare is he falls to the Spurs. That would be awful.

[Smitty]

Labaron Philon Jr's last game as an Alabama player:

35 PTS
7 REB
4 AST
1 STL
10-21 FG
6-14 3PT
9-9 FT

[Scott41theMavs]

Labaron Philon Jr's last game as an Alabama player:

35 PTS
7 REB
4 AST
1 STL
10-21 FG
6-14 3PT
9-9 FT

I was about to ask how folks felt about his performance. I've always wondered why he wasn't higher in the conversation.

[Smitty]

I was about to ask how folks felt about his performance. I've always wondered why he wasn't higher in the conversation.

He’s definitely in the conversation for me at 7/8/9.

[Mavs2021]

I think there is very little argument to be made that Burries and Philon aren´t better than Flemings and Wagler right now. Question is how much Flemings/Wagler will improve until the age of Burries/Philon in 1-2 years.

I already made the argument that the Mavs are not very good at developing players. I´d argue they have one of the best success rates in the draft when taking proven, but are absolutely abysmal, when taking projects.

I somewhat doubt that Burries is 6´4, but he looks more athletic than Flemings to me, who everybody gushes about as the next Rose/Morant.

[Scott41theMavs]

Meanwhile, our draft position is about to lower because the Blazers are showing no desire whatsoever to beat us. I thought they wanted to win games.

[Scott41theMavs]

Blazers, hang your heads in shame.

[cow]

Henderson is awful. Baglady hitting threes.