2026 NBA draft thread

[Dirknows]

I am also against a trade down at 9.  I would much prefer using 30 and getting creative trying to get to low 20's if you really like 2-3 prospects in that range.

If there is a 3 guys they like at 9, and feel one will be available at 12, I absolutely make that a trade down. I also feel a big need is getting a pick for 2027. I know it is considered a weaker draft but I prefer to have a pick in every draft at least.

[Chicagojk]

I am also against a trade down at 9.  I would much prefer using 30 and getting creative trying to get to low 20's if you really like 2-3 prospects in that range.

For instance, Vecenie has Dallas taking Yssoufou at 30.  I would be fine with this as a developmental pick.   He has Bennett Stirtz going to Denver at 26.   He does not have Tanner in his mock as he thinks he goes back to school.  Okorie at 28.  He has Christian Anderson at 18.   

I think at least one goes back to school, but if you don't take a point at 9, would you try to move up for one that makes it to the mid 20's?

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/nbadraftwass/status/205384...37289?s=61

[DanSchwartzgan]

Too bad there is nothing in his college profile to suggest he will be particularly good at launching 3s.  His volume was low, percentage poor and FT% not elite.   

I'm not going to get pigeonholed into being the Ament guy here.  I was on Burries when he was being mocked at 17.  While I didn't like the idea of Brown or Flemings at 5/6, I do like them at 9...especially Brown.  BTW, the Locked On guys have some great tape from Brown on their episode this morning (he needs to shut it down if he wants to get to Dallas).

With all of that said, here is part of Sam Vecinie's write up yesterday talking about the three parts of Ament's season:

Ament’s season was a true roller coaster, and his draft stock is a bit funky as a result. He averaged 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in his first 15 games but was only shooting 40 percent from the field and 27 percent from 3. Those numbers were also buoyed by big games against bad teams, like his 23 points against Northern Kentucky, his 19 against Rice and North Florida and his 20 against Rutgers. 

Then, over 12 games before he sprained an ankle in Tennessee’s game against Alabama, few players were better in high-major conference play. He averaged 22 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 44 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3 and 84 percent from the line while getting there a ridiculous nine times per game in that run. But when he returned for postseason play, he clearly wasn’t 100 percent. He averaged just 13.3 points while shooting 31.3 percent from the field, including 28.6 percent from inside the arc as he had zero lift.

[Winter]

For instance, Vecenie has Dallas taking Yssoufou at 30.  I would be fine with this as a developmental pick.   He has Bennett Stirtz going to Denver at 26.   He does not have Tanner in his mock as he thinks he goes back to school.  Okorie at 28.  He has Christian Anderson at 18.   

I think at least one goes back to school, but if you don't take a point at 9, would you try to move up for one that makes it to the mid 20's?

What I really think is that it's unlikely to me that the Mavericks are picking exactly where they are currently scheduled to pick in rounds 1 and 2. We currently have what is seen as a very good 2026 draft. We have two very new GM-types looking over the draft eager to make something happen. We have tradeable assets and trade execptions. And we have very few draft picks the next three years.

I think the new FO is going to do everything possible to turn this draft into something more than it is now.

[DanSchwartzgan]

https://x.com/nbadraftwass/status/205384...37289?s=61

6'6" mocked at #41 on Tankathon.  Kevin O'Conner has him at #33 with Goran Dragic and Malcolm Brogdon as the comps:


Team FitDe Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he could carve out a role in the NBA if his international skill can translate.

[Chicagojk]

Hollinger usually comes in with a bang. At times he takes are way out there but he tends to give his real rankings. Anyway, here are his top 15

https://archive.ph/2026.05.08-090521/htt...n-lottery/

[numnuts23]

All it takes is Yaxel, Mara, Peat or Ament to get drafted ahead of us...which I'd say is almost a lock. That puts Flemings or Brown in the conversation. I also won't be surprised to see Acuff drop some. He'll probably end up measuring 6'2 or lower...and the defense will scare some teams off. If the Kings pass on him, he'll likely be there at 9...but I can't see the new GM going with him.

[michaeltex]

https://x.com/nbadraftwass/status/205384...37289?s=61

Highlight clips make him look like a Luka MiniMee. If we could get him into camp and/or summer league, it might be worth a look.

[Dirknows]

What I really think is that it's unlikely to me that the Mavericks are picking exactly where they are currently scheduled to pick in rounds 1 and 2. We currently have what is seen as a very good 2026 draft. We have two very new GM-types looking over the draft eager to make something happen. We have tradeable assets and trade execptions. And we have very few draft picks the next three years.

I think the new FO is going to do everything possible to turn this draft into something more than it is now.

Yupp. I have total faith in Masai to cook us up something good.

[Chicagojk]

6'6" mocked at #41 on Tankathon.  Kevin O'Conner has him at #33 with Goran Dragic and Malcolm Brogdon as the comps:


Team FitDe Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he could carve out a role in the NBA if his international skill can translate.

yeah, I really don't know him.   This guard class is ridiculous.  I wonder how many pull out.   I think Tyler Tanner is awesome.    He is small and that is a big factor but boy is he electric.

[Scott41theMavs]

I feel like I have a different approach to this than everyone else here. Whatever we end up doing in this draft, even if it's something where I would throw my popcorn at the screen if Nico, Riccardi, and/or Finley were doing it, I will likely react, "Hmm, interesting," and be fine, curious, and extremely optimistic about how it will pan out because we have *two grown basketball men* in charge. First time since Nellie, and better than that. To be quite honest, I don't think that happens. I think I'll be wowed, amazed, and thrilled.

I would not presume that Nico et al. know better than me. I know for a fact that Masai and Schmitz know better than me.

[mvossman]

Hollinger usually comes in with a bang.  At times he takes are way out there but he tends to give his real rankings.  Anyway, here are his top 15

https://archive.ph/2026.05.08-090521/htt...n-lottery/

Not a bad list.  He is low on Peterson and Brown, probably due to injury concern (although he does not harp on that in the write up).

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

The Pacers got screwed. They tanked (I get why) but lost their pick because it wasn't in the top 4.  The Pacers aren't done paying for Zubac either. The Clippers also get the Pacers 2028 2nd and 2029 1st round picks. Zubac is a good player, but I don't know if he's that beneficial in terms of what they gave up.

At the trade deadline, I wish they'd Mavs had offered the Pacers Gafford in deal similar to the Zubac structure. I would've said Gafford for only the 2026 protected pick (same structure, but no future picks from the Pacers). And if the pick conveys like it did, Indiana gets the 2029 Lakers pick. 

Of course, you could ask yourself what the Clippers would want for 5 (not flipping). Do they see themselves as needing win now pieces since, if they keep KL (and they can't really tank), would they want pieces like Gafford or even Kyrie?

[SkenfromLMF]

I get the arguments for a trade down, but that requires the other team to be on board.  I get the argument that OKC has too many picks in general, but not sure they are not thinking the same regarding value of 9 vs 12 and 17. My guess is that this would cost 30 as well. Are folks still interested in trade down if its 9 + 30 for 12 +17?

I would be willing to look at this scenario if we can also swap seconds to get our pick back. So 9+30+48 for 12+17+37. Dallas probably has to throw in a future 2nd OR Dallas has to take some salary and does not include 30.
If we pulled off this type of deal giving us 12; 17; 30; & 37 how much salary is that worth? Say the trade for the 12 pick is 9 & 37 + future considerations; how much salary would we have to absorb to have 17 for 48 come our way as well.
I would feel better about this type of dealing with Lindsey as GM working with Masai as I felt the trades were better under Lindsey's influence. But maybe this is Don Nelson all over again and the first big night for the new GM sets the franchise up for years!

[mvossman]

At the trade deadline, I wish they'd Mavs had offered the Pacers Gafford in deal similar to the Zubac structure. I would've said Gafford for only the 2026 protected pick (same structure, but no future picks from the Pacers). And if the pick conveys like it did, Indiana gets the 2029 Lakers pick. 

Of course, you could ask yourself what the Clippers would want for 5 (not flipping). Do they see themselves as needing win now pieces since, if they keep KL (and they can't really tank), would they want pieces like Gafford or even Kyrie?

I think the Mavs tried to send Gafford to Pacers.  I think the fact that Pacers spent so much on Zubac suggests they did not have a lot of interest in Gafford (or at least in paying assets for him).

[KillerLeft]

Hollinger usually comes in with a bang.  At times he takes are way out there but he tends to give his real rankings.  Anyway, here are his top 15

https://archive.ph/2026.05.08-090521/htt...n-lottery/

Interesting. If he's correct, and Brown is more of an off-ball guard than on-ball, my interest in him diminishes, somewhat. 

I need to take a deep dive on Buries, soon...his size concerns me, on paper, especially as an off-ball guard. I don't have a huge objection to taking or playing a guy that size, but I'm not sure this draft opportunity (the best one for a while) is the time to invest in one. I think I'd prefer Ament or Laxenbourg (probably not spelled that way at all, sorry) over Buries right now, but I need to take a deep dive, like I said. 

Is Philion not even on his list? Did I just miss him?

[Chicagojk]

At the trade deadline, I wish they'd Mavs had offered the Pacers Gafford in deal similar to the Zubac structure. I would've said Gafford for only the 2026 protected pick (same structure, but no future picks from the Pacers). And if the pick conveys like it did, Indiana gets the 2029 Lakers pick. 

Of course, you could ask yourself what the Clippers would want for 5 (not flipping). Do they see themselves as needing win now pieces since, if they keep KL (and they can't really tank), would they want pieces like Gafford or even Kyrie?

I remember checking out the Pacers boards at the deadline.  I thought the deal would be centered around Mathurin.  Most Pacers fans thought that was too much to trade for Gafford.  I tended to agree but  if the Pacers were not going to pay Mathurin it was probably good to move him early.    Gafford is a really good rotation center.   Zubac is a really good center.   It is funny, when they were talking about Zubac most Pacers fans did not want to give up two first round picks for him.  At the time, the 2026 was not even in consideration.   That trade looks really bad right now.  Although the Pacers should still be really good next year.  The key is getting Haliburtan back close to where he was.   I have some concerns there.   

I am guessing Pacer fans would probably drive Mathurin to the airport for Gafford if we knew what we do now.

[F Gump]

De Larrea

6'6" mocked at #41 on Tankathon.  Kevin O'Conner has him at #33 with Goran Dragic and Malcolm Brogdon as the comps:
Team FitDe Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he could carve out a role in the NBA if his international skill can translate.

De Larrea intrigues me at 30, because it's hard to find the player who is a "tall playmaking guard" available outside the lottery. The fact he won't be at the combine and may be not as available for workouts as most players may be a blessing in disguise.

[Chicagojk]

Interesting. If he's correct, and Brown is more of an off-ball guard than on-ball, my interest in him diminishes, somewhat. 

I need to take a deep dive on Buries, soon...his size concerns me, on paper, especially as an off-ball guard. I don't have a huge objection to taking or playing a guy that size, but I'm not sure this draft opportunity (the best one for a while) is the time to invest in one. I think I'd prefer Ament or Laxenbourg (probably not spelled that way at all, sorry) over Buries right now, but I need to take a deep dive, like I said. 

Is Philion not even on his list? Did I just miss him?

He is really tricky.  There are a few dunks he has that are just eye opening.    There is clearly upside.  Although, I think there is a lot of group talk about him being a top five talent if his back was healthy.   Could he be?  Sure.   I just think that is a narrative a lot of fans and Mavs media jumped on and has sort of stuck.