2026 NBA draft thread

[F Gump]

Well that's just weird. Nothing statistically suggests that does it?

He mostly played off the ball, trying to conserve his body so it would not cramp and maybe kill him (in his mind).

Must have been a hard way to have to play, constantly reining yourself in, out of fear of z catastrophe.  

I think if I was picking 1, I would take him.

[Winter]

I've been trying to follow comments/stats/rumors/etc. and my brain is spinning.

Is it just me, or are some bigs, like Lendenborg and Mara, pushing their way into the top 10 draft discussion?

If so, doesn't that slide more of these PG-types into range for the DAL pick?

Is it possible they slide enough that DAL can trade back and still get a contributor?

I know we need backcourt help, but does that need outweigh the strategy of BPA? In other words, would you take a highly rated big at the expense of one of the fab five guards?

I can imagine a different top 10 now than what I've imagined for several weeks.

[Smitty]

I've been trying to follow comments/stats/rumors/etc. and my brain is spinning.

Is it just me, or are some bigs, like Lendenborg and Mara, pushing their way into the top 10 draft discussion?

If so, doesn't that slide more of these PG-types into range for the DAL pick?

Is it possible they slide enough that DAL can trade back and still get a contributor?

I know we need backcourt help, but does that need outweigh the strategy of BPA? In other words, would you take a highly rated big at the expense of one of the fab five guards?

I think all options are on the table. In the end, it doesn’t matter what we would do. I’ve been in the minority on a lot of my takes. Mostly unpopular at the time, and now are becoming the consensus. But if you ask 10 people who the BPA is at #9, you’ll probably get 10 different answers.

Yes, I continue to believe it’s extremely unlikely that 5-9 will all be Guards. I also think there’s a decent chance that the Mavs will be one of the teams that don’t pick one when they’re on the clock…

Trading back has to be on the table. Same for trading up. Mavs are in a position to do several things on draft night. Including taking on bad salary for a pick via TPE, or trading one of their positive value guys for an additional pick or a combination of those things.

[KillerLeft]

Well that's just weird. Nothing statistically suggests that does it?

I saw this coming a mile away. 

"Ray Allen" is not a current model being employed in the NBA, really. Hell, they even have Devin Booker playing on-ball now, for the most part. 

What he (Peterson) MEANS is: I've got to have the ball in my hands to do what I do, and I think he's probably right to say so. I also think he's going to make one hell of a good pick and roll scorer, and have thought so all year. I got shut down when I suggested he'd be an on-ball guard at the next level, but that's how the NBA works these days. Nobody is going to draft him and have him stand in the corner, and the days of putting guys through 5-6 off-ball screens (Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Del Curry, Rip Hamilton, etc) seem to be over everywhere but GS, as near as I can tell. For the time being, anyway. 

I still think Peterson goes either #1 or #2. Either one of those teams will take him or someone else will trade up to get him. And, as long as this weird cramping doesn't end up being what everyone fears is the worst case scenario, my bet is he ends up being the most impactful player in this draft. I'd KILL to put him next to Flagg, personally.

[mvossman]

I've been trying to follow comments/stats/rumors/etc. and my brain is spinning.

Is it just me, or are some bigs, like Lendenborg and Mara, pushing their way into the top 10 draft discussion?

If so, doesn't that slide more of these PG-types into range for the DAL pick?

Is it possible they slide enough that DAL can trade back and still get a contributor?

I know we need backcourt help, but does that need outweigh the strategy of BPA? In other words, would you take a highly rated big at the expense of one of the fab five guards?

For me, none of the bigs/wings have broken into the 5 guards from a BPA perspective.  Trading back is tricky.  You have to find a willing trading partner and you probably don't want to do it until you see how the draft is playing out.  I think most like they stay at 9.  It is possible that Masai and company value one of the wings higher than I do.

[Winter]

I saw this coming a mile away. 

"Ray Allen" is not a current model being employed in the NBA, really. Hell, they even have Devin Booker playing on-ball now, for the most part. 

What he MEANS is: I've got to have the ball in my hands to do what I do, and I think he's probably right to say so. I also think he's going to make one hell of a good pick and roll scorer, and have thought so all year. I got shut down when I suggested he'd be an on-ball guard at the next level, but that's how the NBA works these days. Nobody is going to draft him and have him stand in the corner, and the days of putting guys through 5-6 off-ball screens (Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Del Curry, Rip Hamilton, etc) seem to be over everywhere but GS, as near as I can tell. For the time being, anyway. 

I still think Peterson goes either #1 or #2. Either one of those teams will take him or someone else will trade up to get him. And, as long as this weird cramping doesn't end up being what everyone fears is the worst case scenario, my bet is he ends up being the most impactful player in this draft. I'd KILL to put him next to Flagg, personally.

I thought that about him needing the ball in his hands, but how strange is that you get to pick the position you want, and not the position you're suited for and have played in college?

That's just silly drama for me. Teams may indeed get him at 1 or 2. I'm happy the Mavs don't have to consider it.

[dirkfansince1998]

Already was a big fan of a trade down scenario prior to the combine. Now I am even more convinced. But probably not easy to execute. Two mid firsts in this class would be huge. Position doesn't really matter. The Michigan trio, one of the guards, a big like Steinbach. Some of them will be available in the ~15 range.

[dirkfansince1998]

Cannot find a time but this looks much better than expected. If Mara can move his feet the sky is the limit.

https://x.com/DraftExpress/status/2054277780024553481

[Winter]

Speaking of Michigan players, Morez Johnson may have worked his way into the top 15 now.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GjtAu4pipgM

A good comp may be someone like Naz Reid.

[Mavs2021]

It´s still basketball, but my feeling from the combine results is that Brown has moved up and Wagler has moved down.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Back to the draft. I want Brown or Burries at #9 and I need Steinbach. He´s going to be really good. At least Sengun levels. I don´t know how or where you have to trade, but get me this tall blonde guy from Wurzburg, Germany.

Given that Schmitz was willing to reach for Yang Hansen (and you can honestly see his talent) at #16, I wonder whether they´d reach for Steinbach at #9, too. His measurements scream Masai.

I´d take Caruso + #17 for air and turn the 2028 swap into a full pick trade, if Steinbach is still there.
 

I like the OKC trade idea a bunch.  I'm not up to speed on Steinbach, but after seeing Morez Johnson's performance today wonder if you don't take him at 9 and a guard later?

[khaled1987]

I've been trying to follow comments/stats/rumors/etc. and my brain is spinning.

Is it just me, or are some bigs, like Lendenborg and Mara, pushing their way into the top 10 draft discussion?

If so, doesn't that slide more of these PG-types into range for the DAL pick?

Is it possible they slide enough that DAL can trade back and still get a contributor?

I know we need backcourt help, but does that need outweigh the strategy of BPA? In other words, would you take a highly rated big at the expense of one of the fab five guards?

Some drafts have top 8 or top 9 easily predicted by June, with somewhat a clear picture earlier. 2017 is sort of a prime example.
Others are the opposite, and doing a good mock draft is almost impossible. 2013 is first one to come in mind.
Most are in between tbf. 
The dust will settle for the most part in the next 3 weeks IMO. Right now it is more of opinions and gossips.

[khaled1987]

I saw this coming a mile away. 

"Ray Allen" is not a current model being employed in the NBA, really. Hell, they even have Devin Booker playing on-ball now, for the most part. 

What he (Peterson) MEANS is: I've got to have the ball in my hands to do what I do, and I think he's probably right to say so. I also think he's going to make one hell of a good pick and roll scorer, and have thought so all year. I got shut down when I suggested he'd be an on-ball guard at the next level, but that's how the NBA works these days. Nobody is going to draft him and have him stand in the corner, and the days of putting guys through 5-6 off-ball screens (Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Del Curry, Rip Hamilton, etc) seem to be over everywhere but GS, as near as I can tell. For the time being, anyway. 

I still think Peterson goes either #1 or #2. Either one of those teams will take him or someone else will trade up to get him. And, as long as this weird cramping doesn't end up being what everyone fears is the worst case scenario, my bet is he ends up being the most impactful player in this draft. I'd KILL to put him next to Flagg, personally.

Yup. He isn't really saying he is PG, he is saying he is ready to doing the heavy lifting with scoring and ball handling from day one. 
This is what PG is this days, and saying I want to be a PG usually means that. 
I hate it, but it is what it is.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Speaking of Michigan players, Morez Johnson may have worked his way into the top 15 now.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GjtAu4pipgM

A good comp may be someone like Naz Reid.

I was seeing him Top 15 in places before today.  I think he may have moved up further.  Al Horford?

I suggested this morning that Flemings may aquit himself today and make up for his size issues with athleticism.  Looks like that happened.  It feels like the group of guard is more bunched than ever.  I think Brown is top of the list if his meds are good and bottom of the list if the meds are medicore.

[Winter]

I like the OKC trade idea a bunch.  I'm not up to speed on Steinbach, but after seeing Morez Johnson's performance today wonder if you don't take him at 9 and a guard later?

I'm with you on that one.

The NoCeilings guys just put out a post-combine video. Johnson was their top performer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3vg9IU8u5I&t=120s

They were disappointed in Koa Pete and Allen Graves.

[hakeemfaan]

If some of the big guys are bumping down the guards, and Masai feels one of those big guys has star potential, I don’t see him trading down just to get a guard.

[Winter]

If some of the big guys are bumping down the guards, and Masai feels one of those big guys has star potential, I don’t see him trading down just to get a guard.

I don't either really. There are several good late first and second round PGs. If he trades down, I suspect it's because he's had players targeted. I'm not sure it position-specifc.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/draftexpress/status/205433...42798?s=61

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/draftexpress/status/205432...80754?s=61

[mvossman]

I like the OKC trade idea a bunch.  I'm not up to speed on Steinbach, but after seeing Morez Johnson's performance today wonder if you don't take him at 9 and a guard later?

I feel like taking Johnson at 9 is an overreaction to the combine.  He was a very good college player as a sophomore, but nothing to suggest top 10 in this draft.  Measurables play a part, but I am more interested in what they actually do on the court than how they measure in drills.