2026 NBA draft thread

[KillerLeft]

Wouldn’t they be motivated to consolidate several lower picks into a single high pick?

Roster space is scarce. But maybe cap space is scarcer.

I think the'll kick the can down the road. Trade out for FUTURE draft capital. I think they're likely to do this pretty frequently over the next several years. Or try to, at least.

[Chicagojk]

saw a funny satire tweet yesterday saying it is amazing how good these guys can shoot and high they can jump at the NBA draft combine

#not like us.

[Smitty]

saw a funny satire tweet yesterday saying it is amazing how good these guys can shoot and high they can jump at the NBA draft combine

#not like us.

This one was good also..

@PaulTweetsRIP
I would've liked to see Yaxels vert when he was in his prime

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4875...a-peterson


Monday and Tuesday's combine standouts.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I just used the ESPN mock draft simulator for the first time. You can trade picks. I did the trade back option with OKC and ended up with:

12) Burries (G)
17) Carr (W)
30) Ejiofor (F)
48) Suigo ©


Yeahh... I can get on board with something like that for sure.

I really like some variant of 2021's idea about trading the Laker's 2029 for OKC's #12 overall.  Any protection on that Laker pick might depend on what else is in the deal.  Do we take back a contract for them...do we include #30 in the deal...that kind of thing.  I see all sorts of great possibilities with 9 and 12.

At some point you have to think about roster spots.  Whoever we take at 48 is going to be on a two-way contract. If we have 9 and 12 and didn't have to give up #30 in the process, I like the idea of adding #30 to Gafford to try to trade for a younger player rather than adding a third pick to the roster.  I can't recall teams successfully developing that many players simultaneously.

[Smitty]

[mvossman]

I would love Wagler falling to the Mavs, but I might be crushed when Masai takes a project wing instead.

[Chicagojk]

Mavs second round pick is a two way.  Or you hope the guy warrants a two way.   Draft hollows out before this.  STill though you are left with older players who may lack some of the traits of successful NBA players but were very good players,  some international guys who will be draft and stash and some younger raw guys who are far away.  I like some potential older players, but if you want to role the dice.  Dillon Mitchell from St. Johns and Trevon Brazile are interesting high wire acts.

Mitchell was a former high recruit who started at Texas, went to Cincinnati and ended up at St. John.  He never really hit.   Never averaged over 10 points a game.  He has good size and great athleticism.   He apparently just can't shoot.   Still a worthy two way candidate imo.   

Brazile can dunk and also shoot.  Good size and great athleticism.  When you watch him play and not just the highlights, you see the warts.   Although, he too is worthy of a two way spot just off his athleticism and skill. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIBwUKg0U-o&t=100s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmeB7Ll-Lbs&t=87s

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/nbadraft/status/2054325788460101675?s=61

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I really like some variant of 2021's idea about trading the Laker's 2029 for OKC's #12 overall. 

That was mine.

I think that Lakers' pick becomes very valuable around the league, especially if it's perceived that Luka could possibly leave. I think if OKC has a roster a financial crunch, they would consider Caruso + #12 for the Lakers pick. 

As I said earlier, if the Mavs could either leave the draft with their future backcourt in Brown and Burries, or a combo of Mara + Brown/Burries, that becomes a monster young team.

[Smitty]

The No Ceilings guys talk about Zuby at the 14 minute mark. Worth a listen because I think he's a real possibility at pick 30. I think he's a big Wing that can also play small-ball 5 in the NBA. Some disagree. I think he can guard 1-5 against most teams. Can be an average CnS guy on the perimeter. I hadn't considered the real playoff impact that they go into, but I just finished listening and think it's an excellent point. He's not a perfect PJW clone, they have some differences for sure, but the closest role I can think of with the current Mavs roster. Definitely worth a late FRP dart throw.

https://youtu.be/F3vg9IU8u5I?si=in7yQkFXISuqddqg

More on Ejiofor from Albert Ghim:

https://x.com/albertoeghim/status/205457...96334?s=20


As well as this report from @SJUDave: Zuby Ejiofor has a workout scheduled with the Dallas Mavericks

[Smitty]

@DBCJason
Shooting Score: a simple metric with only 3 inputs (3P%, FT%, 3Pr), weighted by how correlated each are to NBA 3P%

Here are the best shooters in the 2026 NBA Draft and a graph plotting Shooting Score against self-created 3 point scoring in an attempt to capture shooting dynamism

[michaeltex]

More on Ejiofor from Albert Ghim:

https://x.com/albertoeghim/status/205457...96334?s=20


As well as this report from @SJUDave: Zuby Ejiofor has a workout scheduled with the Dallas Mavericks

I can see why they want to give this guy a look. Certainly has the body to play in the paint at the next level.

[dirkfansince1998]

More on Ejiofor from Albert Ghim:

https://x.com/albertoeghim/status/205457...96334?s=20


As well as this report from @SJUDave: Zuby Ejiofor has a workout scheduled with the Dallas Mavericks

In a way him having a great combine sucks. He already had workouts scheduled with a long list of teams before the combine hype boosted his draft stock. And looking at the list most of them have a pick in the last 1st round.

https://x.com/SJUDave/status/2052063181451808815

[Smitty]

@IsaacLHarris
Brayden Burries says he’s met with the Mavs and could see himself fitting in there well. more to come on this

[loki]

Getting Burries and Carr both would be a major score. I haven’t caught up on who the other guys are yet, but just snagging those top two names would be a big deal.

I kind of don’t think the thunder are going to be interested in trading up. Something tells me they’re more likely to trade completely out.

This draft is so strong it feels a little odd to trade out completely. They still save a roster spot and some money by trading up. It's a big gamble that any future 1st is going to be as valuable. Or maybe they just keep one/trade one.

[Smitty]

@IsaacLHarris
Isaiah Evans said that he has met with the Mavs already. Also said he is fully in the draft, no thought of going back.

[mvossman]

@IsaacLHarris
Isaiah Evans said that he has met with the Mavs already. Also said he is fully in the draft, no thought of going back.

Too bad he likely won't be there at 30.  He is a guy I would be cool with spending an asset to move up to get.

[Smitty]

Too bad he likely won't be there at 30.  He is a guy I would be cool with spending an asset to move up to get.

He's been my guy at 30 for as long as I can remember. If you want to improve your shooting, he's the guy. Maybe he won't interview well..

[Smitty]

@IsaacLHarris
Keaton Wagler has met with the Mavs. specially mentioned his fit with Kyrie and how he can learn a lot from Kyrie