2026 NBA draft thread

[hakeemfaan]

I'm skeptical on Philon.  I can't think of an NBA player who is that short, slight of build and lacking in athleticism (not elite) who is a plus defender.  Flemings measurements worry me some as well, but at least he is an elite athlete.  Burries is the only one I think likely to be a plus defender in the NBA, but it is probably pushing it to call him a point guard at this point.

He will be around 6'4" in shoes. I don't see any issues with his measurement.  I don't see elite athleticism as a must for a PG either.  Elite athletes and PGs are a relatively newer phenomenon and even there truly elite athletes playing PG like Westbrook are rare.  Kyrie , Steph are not considered great defensively and it's their offensive skill more than raw athleticism that sets them apart. Even Westbrook for all his athletic prowess, was never a great defensive player.

If you go slightly back, there are tons of PGs who were not great athletes, but knew how to take care of the ball and run a team. 

The questions surrounding Philon are going to be wrt his shooting ability and if his 2nd year jump is a indicator of true potential or an aberration. If it's the former, he could well turn out to be one of the best guards in this class.  Elite athlete or not.

[Chicagojk]

Edey really was a freak. There were a lot of doubters too even when he dominated college. Hope he can get healthy and not be one of those “what if” guys.

https://x.com/draftexpress/status/205472...71766?s=46

[Winter]

He will be around 6'4" in shoes. I don't see any issues with his measurement.  I don't see elite athleticism as a must for a PG either.  Elite athletes and PGs are a relatively newer phenomenon and even there truly elite athletes playing PG like Westbrook are rare.  Kyrie , Steph are not considered great defensively and it's their offensive skill more than raw athleticism that sets them apart. Even Westbrook for all his athletic prowess, was never a great defensive player.

If you go slightly back, there are tons of PGs who were not great athletes, but knew how to take care of the ball and run a team. 

The questions surrounding Philon are going to be wrt his shooting ability and if his 2nd year jump is a indicator of true potential or an aberration. If it's the former, he could well turn out to be one of the best guards in this class.  Elite athlete or not.

I don't actually disagree with the details of your post here, but we now measure a lot of very specific information regarding agility and strength. It's important to know if players have the strength to break through screens, have explosive first steps, or are strong enough back up opposing players in isolation. I agree that it sometimes makes no difference to a PG who can run a team well. But if those measurements didn't matter at all, then the data gurus wouldn't be measuring them. I suspect they are important for draft placement more than anything.

I don't really know that much about Philon's overall game because I haven't watched much video on him... and I didn't think he was a real option for where we picked. My personal feeling is there doesn't seem like there's a lot of space between any of the many PGs in the first round. Philon may very well turn out to be good. But I suspect there's been enough game video, analytics, and testing to know that he's probably not going to be as good as the PGs above him in his overall impact on the team. All of them have been testing well in almost every aspect (except for Flemings wingspan).

[KillerLeft]

The more I read/listen to/watch, the more I doubt either one of Acuff or Flemings makes it past BOTH Sacramento AND Brooklyn. I think there's a chance Brown makes it to Dallas, but even that seems dicey, according to what I'm seeing out there.

I think our Mavs are on a collision course with Buries.

[Smitty]

The more I read/listen to/watch, the more I doubt either one of Acuff or Flemings makes it past BOTH Sacramento AND Brooklyn. I think there's a chance Brown makes it to Dallas, but even that seems dicey, according to what I'm seeing out there.

I think our Mavs are on a collision course with Buries.

Preferred flavor of ice cream. Every team in the top 10 will likely have these guys ranked differently based on skill set, team needs, and potential. Everything you read for the next 6 weeks can be a smoke screen or the real deal. There’s a razor thin line between all of the top guards. Nobody will know for sure how it’ll go.

And I’m willing to bet at least two non-guards go in the 5-10 spot. Drama!

[windjc]

The more I read/listen to/watch, the more I doubt either one of Acuff or Flemings makes it past BOTH Sacramento AND Brooklyn. I think there's a chance Brown makes it to Dallas, but even that seems dicey, according to what I'm seeing out there.

I think our Mavs are on a collision course with Buries.

It sucks to have the #9 pick when there will be at least 15 guys selected in the top 8.

[hakeemfaan]

The more I read/listen to/watch, the more I doubt either one of Acuff or Flemings makes it past BOTH Sacramento AND Brooklyn. I think there's a chance Brown makes it to Dallas, but even that seems dicey, according to what I'm seeing out there.

I think our Mavs are on a collision course with Buries.

I like players who do a lot of thing very well without much fuss.  Burries should be one of the guys I love, but it's just that I don't like him at 9.  If there was a trade down scenario to around 14, I would have no complaints with him.   He is a bit older and I don't see anything about his game that says there is another level that he can reach in the pros. 

Unless he has some unforeseen health or injury issues, we are living in Wemby's world for the next 15 years. Harper is a load too.  We have Coop.  This is one of our last chances to get a high pick in the next 2-3 years to get some potential star power to help Coop. The previous regime already messed up with their half hearted tank attempt. That's why I want this regime to be more bold. I'm ok with even Mara at 9.

[Scott41theMavs]

I like players who do a lot of thing very well without much fuss.  Burries should be one of the guys I love, but it's just that I don't like him at 9.  If there was a trade down scenario to around 14, I would have no complaints with him.   He is a bit older and I don't see anything about his game that says there is another level that he can reach in the pros. 

Unless he has some unforeseen health or injury issues, we are living in Wemby's world for the next 15 years. Harper is a load too.  We have Coop.  This is one of our last chances to get a high pick in the next 2-3 years to get some potential star power to help Coop. The previous regime already messed up with their half hearted tank attempt. That's why I want this regime to be more bold. I'm ok with even Mara at 9.

(Response intended to be to windjc's post above as well This draft is huge.

To me, it would take a really terrible front office *not* to get an excellent, perennial starting player in this draft at the ninth pick (aside from some guy turning into a repetitive injury problem in ways his trajectory up to this point didn't identify). Unfortunately, we're the Dallas Mavericks - the team that has the 9th pick and needs, not a great #4 or #5 guy, but a major impact player, since we won't get another in the next four years (or if we do, it will be a home run with one of our late first rounders in those drafts) because of our prior atrocious front office. If the Mavs pick 9th, yes, they'll get a great player, but that's not good enough. We need them to hit on (as I've said before) this year's Donovan Mitchell or Bam Adabayo (referencing the 2017 draft) - the guy who, in re-draft exercises five years from now, is unquestionably the best player who was left on the board.

Of course, the good news is that we are now blessed to have what is almost certainly a top five front office. I trust Masai and Schmitz to know, between themselves, who the best player available really is. And because this draft is at least 20 players deep in guys who will likely be perennial starters, if they don't think the best guy at 9 will have enough of an impact, they'll find a way to get another pick (including by virtue of the oft-mentioned Thunder trade-down). 

I haven't participated much in the usual player-evaluative posting I used to throw my hat in on, because, as I have said, Masai/Schmitz know how to manage this draft far better than I ever would, I trust their judgment, and I'm just more and more excited that this draft + our front office is going to add up to results we're really pleased with a couple of years down the line.

[Scott41theMavs]

P.S. - Whatever happened to Swain? I haven't seen anything on him in the combine.

[cow]

The more I read/listen to/watch, the more I doubt either one of Acuff or Flemings makes it past BOTH Sacramento AND Brooklyn. I think there's a chance Brown makes it to Dallas, but even that seems dicey, according to what I'm seeing out there.

I think our Mavs are on a collision course with Buries.

New regime and all, but we've done recent business with the teams that hold 6-8 and we probably have the ammo to move up to those spots.  Assuming the Mavs have someone in that 4-9 range pegged above everyone else in that grouping and assuming he makes it past the Clippers, they could start working the phones to land their guy.

[Smitty]

@DraftDeeper
2026 NBA Draft Combine Biggest Winners (To Me) In No Particular Order:

AJ Dybantsa
Cameron Boozer
Cameron Carr
Morez Johnson
Kingston Flemings
Darius Acuff
Mikel Brown Jr.
Aday Mara
Ebuka Okorie
Billy Richmond
Rueben Chinyelu
Ja'Kobi Gillespie
Baba Miller
Matt Able

[dirkfansince1998]

P.S. - Whatever happened to Swain? I haven't seen anything on him in the combine.

Smaller than expected (6'6.5"/6'10" wingspan). Not nearly as good of an athlete as I expected. "Only" a 36.5 max vert and even worse in the agility drills (worse than Karaban and Momcilovic).

[hakeemfaan]

(Response intended to be to windjc's post above as well This draft is huge.

To me, it would take a really terrible front office *not* to get an excellent, perennial starting player in this draft at the ninth pick (aside from some guy turning into a repetitive injury problem in ways his trajectory up to this point didn't identify). Unfortunately, we're the Dallas Mavericks - the team that has the 9th pick and needs, not a great #4 or #5 guy, but a major impact player, since we won't get another in the next four years (or if we do, it will be a home run with one of our late first rounders in those drafts) because of our prior atrocious front office. If the Mavs pick 9th, yes, they'll get a great player, but that's not good enough. We need them to hit on (as I've said before) this year's Donovan Mitchell or Bam Adabayo (referencing the 2017 draft) - the guy who, in re-draft exercises five years from now, is unquestionably the best player who was left on the board.

Of course, the good news is that we are now blessed to have what is almost certainly a top five front office. I trust Masai and Schmitz to know, between themselves, who the best player available really is. And because this draft is at least 20 players deep in guys who will likely be perennial starters, if they don't think the best guy at 9 will have enough of an impact, they'll find a way to get another pick (including by virtue of the oft-mentioned Thunder trade-down). 

I haven't participated much in the usual player-evaluative posting I used to throw my hat in on, because, as I have said, Masai/Schmitz know how to manage this draft far better than I ever would, I trust their judgment, and I'm just more and more excited that this draft + our front office is going to add up to results we're really pleased with a couple of years down the line.

9 is such a tricky spot.  The more I think about it, the more I'm talking myself out of my rigid stance that they shouldn't move down.

If they have a chance for Brown or Wagler, IMO they should stay pat. If both those guys are gone and some team comes with a wow offer for the Mavs to move down a few spots, I am ok now with them moving down.  Some of the same players who I wouldn't want at 9, would be perfectly fine in the 13-19 range.

[KillerLeft]

Preferred flavor of ice cream. Every team in the top 10 will likely have these guys ranked differently based on skill set, team needs, and potential. Everything you read for the next 6 weeks can be a smoke screen or the real deal. There’s a razor thin line between all of the top guards. Nobody will know for sure how it’ll go.

And I’m willing to bet at least two non-guards go in the 5-10 spot. Drama!

No, I agree with that. I just think those two, specific teams are likely to be after on-ball types, and those two, specific on-ball guards will be the first two off the board. 

Anything can happen, but I'm not getting my hopes up, really. Maybe for Brown.

[KillerLeft]

New regime and all, but we've done recent business with the teams that hold 6-8 and we probably have the ammo to move up to those spots.  Assuming the Mavs have someone in that 4-9 range pegged above everyone else in that grouping and assuming he makes it past the Clippers, they could start working the phones to land their guy.

I was hopeful that #30 might be enough to move up a spot or two, but after a couple of discussions I've heard recently about the cost of moving up in this draft I kinda doubt the Mavs have the ammo. Nor do I really feel strongly enough about anyone past the top 2 picks to really pull the trigger, and they obviously can't get one of those two. You're right, though - if Schmidt REALLY loves a particular dude, maybe there's a way.

[Scott41theMavs]

Ok, I'll put my hat back in the ring, but without any sense of "knowing" which guy(s) Masai and Schmitz ought to take. Just my sense from what I've been hearing and reading.

1) Dybantsa
2) Boozer (has moved up for me, but lol not a Mavs concern)
3) Peterson
4) Wilson (has moved down for me)
5) Flemings
6) Acuff
7) Brown (has moved way up for me, presuming health)
8) Wagler
9) Burries (You absolutely do not pick this guy if any of the 8 above are still on the board - I have him above the next three with the positional supposition that he can create his own shot better than any of them. If that's wrong, then the player who makes it wrong moves up)
10) Mara
11) Morez Johnson
12) Steinbach
13) Philon (would never leave any of the above 12 players on the board to grab him out of some positional need. You want him, you trade down for more assets, period)
14) Ament (I don't like him, but if Masai/Schmitz pick him, I 100% trust their judgment)
15) Lendeborg (too old, but around this pick range, fine)
16) Evans
17) Graves
18) Carr
19) Okorie
20) Swain
21) Quintance
22) Lopez
23) Cenac 
24) Yessoufou

[cow]

I was hopeful that #30 might be enough to move up a spot or two, but after a couple of discussions I've heard recently about the cost of moving up in this draft I kinda doubt the Mavs have the ammo. Nor do I really feel strongly enough about anyone past the top 2 picks to really pull the trigger, and they obviously can't get one of those two. You're right, though - if Schmidt REALLY loves a particular dude, maybe there's a way.

If the clump of prospects after the top 4 is as close as everyone says, I kind of think 30 and/or GSW's 2030 might get you to 6, but the draft point charts I've looked at are all over the place.  Value is in the eye of the beholder of course, but if I have enough guys on the board I value about the same and can pick up additional/future draft capital that would seem to be a good possibility.

Conversely, if you get wiped out at 9, I wonder if there is a scenario were you trade back to 11 in exchange for altering the protections on that 2030 pick.

[Dirknows]

I was hopeful that #30 might be enough to move up a spot or two, but after a couple of discussions I've heard recently about the cost of moving up in this draft I kinda doubt the Mavs have the ammo. Nor do I really feel strongly enough about anyone past the top 2 picks to really pull the trigger, and they obviously can't get one of those two. You're right, though - if Schmidt REALLY loves a particular dude, maybe there's a way.

This draft could be fascinating as we have actual assets in both multiple first round picks, the TPE,  some decent players, but most importantly, a good front office with an eye for talent. I don’t expect a trade up from 9, but I do think they move around the draft a bit.

[loki]

Masai has a thing for longbois according to Raps fans. Here are all the relevant prospects whose wingspan minus height is above average.

PG
Okorie +6.5
Tanner +5.5
Anderson +5.25

SG
Carr +8.25
Yessoufou +5.75
Peterson +5.25

PF
Cenac +7
Morez +6.5
Yax +6.5
Ejiofor +6.5
Brazile +6.25

C
Chinyelu +10.25
Quaintance +8.25
Bidunga +7.5
Reed +6.5

For reference here are some other common names.

Acuff +4.5
Wagler +1.25
Brown +4
Philon +3.75
Burries +2.25

[KillerLeft]

Also, and I know it's exhausting to have to engage in "who gets the credit, who gets the blame?" again so soon, but the more I read/hear the more it seems like this is going to be Schmidt, not Urjiri.

I think Ujiri is the long term strategy/manage the front office/negotiate contracts dude and Schmidt is the "decide who we want" dude, but could be wrong and I'm sure there's lots of discussion/collaboration. At least, I hope there is. But, my point is that I think with the draft and young players we're kind of living in the "what type of guy does Schmidt like" space more than the "what kind of guy does Ujiri like?" We'll see, but either way...better hands than the Mavs' future has been in for a while, I'm sure.