2026 NBA draft thread

[Chicagojk]

I don’t think he will be on my list of preferred guys at 30 but thinking about Schmitz talk about processing speed made me think of Joshua Jefferson.

https://youtu.be/j6yBE7WNSJ0?si=Q2-uYmTDXdj-s4yh

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba...uccounter=


NBA draft lottery proposal.

[Winter]

I don’t think he will be on my list of preferred guys at 30 but thinking about Schmitz talk about processing speed made me think of Joshua Jefferson.

https://youtu.be/j6yBE7WNSJ0?si=Q2-uYmTDXdj-s4yh

Jefferson is the quintessential Point-forward.

I don't know how his game translates in the NBA, but he's a fun watch.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I'm also not a "move down" guy because my observation is that you typically trade THIS (whether good or bad) for what tends to be a poo-poo platter of meh. It looks more promising than it tends to turn out. (And I'm even extra-ultra pessimistic when I saw what Cuban did with such moves, the worst being the Giannis fiasco, of course.)

We may be discussing things the Mavs aren't that interested in doing anyhow.

Unless I missed something, Masai has never moved down on draft day. And he's never moved up, either. He just tends to pick the pick, and hope for the best.

Schmitz has never had the final say, so we probably can't read anything into his past places. But, for the record, but the last few years in POR, there have been a few draft day swaps. IMO the most notable was a move down last summer, from 11 to 16. Instead of getting Coward at 11 (who turned out to be a decent rookie) or some other pick, they took Yang Hansen at 16 (who they apparently had prioritized and wanted to take, period, and figured he would be there at 16). Hansen (a project, by their own admission) was fairly bad as a rookie (but they said he's a 3-year development). However, they did also land 3 future picks for trading down (one FRP, 2 SRP). So the score on that deal is TBD. But again, Schmitz didn't make that decision to trade down.

THE MOVE to have made would've been doing their trade down with New Orleans, while picking up #8.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Let's parse out a trade down like this...

At 9, at least one of the following will be there:
1. Dybants
2. Peterson
3. Boozer
4. Wilson
5. Flemings
6. Acuff
7. Wagler*
8. Brown
9. Burries
10. Mara
I feel like this top 10 is a tier above. Now, in a trade down to 12 and 17, can you find another seven players where the "juice is worth the squeeze"?
11. Lendeborg
12. Philon
13. Lopez
14. Johnson
15. Quaintance
16. Carr
17. Ament
I mean, I had to squint really hard to find 17 names that I liked.
So what would it take for me to want to trade back from 9 to 12?
First, it would take two players outside of that top ten going in the top 8. Is that improbable? Yes. But I've watched enough drafts to not be shocked if players like Ament or Lopez suddenly went top 8.
Secondly, Wagler has to go top 8, because I want nothing to do with him.
If all that happens, I'm comfortable moving to 12, because it guarantees me at least one top 10 player sliding to 12. And, there's another drop off around 17 or 18.  Thus, if I can guarantee myself a pick from Group 1 and one from Group 2, I do it. Now if OKC is asking me to do it before the Draft, I wouldn't do it.
That said, I'd like to think all of this is moot. I think the Mavs should be able to pick up a third 1st by dealing something they have, whether that's a player or future pick. I've seen it suggested that Naji could get the Mavs a mid 1st because of his ascending play and great contract. I'd rather keep 9 and 30, and pick up 18 or 19 for Naji.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I have a top 9 in this draft. Depending on Mikel Browns medicals, I have a top 8 in this draft. So I really dont understand all the trade down talk unless all top 8 are gone and you red flag Brown. Yes you can look back five years from now and say a bunch of good players were picked between 10-20 but that’s not how it works in the present. Trading down you’re likely going from a tier 2 player in this draft to a tier 3 player.

I think people get a little over enamored with the draft as it gets closer and they spend a bunch of time “doing their research” and want to pick a bunch of their pet cats.  If you’re telling me you can turn 9 and 30 into two top 20 picks, maybe that’s a different conversation. But I don’t understand the angst to trade down from 9, at all.

This team needs more high end talent, not guys like PJ Washington and Max Christie. I would make everyone on the roster available other than Flagg if I could trade up.

[Winter]

I have a top 9 in this draft. Depending on Mikel Browns medicals, I have a top 8 in this draft. So I really dont understand all the trade down talk unless all top 8 are gone and you red flag Brown. Yes you can look back five years from now and say a bunch of good players were picked between 10-20 but that’s not how it works in the present. Trading down you’re likely going from a tier 2 player in this draft to a tier 3 player.

I think people get a little over enamored with the draft as it gets closer and they spend a bunch of time “doing their research” and want to pick a bunch of their pet cats.  If you’re telling me you can turn 9 and 30 into two top 20 picks, maybe that’s a different conversation. But I don’t understand the angst to trade down from 9, at all.

This team needs more high end talent, not guys like PJ Washington and Max Christie. I would make everyone on the roster available other than Flagg if I could trade up.

Well I'll just say what I see... knowing full well that most wouldn't do this at all. But in general...

I personally think M. Brown is going to struggle with the NBA game. Flemings and Burries maybe less so. I like them all. But I also think guys like Carr and Johnson are going to be right there after year 2-3. Like Mikel Brown, many of those players between 10-17 have things they need to work on that may take time. But they are going to be be good players I think. Carr has great offensive instincts and shooting ability, but his defensive decision making was poor (as was Baylor's defense in general). He is explosive on offense, but will definitely need some time in other areas. I think M. Johnson is an enormous defensive player. He was the best defensive player on the best defensive team in college. Vecenie thinks he has a chance as all-defense type of guy in the NBA. He has good shot almost anywhere on the floor, but it needs work. He is a physical player, very mature, great teammate, and a great connector (Vecenie). Even Yaxel said he was the best player on the Michigan team.

So I look at guys like Carr and Brown and I feel like they are going to be on someone's bench on opening day, get a lot of minutes as rookies, and be solid players. I honestly am not sure it's going to be much different for Brown, Wagler, or Ament. Flemings too unless he's traded to the right team. The four guys at the top look great. Everyone below it has more work to do. But I'm thinking the long game here, not next year. And I could see reasons for moving down and adding a player.

Having said that, I don't think that's likely. What may be slightly more likely than trading down is the Mavs trading a player and acquiring a draft pick somewhere as compensation. I don't think that's likely either before the draft, but I would be happy with both scenarios.

It's much more likely we stand pat with #9 (I'm not sure about #30), and I think that's the pick we'll make. But the point is those other moves don't scare me when looking 2-3 years down the road.

[Chicagojk]

saw this on Reddit comparing Acuff vs Trae Young defense.    I personally give him a pass for defense last year.  I don't think he was asked to play it and he was carrying such a heavy load on offense.  I also don't expect him to ever be a good defender in the NBA.

I think the big question for me is, does he care?  Does he have pride in playing defense not just giving up?   Jalen Brunson will never be a good defender, but he cares.   He is good on rotations, he takes charges and he competes.    Sure, he gets picked on some, but he tries.    That is the big question for me with Acuff.   Some of his defensive highlights are pretty bad.   A lot them he is not even trying to compete.  That will need to change.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comme...t_college/

[Winter]

saw this on Reddit comparing Acuff vs Trae Young defense.    I personally give him a pass for defense last year.  I don't think he was asked to play it and he was carrying such a heavy load on offense.  I also don't expect him to ever be a good defender in the NBA.

I think the big question for me is, does he care?  Does he have pride in playing defense not just giving up?   Jalen Brunson will never be a good defender, but he cares.   He is good on rotations, he takes charges and he competes.    Sure, he gets picked on some, but he tries.    That is the big question for me with Acuff.   Some of his defensive highlights are pretty bad.   A lot them he is not even trying to compete.  That will need to change.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comme...t_college/

In all his newer interviews, he addresses his defensive weakness. He's very aware of that I think. As I understand it, his coaches made sure he understood that he could not foul out so his attempts at defense were "measured" at best.

Still, it's a hard thing to just get a lot better at defense right out of the box. He's going to have to expend a lot more energy than he's used to in the NBA.

[aguiar95]

Wanting to get another top-15 picks as I think it could help us long-term :

P. Williams + #15 for #30 ?

P. Williams + #15 for Gafford ?

P. Williams + #15 for PJ ?

Could get one of the guards at #9 (probably Flemings or Burries) and at #15 a wildcard like Johnson, Steinbach, Carr, Lopez, Ament, Philon.

[Scott41theMavs]

Put me in the camp of those who are 1) not willing to see the Mavs trade down per se at this point, but 2) wanting to see the Mavs acquire another pick in the 10-20 range.

One of the things that gives me pause is that, with Masai's focus on building around Flagg, perhaps slowly, I have a feeling that he's going to put a premium on getting '27-'30 first rounders in return for his trades. I strongly believe that 10-20 in this draft is a lot more valuable than 10-20 in most drafts, but he may not see it that way. If he and Schmitz can work their magic with mid-to-late first rounders in the next four years to come, I have a feeling they're going to seek to expand their opportunities to do so.

[Chicagojk]

Wanting to get another top-15 picks as I think it could help us long-term :

P. Williams + #15 for #30 ?

P. Williams + #15 for Gafford ?

P. Williams + #15 for PJ ?

Could get one of the guards at #9 (probably Flemings or Burries) and at #15 a wildcard like Johnson, Steinbach, Carr, Lopez, Ament, Philon.

Yeah that Williams contract is awful and they would have to pay to get off it.   I just don't think they are going to trade #15.  Getting #4 was a lifeline for them.  They have a new GM and are going to re-tool.  I don't believe they need to move off Williams to get in a better salary situation.   Might as well hold him and consider him a sunk cost.  Eventually he will be expiring or come off the books.  Bulls are not going to win anytime soon.

[dirkfansince1998]

Wanting to get another top-15 picks as I think it could help us long-term :

P. Williams + #15 for #30 ?

P. Williams + #15 for Gafford ?

P. Williams + #15 for PJ ?

Could get one of the guards at #9 (probably Flemings or Burries) and at #15 a wildcard like Johnson, Steinbach, Carr, Lopez, Ament, Philon.

Others will tell you that Williams contract is horrible but that's not my issue with this proposal. I would happily do this. Question is why the Bulls would use picks to move bad salary when they have even less win now ambitions than the Mavs. They don't have a Flagg or anything that could be viewed as a legit piece to build around. It's in their best interest to get as many picks as possible. Build through the draft. Tank. I think them selling Giddey is more likely than a trade that involves Williams.

[Chicagojk]

In all his newer interviews, he addresses his defensive weakness. He's very aware of that I think. As I understand it, his coaches made sure he understood that he could not foul out so his attempts at defense were "measured" at best.

Still, it's a hard thing to just get a lot better at defense right out of the box. He's going to have to expend a lot more energy than he's used to in the NBA.

I think he will be able to answer those questions.   If he can't, his agent needs to be fired.   All I am saying is there is a difference in addressing the question and being aware of it, and actually caring about it or having pride in it afteryou are drafted.    He is in my tier 3 (5-7), so it would not be a deal breaker for me.  Although as good as he is on offense, if he doesn't care on defense,it will greatly limit his value.

[Chicagojk]

I saw someone do a mock draft where Dallas traded # 9 to OKC for #12, Topic and #37.     

That seems a little light.   What about if dallas gave #30 and instead got back #17.   That might be too light for OKC though.

[dirkfansince1998]

Put me in the camp of those who are 1) not willing to see the Mavs trade down per se at this point, but 2) wanting to see the Mavs acquire another pick in the 10-20 range.

One of the things that gives me pause is that, with Masai's focus on building around Flagg, perhaps slowly, I have a feeling that he's going to put a premium on getting '27-'30 first rounders in return for his trades. I strongly believe that 10-20 in this draft is a lot more valuable than 10-20 in most drafts, but he may not see it that way. If he and Schmitz can work their magic with mid-to-late first rounders in the next four years to come, I have a feeling they're going to seek to expand their opportunities to do so.

I think next years class is going to be worse. Stokes, Holt, Williams, Branch and Smith Jr aren't as good as this years top 4. Maybe one of the young euro guys like Boumtje-Boumtje (going to play in college next season, Duke) or Joksimovic declares but that's not a given. As of now returners like Haugh, Krivas or Mullins are probably lottery picks. Might change in the coming months but in my opinion the depth just isn't comparable to this years class (even if a few more guys pull out in the coming days).
28-30 is impossible to predict. We have some Wemby'esque footage from teenagers from europe. Just to be the first one to mention the name. Mohamed Dabone is going to be the first overall pick in one of those drafts.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I saw someone do a mock draft where Dallas traded # 9 to OKC for #12, Topic and #37.     

That seems a little light.   What about if dallas gave #30 and instead got back #17.   That might be too light for OKC though.

Topic was mocked at a top 5 player in his class before his injury and still went 12th.  OKC was roundly praised for the pick as they could afford to wait.  This is another one of those things where if Schmitz likes him, I'm all for it (and elite processing is supposedly one of his strengths).  Topic probably has greater upside that whoever lands at nine, though in fairness doesn't have plus length.  There are guys I like at 12.  It does help the roster squeeze in OKC, which makes sense.

[Jmaciscool]

Topic was mocked at a top 5 player in his class before his injury and still went 12th.  OKC was roundly praised for the pick as they could afford to wait.  This is another one of those things where if Schmitz likes him, I'm all for it (and elite processing is supposedly one of his strengths).  Topic probably has greater upside that whoever lands at nine, though in fairness doesn't have plus length.  There are guys I like at 12.  It does help the roster squeeze in OKC, which makes sense.

A potential Topic top pick topic to discuss??


I'll show myself out now...

[dirkfansince1998]

https://x.com/Sam_Vecenie/status/2058719612087533611

- Moreno withdraws from the draft
- Momcilovic cancelled his workouts. Most likely out as well.

[hakeemfaan]

Chet and Jalen Williams are a lot more than "really solid 2 way guys".  They are top 30 players.  If that is what you mean by "lesser Robin" then fine, but its a really tall ask for Mavs to land multiple players like that in this draft.  I would be very happy to land just one player in the ballpark of those guys, and the best chance of that (in my opinion) is in the top 9.

 

Despite all his foul baiting antics that he has picked up in the last couple of years which I don't like, I absolutely love SGA.  He has made those guys look much better than they are.  

Batman..we all mostly will agree who those rare breeds are.  Robin to me is someone who can carry the team  for a good portion of the season if the main guy is out.  Pippen for eg the year MJ was out, proved he is a legit 2nd option. Even with Kukoc, Pippen was the main guy on both ends of the floor.  I don't see either Jay Williams or Chet alone carrying any team for long stretches during a season.   Together, they are pretty good, but that's where my lesser Robin comment comes from.