2026 NBA draft thread

[mvossman]

He has been my pick for some time. I am not sure why the board are so down on him. The weight is a concern, but it isn't the deal breaker people making it to be. SGA has same issue entering the draft.

SGA had concerns about being skinny, but he had elite positional size to make up for it.  Philon does not make up for his lack of bulk with size or athleticism.  He has already demonstrated that he can't put on weight when he desperately needed to (from freshman to sophomore).  As that article said, if he can't put on weight the margins are very thin.

[loki]

He has been my pick for some time. I am not sure why the board are so down on him. The weight is a concern, but it isn't the deal breaker people making it to be. SGA has same issue entering the draft.

I like Philon too, but I've pretty much given up on that idea with Masai on board. If someone like Wagler or Brown isn't available at 9 I think they'll look for a bigger point guard. Maybe Topic in a trade back to 12 (drafting Carr instead). Or possibly Sergio de Larrea at 30.

[Chicagojk]

He has been my pick for some time. I am not sure why the board are so down on him. The weight is a concern, but it isn't the deal breaker people making it to be. SGA has same issue entering the draft.

I can't get there with him at 9, but I agree he is sort of the lost guard.    I think the Alabama coach is really good, so maybe this impacts my opinion.   I think their offense is so good that players look really good in his system.    I would be surprised if he goes in the top 10.   It would be fun if he did though.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/JonRothstein/status/2059819961254629773


Jeremy Fears Jr has withdrawn from the draft and will return to Michigan State.

[mvossman]

I like Philon too, but I've pretty much given up on that idea with Masai on board. If someone like Wagler or Brown isn't available at 9 I think they'll look for a bigger point guard. Maybe Topic in a trade back to 12 (drafting Carr instead). Or possibly Sergio de Larrea at 30.

I'm not sure Carr is as high on the new FO list as some think.  I don't think he has the BBIQ they are looking for and he didn't play defense in college.  I think there is a good chance they draft Burries if he is there.  Not sure on Flemings (but I hope so).

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/JonChep/status/2059826176583954767


Kansas commit Dennis Parker Jr has withdrawn from the draft and will
head to Kansas.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/JonRothstein/status/2059819961254629773


Jeremy Fears has withdrawn from the draft and will return to Michigan State.

Not surprising.   smallish point guard.   BTW, bad job by the parents.   Jeremy and Jeremiah a year or so apart.   It Jeremy Jr too.   Confusing.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/JonChep/status/2059747003073020232


Finley Bizjack has withdrawn from the draft and is
headed to West Virginia.

[KillerLeft]

I'm not sure Carr is as high on the new FO list as some think.  I don't think he has the BBIQ they are looking for and he didn't play defense in college.  I think there is a good chance they draft Burries if he is there.  Not sure on Flemings (but I hope so).

I'm encountering more and more "experts" out there who feel Burries could actually be an on-ball guard in the NBA. If that's the case, he might just be the perfect pick for the Mavs, especially in a scenario where Kyrie starts the year here.

[windjc]

A lot of promising players bailed out. I suspect the "first round" talent in this draft isn't 30-deep now. Sadly. The best to hope for is that one of the top 25 somehow slips through the cracks and is still there at 30, or maybe they can find a route to move from 30 to the late teens.

I guarantee you at least one future all-star will be available at 30. There’s no crying in baseball.

[Winter]

I'm encountering more and more "experts" out there who feel Burries could actually be an on-ball guard in the NBA. If that's the case, he might just be the perfect pick for the Mavs, especially in a scenario where Kyrie starts the year here.

That's probably the easiest pick. He looks like a solid player who may not have the highest ceiling... but seems to have few weaknesses and I don't see anyone complaining about his defense.

They won't pick Carr at #9 given the draft expectations. If you wanted Carr, you'd be trading down for him. Almost every mock has him between 13 and 19. I like the idea of trading down if the FO really has a feel for something, but that's unlikely to happen I think. There is a lot you can do with pick at #30 or the second round pick, but the #9 pick has a lot of value and you really need to get it right.

[mvossman]

I'm encountering more and more "experts" out there who feel Burries could actually be an on-ball guard in the NBA. If that's the case, he might just be the perfect pick for the Mavs, especially in a scenario where Kyrie starts the year here.

Yep, although it will be a development process.  He is a great fit with Flagg and Kyrie where they spread around the creation (something Toronto did a lot of) and slowly take on more on ball responsibilities.  I think this FO is going to prefer guys like Wagler, Brown and Burries because of positional versatility.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I'm encountering more and more "experts" out there who feel Burries could actually be an on-ball guard in the NBA. If that's the case, he might just be the perfect pick for the Mavs, especially in a scenario where Kyrie starts the year here.

I saw someone project him that way because his height and wingspan are too small for a wing.  6'3.75" height with a 6'6" wingspan. I saw him compared to Quentin Grimes.

[KillerLeft]

That's probably the easiest pick. He looks like a solid player who may not have the highest ceiling... but seems to have few weaknesses and I don't see anyone complaining about his defense.

Well, that's what I'm saying though. There's a growing suggestion out there that Burries is REALLY a lead guard who chose to play for a school that already had an established player in that role in order to play for a better team last year. If that's actually the case, I'd say his "ceiling" is much higher than we're assuming. It would mean his offensive potential is much greater and that his adequate positional size and physical tools become actual plusses.

[KillerLeft]

Yep, although it will be a development process.  He is a great fit with Flagg and Kyrie where they spread around the creation (something Toronto did a lot of) and slowly take on more on ball responsibilities.  I think this FO is going to prefer guys like Wagler, Brown and Burries because of positional versatility.

I think Brown might be my favorite of that bunch, but I don't think he'll be there at #9.

[mvossman]

I saw someone project him that way because his height and wingspan are too small for a wing.  6'3.75" height with a 6'6" wingspan.  I saw him compared to Quentin Grimes.

His wingspan is not ideal, but at 6' 5" (with shoes) and 215 lbs, he is big enough to play the 2.  I have seen him compared to Quentin Grimes.  I have also seen him compared to Derrick White, NAW and Jamal Murray.

[mvossman]

I think Brown might be my favorite of that bunch, but I don't think he'll be there at #9.

If Mara goes top 8 (a distinct possibility) Brown or Flemings will probably be there at 9.

[KillerLeft]

If Mara goes top 8 (a distinct possibility) Brown or Flemings will probably be there at 9.

I LOVE Flemmings, but I'm starting to feel like he's viewed as a risk in certain circles, and I'm worried that Ujiri/Schmitz might be in those circles. I think Brown might be a little more on the nose for what's needed here. Riskier in some ways, but maybe more ideal in the best of scenarios. I'm pretty confident that's who the pick would be if he's there, but I'm starting to feel like Flemings is the more likely one to fall that far. 

I'd be ecstatic with a Flemings pick, but probably not if Kyrie is on the roster.

[KillerLeft]

If Mara goes top 8 (a distinct possibility) Brown or Flemings will probably be there at 9.

And for the record, I personally don't think Mara has any business going in the top 10 of this draft. I'm not saying he won't, but I think that would be a big swing and miss by some team galaxy braining themselves.

[mvossman]

I LOVE Flemmings, but I'm starting to feel like he's viewed as a risk in certain circles, and I'm worried that Ujiri/Schmitz might be in those circles. I think Brown might be a little more on the nose for what's needed here. Riskier in some ways, but maybe more ideal in the best of scenarios. I'm pretty confident that's who the pick would be if he's there, but I'm starting to feel like Flemings is the more likely one to fall that far. 

I'd be ecstatic with a Flemings pick, but probably not if Kyrie is on the roster.

I think a Flemings pick makes it much more likely Kyire is gone by the TDL.  Any of the other three could coexist with him.