2026 NBA draft thread

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/esidery/status/2061461131114213700

[F Gump]

Would we take Wallace and control of our 2028 pick for number 9?

I’m trying to create something where they use 12/17 and something to get to 5 and then use 5 & 9 to get Boozer?

I liked the Wallace idea when the Mavs also get 17, and give up PJ who superbly fills a need for them and has cost control which they need. But not with 9 being in the deal.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

@MavsFilmRoom
CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein on Brayden Burries:

“The interesting thing is that so far he hasn’t taken a lot of workouts. There are teams higher in the lottery that would be interested in working Burries out, and yet there’s growing speculation he may prefer Dallas.”

Is Burries a clear upgrade over Max Christie as a prospect?

[Smitty]

Is Burries a clear upgrade over Max Christie as a prospect?

Rookie year Burries, no. He does give you more on-ball/playmaking upside though. I don't see Max ever being the creator type. Even with Burries, it's still more of a projection IMO. Max is only 2 years older, so there's still plenty of growth to his game there though...

[mvossman]

Is Burries a clear upgrade over Max Christie as a prospect?

Yes. He is a better prospect across the board. A true three level scorer with more play making upside. There is a reason he is considered top 10 in Avery strong draft and Max was a second rounder

[Smitty]

@APH00PS
Keaton Wagler when asked if his sees himself as a positionless player, via @SIRIUSXM:

“For the first year— being the one or two guard. Whatever the team needs. I just think, as I continue to get stronger and put on weight, I can get up to playing the three.”

[Chicagojk]

@MavsFilmRoom
CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein on Brayden Burries:

“The interesting thing is that so far he hasn’t taken a lot of workouts. There are teams higher in the lottery that would be interested in working Burries out, and yet there’s growing speculation he may prefer Dallas.”

Personally I don't buy it.    Dallas is an attractive spot for most of these prospects, so that part may be true.  But Dallas is going to work out other prospects.  To limit yourself, would not be a smart move.  Now, if he didn't want to work out for a team or two, that is a different story.   lets says Sacremento and Milwaukee.   I could see that being the case.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Rookie year Burries, no. He does give you more on-ball/playmaking upside though. I don't see Max ever being the creator type. Even with Burries, it's still more of a projection IMO. Max is only 2 years older, so there's still plenty of growth to his game there though...

I agree with your first sentence.  I don’t see the day where Burries replaces Christie in the starting lineup.  They would start him off the bench playing some next to Kyrie and some next to Christie.  He will need some time to hone his PG skills and having the dual role will help him.  Burries’s eventual spot in the starting lineup comes when Kyrie moves on…whenever that is.

The Locked-On guys have spoken about how openly Brown was interested in Dallas.  They also said there was one other of the guard prospects who said “Dallas is the spot we are trying for”, but to my knowledge have never identified that guy.  Maybe it is Burries.  It isn’t like Acuff or Wagler is likely to fall that far, so it is probably either Flemings or Burries who said it.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I've had my heart set on Brown or Flemings.  I don't watch much if any college basketball though.  It seems like the DSJ draft.  I have no idea which PGs will bust and who will turn out to be good.  Donovan Mitchell was picked after all the guys we had discussed.

[Winter]

I think Dallas is attractive... because of Flagg and to a lesser extent Kyrie. I also think it looks as if the roster is going to get shaken and a lot of positions are wide open. There likely will be plenty of minutes for a rookie. Compared to Brooklyn, Sac, and Indiana it might be a pretty easy call for Dallas to win a popularity contest in the 6-10 range.

[Smitty]

@BrettSiegelNBA
The Clippers, Nets, and Kings all hold a level of interest in Darius Acuff Jr., sources told @ClutchPoints.

Another team mentioned by league personnel with trade-up interest in Acuff is the Dallas Mavericks.

[mvossman]

I agree with your first sentence.  I don’t see the day where Burries replaces Christie in the starting lineup.  They would start him off the bench playing some next to Kyrie and some next to Christie.  He will need some time to hone his PG skills and having the dual role will help him.  Burries’s eventual spot in the starting lineup comes when Kyrie moves on…whenever that is.

I don't think Burries needs Kyrie to leave to move into the starting lineup.  He fits well with Kyrie.  He might not get there in year one, but if he is not better than Max by his second or third year than I would consider him a bust.

[Chicagojk]

If there is any lick of truth, you would probably need to get up to 6.    If the Kings have another flavor they prefer, things could get interesting at 9.     

https://x.com/brettsiegelnba/status/2061492002416439382?s=46&t=Ofn9ihgBPdBFQJpnkEDS0A

[Smitty]

@BrettSiegelNBA
The Clippers, Nets, and Kings all hold a level of interest in Darius Acuff Jr., sources told @ClutchPoints.

Another team mentioned by league personnel with trade-up interest in Acuff is the Dallas Mavericks.

Trading up for Acuff goes against everything I thought I knew about Masai, but I would love it! Acuff is #4 on my personal board...

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

trading up > trading down

[mvossman]

I've had my heart set on Brown or Flemings.  I don't watch much if any college basketball though.  It seems like the DSJ draft.  I have no idea which PGs will bust and who will turn out to be good.  Donovan Mitchell was picked after all the guys we had discussed.

To be fair, The top two PGs careers were ruined by injuries, and the guards we are looking at would probably all slot well ahead of Frank and DSJ.

[Smitty]

I don't think Burries needs Kyrie to leave to move into the starting lineup.  He fits well with Kyrie.  He might not get there in year one, but if he is not better than Max by his second or third year than I would consider him a bust.

Why can't all three start? Max at the 2 or 3 is just fine. Burries and Kyrie are both combo-guards and can handle initiating the offense, along with Flagg. Max is an off-ball sniper and good team defender, with above average post defense and above average perimeter defense, if not guarding the POA quick-twitch guys. OKC plays several 6'4-6'5 guys together. Burries at 6'5 215lb is basically the same size as Dort, who plays 2/3/4 for OKC. Positions are interchangeable.

Kyrie 6'2 | 195lb
Burries 6'5 | 215lb
Christie 6'5 | 190lb
Flagg 6'9 | 205lb
Lively 7'1 | 230lb

That's a modern day 5-man group with size, ball-handling, playmaking, shooting, and switchable defenders/rim protection.

[mvossman]

Why can't all three start? Max at the 2 or 3 is just fine. Burries and Kyrie are both combo-guards and can handle initiating the offense, along with Flagg. Max is an off-ball sniper and good team defender, with above average post defense and above average perimeter defense, if not guarding the POA quick-twitch guys. OKC plays several 6'4-6'5 guys together. Burries at 6'5 215lb is basically the same size as Dort, who plays 2/3/4 for OKC. Positions are interchangeable.

Kyrie 6'2 | 195lb
Burries 6'5 | 215lb
Christie 6'5 | 190lb
Flagg 6'9 | 205lb
Lively 7'1 | 230lb

That's a modern day 5-man group with size, ball-handling, playmaking, shooting, and switchable defenders/rim protection.

I could warm up to this idea.

[Smitty]

I could warm up to this idea.

Having a player like Flagg makes lineup building a lot easier. With Kidd as the coach I never cared about who started because that 5-man lineup only ever played 11 of the 48 minutes together, on average. With the new coach, maybe we'll start seeing the Mavs closer to the top of the league there. Of course, health will have to cooperate...

[Smitty]

Per Brett:

"Ament is widely viewed around the NBA as the best option for the Milwaukee Bucks with the 10th-overall pick. As previously reported in our latest mock draft, the Mavs are a team mentioned in league circles as having interest in Ament, and the Nets are another team beginning to come up in conversations about the Tennessee wing.

There is no doubt that Ament will be a lottery pick, and should he fall past the Bucks at 10, there will be multiple teams attempting to move up and grab the 19-year-old wing."