2026 NBA draft thread

[dirkfansince1998]

Not a single traditional big. Okorie the only small guard.

[Winter]

Burries worked out elsewhere where the Mavs were "in attendance." Is that considered a Mavs workout?

[Torielp10]

I get why people love morez Johnson. I just don’t see him as a true number two player to build around. If we still had Luka and Kyrie and were on the cusp, he’d be my pick 10/10.

[KillerLeft]

I get why people love morez Johnson. I just don’t see him as a true number two player to build around. If we still had Luka and Kyrie and were on the cusp, he’d be my pick 10/10.

Absolutely. Obviously, you need two-way players, but if the Mavericks let this opportunity pass by without grabbing the biggest offensive difference maker they can, they're stupid.

[Winter]

I get why people love morez Johnson. I just don’t see him as a true number two player to build around. If we still had Luka and Kyrie and were on the cusp, he’d be my pick 10/10.

I think this is accurate to a point. But the Mavs are looking at a lot of players without much in the way of defensive chops. In fact, the Mavs legacy is currently a legacy of always "needing defense." 

From everything we hear -from Vecenie and the No Ceilings people- Johnson is the best defensive player from 5 to 20. He won't have the blocks of an Aday Mara, but he is the one of the few bigs (outside the top 4) who is entirely switchable with guards. Even better if he can play the 5 spot occasionally. His own teammates at Michigan thought he was the reason they were playing in the championship. He is also a guy that cleans up under the basket, has a decent short game facing the basket, and can probably give you about 14 ppg. His 3-pt shooting is decent and improving. He is a great connector piece for a team like the Mavs. His measurements, shooting stats, rebounds - everything really - is a plus for his position.

He is not the guy that really improves spacing, so you'd like to get a perimeter threat somewhere in the pick before him. I think that is just as important, so I'd like to have Johnson as a second pick. But I think he will be picked higher than #17 regardless of some mocks.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...s-kentucky

Former Iowa State star Milan Momcilovic transfers to Kentucky.

Matt Norlander‬: Sources told CBS Sports that Momcilovic's contract for next season will be north of $6 million. Kentucky spent $20 million-ish last season and will do it again in 2026-27. For at least the next five months, Mark Pope can live in some peace.

[dirkfansince1998]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...s-kentucky

Former Iowa State star Milan Momcilovic transfers to Kentucky.

Matt Norlander‬: Sources told CBS Sports that Momcilovic's contract for next season will be north of $6 million. Kentucky spent $20 million-ish last season and will do it again in 2026-27. For at least the next five months, Mark Pope can live in some peace.

More or less what the 12th pick in this years draft is going to make. For a player that was mocked as a late 1st/early 2nd round pick that's an easy decision.

[mvossman]

I think this is accurate to a point. But the Mavs are looking at a lot of players without much in the way of defensive chops. In fact, the Mavs legacy is currently a legacy of always "needing defense." 

From everything we hear -from Vecenie and the No Ceilings people- Johnson is the best defensive player from 5 to 20. He won't have the blocks of an Aday Mara, but he is the one of the few bigs (outside the top 4) who is entirely switchable with guards. Even better if he can play the 5 spot occasionally. His own teammates at Michigan thought he was the reason they were playing in the championship. He is also a guy that cleans up under the basket, has a decent short game facing the basket, and can probably give you about 14 ppg. His 3-pt shooting is decent and improving. He is a great connector piece for a team like the Mavs. His measurements, shooting stats, rebounds - everything really - is a plus for his position.

He is not the guy that really improves spacing, so you'd like to get a perimeter threat somewhere in the pick before him. I think that is just as important, so I'd like to have Johnson as a second pick. But I think he will be picked higher than #17 regardless of some mocks.

You can make an argument he could help your spacing when he plays the 5 (which I think he can do a lot of).  I don't think he is getting much pass 12.  Mavs only chance is to pick him at 9 or somehow get there hands on another lottery pick.

[Chicagojk]

some interesting discussions on the guards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4nll0FAlRs

[Winter]

You can make an argument he could help your spacing when he plays the 5 (which I think he can do a lot of).  I don't think he is getting much pass 12.  Mavs only chance is to pick him at 9 or somehow get there hands on another lottery pick.

I wouldn't object to him at #9 if the Mavs decided they like a particular guard at #12. I think I would be the most surprised if Johnson was the singular choice at #9 without a second pick (until #30).

It really sounds like there are several options if you could make a trade on draft night or before.

[mvossman]

I wouldn't object to him at #9 if the Mavs decided they like a particular guard at #12. I think I would be the most surprised if Johnson was the singular choice at #9 without a second pick (until #30).

It really sounds like there are several options if you could make a trade on draft night or before.

I would reverse that.  Guard at 9 and Morez at 12.  I think it unlikely they manage to get 12 though.

[Winter]

I would reverse that.  Guard at 9 and Morez at 12.  I think it unlikely they manage to get 12 though.

It's more fun to pretend they will.

[Chicagojk]

So non Mavs, but what do we think the Nets do?  Their fans seem to want a guard.  

The Nets are irrelevant in NY now.   They have stunk since they traded Kyrie but have had the worst lottery luck.    They don't own their first round pick next year.  The Knicks are the King of the city now.

Their draft was ridiculed last summer (i was one of them).  While Egor may not be the best player at 8, I think they drafted some interesting players after watching a few games.  At different points when I watched them, I thought 4 of them showed me something.  So do they draft another guard to add to all their other guards?  They just seem a little stuck.    If they stay at 6 and take a non guard, that seems like a weird move as well.   

Are they a secret big trade team just trying to make them relevant?  Giannis?

[KillerLeft]

So non Mavs, but what do we think the Nets do?  Their fans seem to want a guard.  

The Nets are irrelevant in NY now.   They have stunk since they traded Kyrie but have had the worst lottery luck.    They don't own their first round pick next year.  The Knicks are the King of the city now.

Their draft was ridiculed last summer (i was one of them).  While Egor may not be the best player at 8, I think they drafted some interesting players after watching a few games.  At different points when I watched them, I thought 4 of them showed me something.  So do they draft another guard to add to all their other guards?  They just seem a little stuck.    If they stay at 6 and take a non guard, that seems like a weird move as well.   

Are they a secret big trade team just trying to make them relevant?  Giannis?

They draft Acuff and hope he's exciting enough, offensively, to put merch on backs and butts in seats.

[mvossman]

So non Mavs, but what do we think the Nets do?  Their fans seem to want a guard.  

The Nets are irrelevant in NY now.   They have stunk since they traded Kyrie but have had the worst lottery luck.    They don't own their first round pick next year.  The Knicks are the King of the city now.

Their draft was ridiculed last summer (i was one of them).  While Egor may not be the best player at 8, I think they drafted some interesting players after watching a few games.  At different points when I watched them, I thought 4 of them showed me something.  So do they draft another guard to add to all their other guards?  They just seem a little stuck.    If they stay at 6 and take a non guard, that seems like a weird move as well.   

Are they a secret big trade team just trying to make them relevant?  Giannis?

My guess is Acuff.  He is the best shot at superstar past the top 3, and good chance he will still be on the board.

[KillerLeft]

My guess is Acuff.  He is the best shot at superstar past the top 3, and good chance he will still be on the board.

Beat you to it, my dude. Great minds.

[Smitty]

So non Mavs, but what do we think the Nets do?  Their fans seem to want a guard.  

The Nets are irrelevant in NY now.   They have stunk since they traded Kyrie but have had the worst lottery luck.    They don't own their first round pick next year.  The Knicks are the King of the city now.

Their draft was ridiculed last summer (i was one of them).  While Egor may not be the best player at 8, I think they drafted some interesting players after watching a few games.  At different points when I watched them, I thought 4 of them showed me something.  So do they draft another guard to add to all their other guards?  They just seem a little stuck.    If they stay at 6 and take a non guard, that seems like a weird move as well.   

Are they a secret big trade team just trying to make them relevant?  Giannis?

I said immediately after the lottery drawing that they felt like the Ament team to me. Pick 6 may seem too high for most, but Wings with his size and potential don't grow on trees. IF he reaches that potential, nobody will be talking about it being a "reach". If you think in tiers instead of a player for player stack, I'd bet Ament is in tier 2 for some teams, Nets included? They need to hit a homerun the most IMO. For non-guards in tier 2, he's the best chance for that to happen, however small we think it might be...

[mvossman]

I said immediately after the lottery drawing that they felt like the Ament team to me. Pick 6 may seem too high for most, but Wings with his size and potential don't grow on trees. IF he reaches that potential, nobody will be talking about it being a "reach". If you think in tiers instead of a player for player stack, I'd bet Ament is in tier 2 for some teams, Nets included? They need to hit a homerun the most IMO. For non-guards in tier 2, he's the best chance for that to happen, however small we think it might be...

Ament might be the most polarizing lottery player in the draft.  Locked on Mavs Isaac just did his top 15 big board and Ament was not even on it.  Personally I think if you are looking to be relevant Acuff makes way more sense.  I don't think Ament has the ceiling others do, but even if he does it will take years to get there.  I also think that would be a terrible spot to put him in.  He already got overexposed at Tennessee.  The last thing he needs is to get drafted too early and expected to be the guy as a rookie.

[Smitty]

Ament might be the most polarizing lottery player in the draft.  Locked on Mavs Isaac just did his top 15 big board and Ament was not even on it.  Personally I think if you are looking to be relevant Acuff makes way more sense.  I don't think Ament has the ceiling others do, but even if he does it will take years to get there.  I also think that would be a terrible spot to put him in.  He already got overexposed at Tennessee.  The last thing he needs is to get drafted too early and expected to be the guy as a rookie.

He's not all that polarizing to me. Dan and I have been talking about him as a Mavs target at 7/8 for months. ALL of these prospects have warts. You and I have gone back and forth plenty with every Guard in the draft at one point. Noting their weaknesses and trying to rank them somehow. Heck, even the best player in college basketball, better than Flagg's freshman year, is being talked about as going #3, because of "weaknesses".

I'd personally prefer the Mavs pick my favorite Guard available at #9, instead of an Ament, Mara, Yaxel, Johnson, etc., but again, all of these guys have weaknesses and if the front office thinks it's too much to overcome, then I can see them going a different direction. That goes for the front offices with pick 5, 6, 7, 8, etc.

[Chicagojk]

So better chance Dallas moves up or back?   I think they stay at 9 and prefer they do this, but lets say they reach 9 and Flemings, Acuff and Wagler are all off.  

OKC calls to trade up for Mara.   What if your intel says Bucks wants Ament and GS wants Johnson.  Or lets leave names out. Lets say you like two players and your intel says neither will be taken by GS or MIL. Do you move to 12?   Maybe you can get more than 17.   

Zach lowe on the Thunder: "I do think the noise about them attempting to move up in the draft, and potentially way up is true. I'm not sure they can get into the Top 4. But I do think some attempt to move up and maybe grab Aday Mara from Michigan or some other big time player and refresh in that way