2026 NBA draft thread

[Winter]

We don't know how GMs see the draft. All we see are mock drafts.

[mvossman]

This is one of the most obvious do not trade down situations I've seen in my life.  There's 9-10 really good players in the draft and you pick 9th and your most obvious need is going to be available.

I must be missing something.  Does Masai like to get cute in the draft?

He does not, at least from a trading standpoint.  He generally doesn't move around in the draft.  If I'm worried about him getting cute, its that he will draft Ament or Morez.

[Scott41theMavs]

He does not, at least from a trading standpoint.  He generally doesn't move around in the draft.  If I'm worried about him getting cute, its that he will draft Ament or Morez.

I would be very upset with an Ament reach, ditto Mara and Lendeborg. But not Morez. He has been mocked so high that if he's your guy, you aren't going to get him by trading down. I trust Masai and Schmitz. If Morez is the guy, go for it at 9.

[mvossman]

I would be very upset with an Ament reach, ditto Mara and Lendeborg. But not Morez. He has been mocked so high that if he's your guy, you aren't going to get him by trading down. I trust Masai and Schmitz. If Morez is the guy, go for it at 9.

I like Morez a lot, but he does not bring any creation.  I don't think they can come out of this draft without significant creation, and it will be really hard to find at 30.  If I knew that they could get Morez and Okorie in a trade down with OKC that would probably be best case, but I don't know that.  Thinking about it, if Ament and Mara are already off the board when Mavs pick comes up, then at 12 they would have either one of the guards or Morez at 12 and still have 17.  I might pull the trigger on that, although who know if OKC will.

[Winter]

I don't feel any absolutes about this draft. I won't really know what the Schmitz/Masai vision is until after the draft and maybe through the summer. I do hope they explain their vision at some point. Maybe there's some hint in who they pick as a head coach.

[KillerLeft]

I don't think they can come out of this draft without significant creation, and it will be really hard to find at 30. 

Yep, agreed completely. Anyone who isn't screaming for this hasn't been watching the same team as me. I'd take creation at BOTH picks, if possible.

[F Gump]

Karim Lopez and Nate Ament are working out for the Nets today, Lopez said on my podcast. Two potential lottery picks are going head-to-head for Brooklyn, who have the 6th pick.

This does not mean they would want to spend pick 6 on one of these guys. They may be evaluating for what they might prefer to do with pick 9 or 12 or 15.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Sam Vecenie: I've said it throughout the process: I don't think the top-3 in this draft class is as clear-cut as folks make it with AJ, then Peterson, then Boozer. All the teams at the top are doing a ton of due diligence on all of these players. It's a razor-thin margin between them, IMO.

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Jeremy Woo: First wave of 2026 draft green room invites went out today, per sources: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff Jr., Aday Mara, Karim Lopez, Kingston Flemings, Nate Ament, Brayden Burries, Christian Anderson Jr., Labaron Philon

Twitter

[Chicagojk]

Sam Vecenie: I've said it throughout the process: I don't think the top-3 in this draft class is as clear-cut as folks make it with AJ, then Peterson, then Boozer. All the teams at the top are doing a ton of due diligence on all of these players. It's a razor-thin margin between them, IMO.

x.com

We will see.  Most have had it chalk since the lottery. That may be how it will end up, but I agree with Sam that this is going to be really hard decisions for teams.    I am sure they probably have not reached a decision yet.     All three (or four) have strong cases.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Though his teammate AJ Dybantsa has garnered more headlines as the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Keba Keita has consistently impressed NBA teams throughout the pre-draft process. “Keba is on the rise,” his agent, Keith Kreiter, said. “He’s been outplaying bigs who are projected to go in the first round. His physicality and ability to guard one through five make him a no-brainer for the mid-to-late second round.” He’s worked out with the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers, and still has workouts scheduled with the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors.

deseret.com


Any draft intel on this guy?

[Chicagojk]

Though his teammate AJ Dybantsa has garnered more headlines as the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Keba Keita has consistently impressed NBA teams throughout the pre-draft process. “Keba is on the rise,” his agent, Keith Kreiter, said. “He’s been outplaying bigs who are projected to go in the first round. His physicality and ability to guard one through five make him a no-brainer for the mid-to-late second round.” He’s worked out with the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers, and still has workouts scheduled with the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors.

deseret.com


Any draft intel on this guy?

So his agent says he is on the rise, huh.    I really don't know much.   6'8 senior center.  Good build but didn't rack up much stats.  Probably his best route will wind up being undrafated and fighting or a two way spot.   I am much more interested in their injured teammate, Saunders.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/All_Things_Mavs/status/206...6167134477

Everyone is fishing and guessing at this stage.  First it was Burries is not working out and may be trying to push himself to the Mavs.  Then we hear he has a workout with the Clipps and other scheduled. 

Then it was Brown Jr has shutdown workouts and now someone is saying he has a workout coming up with the Mavs.

[Winter]

Though his teammate AJ Dybantsa has garnered more headlines as the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Keba Keita has consistently impressed NBA teams throughout the pre-draft process. “Keba is on the rise,” his agent, Keith Kreiter, said. “He’s been outplaying bigs who are projected to go in the first round. His physicality and ability to guard one through five make him a no-brainer for the mid-to-late second round.” He’s worked out with the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers, and still has workouts scheduled with the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors.

deseret.com


Any draft intel on this guy?

Just by the video and stats he has an athletic, NBA-ready frame and some serious hops. But the stats are showing a player with no face-to-the-basket game at all and only hits about 50% of his FTs. He can rebound and dunk, and maybe is a good defender, but it's hard to know what else. He's also 23 years old - so there's not much runway for this guy once he gets to the NBA.

[Smitty]

https://x.com/All_Things_Mavs/status/206...6167134477

Everyone is fishing and guessing at this stage.  First it was Burries is not working out and may be trying to push himself to the Mavs.  Then we hear he has a workout with the Clipps and other scheduled. 

Then it was Brown Jr has shutdown workouts and now someone is saying he has a workout coming up with the Mavs.

Welcome to draft season!

[Chicagojk]

One of my favorites despite a lot of legit concerns. I don’t think he makes it to 30. Probably early to mid 20’s.

My dream draft would be one of the guards at 9 and Karaban at 30. And finding a way to get a pick in the mid 20s for Peat.

Koa Peat
https://youtu.be/01WnRofYgIY?si=zSNI8OGAUta0chx3

[dirkfansince1998]

One of my favorites despite a lot of legit concerns.  I don’t think he makes it to 30.  Probably early to mid 20’s.

My dream draft would be one of the guards at 9 and Karaban at 30.  And finding a way to get a pick in the mid 20s for Peat.

Koa Peat
https://youtu.be/01WnRofYgIY?si=zSNI8OGAUta0chx3

Shooting scares me. Defense is another concern. He struggled to stay in front of quicker guards in college. Isn't the best lateral athlete. Combine was brutal. Not sure what happened but he had the worst shuttle run of the entire draft class. Slower than Mara.
But he is a monster in transition. Big and physical forward with legit handles. On paper that's exactly what Ujiri used to value in the past.

For me he falls into the same category as Ament. I can see the vision but he has a long way to go and I probably would not want to be the team that gambles on his upside.

[Chicagojk]

Mavs fans talking Burries

https://www.reddit.com/r/Mavericks/s/6nlVa98QZM

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Mavs fans talking Burries

https://www.reddit.com/r/Mavericks/s/6nlVa98QZM

Slightly Biased talks Burries   (6:54 mark)

https://youtu.be/5hPqQ_04FpQ?t=414

[KillerLeft]

Slightly Biased talks Burries   (6:54 mark)

https://youtu.be/5hPqQ_04FpQ?t=414

I would agree with him if I was as confident as he seems to be that Burries isn't a PG. It's just that I've heard people I trust more than him say that Burries IS a PG, so...since I don't really know myself, just gotta hope for the best.