2026 NBA draft thread

[mvossman]

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.

In an ideal world, at least one of Ament/Mara get drafted in the top 8 (hopefully both) and these guys will some options at guard at 9.  I am finding myself leaning towards Flemings if he is available.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Based on the 5 minutes of Youtube highlights I've seen of each, I also have a strong preference for Flemings over Burries.

[mvossman]

Based on the 5 minutes of Youtube highlights I've seen of each, I also have a strong preference for Flemings over Burries.

To be fair, Burries is not a highlight reel kind of guy.  He is good at everything but does not have an elite skill that shows out on a highlight.

[Chicagojk]

Based on the 5 minutes of Youtube highlights I've seen of each, I also have a strong preference for Flemings over Burries.

Yeah, Wagler is my dream guy at 9.  I just don't see how he gets through the gauntlet of all the guard need heavy teams.    Flemings is right behind him for me.  I just can't get to Burries yet at 9.  I am struggling with Brown Jr too, but would probably talk myself into him.  I think Burries fits well now but when I hear them talk I don't think they are describing a Burries type.   We will see.

[michaeltex]

CBS Sports has an updated mock draft in which they have DAL swapping #9 for #12 & #17 while keeping #30. They didn't detail any thing else around the swap.

For DAL selections they have:

Burries @ #12
Quaintance @ #17
Ejiofor @ #30

Burries obviously tries to address the backcourt need. But 2 frontcourt guys? Mayyyybe one could work for a small ball center, but with the size coming in to the league, I'm not sure how a couple of defensive wings will help. But some of you guys are a lot more informed than I.

[Chicagojk]

CBS Sports has an updated mock draft in which they have DAL swapping #9 for #12 & #17 while keeping #30. They didn't detail any thing else around the swap.

For DAL selections they have:

Burries @ #12
Quaintance @ #17
Ejiofor @ #30

Burries obviously tries to address the backcourt need. But 2 frontcourt guys? Mayyyybe one could work for a small ball center, but with the size coming in to the league, I'm not sure how a couple of defensive wings will help. But some of you guys are a lot more informed than I.

That would be an interesting outcome.  I just have trouble giving OKC a top 10 pick in this draft when they already have so many better players than us.   Burries at 12 would be fine.  Quaintance would is  gamble with big upside.  Still really young too.  I am not sure if he fits what they will be looking for.  It sure would be an interesting gamble.

At 30, it is a dice role.  Personally I am not a fan of Ejiofor.  I see him as a guy who is propped up in the Pitino system and view him as a small ball 5.   He would not be on my wish list.

[loki]

CBS Sports has an updated mock draft in which they have DAL swapping #9 for #12 & #17 while keeping #30. They didn't detail any thing else around the swap.

For DAL selections they have:

Burries @ #12
Quaintance @ #17
Ejiofor @ #30

Burries obviously tries to address the backcourt need. But 2 frontcourt guys? Mayyyybe one could work for a small ball center, but with the size coming in to the league, I'm not sure how a couple of defensive wings will help. But some of you guys are a lot more informed than I.

Now this is just uncalled for.

[cow]

CBS Sports has an updated mock draft in which they have DAL swapping #9 for #12 & #17 while keeping #30. They didn't detail any thing else around the swap.

For DAL selections they have:

Burries @ #12
Quaintance @ #17
Ejiofor @ #30

Burries obviously tries to address the backcourt need. But 2 frontcourt guys? Mayyyybe one could work for a small ball center, but with the size coming in to the league, I'm not sure how a couple of defensive wings will help. But some of you guys are a lot more informed than I.

Who'd OKC take at #9 in that scenario?

[michaeltex]

Who'd OKC take at #9 in that scenario?

Aday Mara.

Looking for a Wemby killer maybe?

[dirkfansince1998]

That would be an interesting outcome.  I just have trouble giving OKC a top 10 pick in this draft when they already have so many better players than us.   Burries at 12 would be fine.  Quaintance would is  gamble with big upside.  Still really young too.  I am not sure if he fits what they will be looking for.  It sure would be an interesting gamble.

At 30, it is a dice role.  Personally I am not a fan of Ejiofor.  I see him as a guy who is propped up in the Pitino system and view him as a small ball 5.   He would not be on my wish list.

That's why I'm so high on the St. John's guys. They played in what I would consider to be the closest thing to an NBA level defensive scheme in college. With great success. We always talk about athletic bigs that might be able to play a switch all role on defense. With Ejiofor we have a big sample size of him doing exactly.

[dirkfansince1998]

Aday Mara.

Looking for a Wemby killer maybe?

The Wemby killer isn't a dinosaur big. It's a stretch big that can pull him out of the paint on defense.

[KillerLeft]

The Wemby killer isn't a dinosaur big. It's a stretch big that can pull him out of the paint on defense.

Agreed! And on the other end, the best defender for him is very unlikely to be close to him in size. If, in an effort to combat Wembenyama, you're wanting another big, what you're really saying is that you want ANOTHER Wembenyama. As we all know, that player isn't likely to exist. Instead, what you want is someone quicker than him, but still strong enough to push him around. It's really not that hard of a target to find. Flagg and PJW would both be pretty high on my list of things to try, honestly. It's finding a way to neutralize Wembenyama's ability to decimate your team's offense that's the issue, which brings us back to your point above.

[Luka77]

The Mavs have to determine if Burries can play the PG and create offense. 

If Burries is an SG, is he really an upgrade over Max Christie?  I don't know that he is, and I would rather have Carr than Burries as an SG if the Mavs are drafting for that position.

[DallasMaverick]

The Wemby killer isn't a dinosaur big. It's a stretch big that can pull him out of the paint on defense.

Kinda like Chet?

[KillerLeft]

Kinda like Chet?

Yes, only someone actually interested in shooting, like Towns. For it to work, the Spurs have to actually be worried about the guy in question getting clean shots off enough to attempt to take them away. Or, if they're not that worried, the guy has to be ready and chomping at the bit to make them pay.

In theory, however, Holmgren can move the needle against Wembenyama. He had a bad, bad series, but I wouldn't close the book on that matchup forever over it.

[SleepingHero]

is it bad that I don't really trust Masai on this and that he may mess up this draft?

Masai is a great GM, especially at making trades. But his drafting history to me leaves a lot to be desired. With the Nuggets he was in control of the 2011-2014 NBA drafts. The picks he made:

2011- Kenneth Faried (Again, a solid pick given the talent, but missed out on multiple notable players. Reggie Jackson, Jimmy Butler, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Chandler Parsons).
2012- Evan Fournier (Solid pick. B+. Missed out on Draymond and Khris Middleton, but a forgivable mistake)
2013- Traded 27th pick Rudy Gobert for the 46th pick Erick Green+Cash. (First massive major mistake of Masai's Denver tenure. Their current C rotation was Mozgov and Javale McGee.)

Then he moved to Toronto. His drafts are as follows:

2014- Bruno Caboclo + Deandre Daniels. (The infamous 2 years away from 2 years away Bruno. Masai missed SEVERAL guys. Dwight Powell being one of them. Some others: Dinwiddie, Jerami Grant, Joe Harris, Jordan Clarkson, Clint Capela, oh and Jokic).
2015- Delon Wright. (solid pick, of course missed a couple of guys you could argue better, but nothing to really complain this year. BUT this draft will come back later.)
2016- Jakob Poeltl + Pascal Siakam. (the biggest grand slam of any draft year for Masai. Got an all star at the end of the draft and a very solid center).
2017- OG Anunoby (another grand slam back to back. Found Anunoby at the end of the 1st and set the Raptors up again well).
2018- None
2019- Dewane Hernandez (2nd to last pick of the draft. Honestly ignorable)
2020- Malachi Flynn + Jalen Harris (this was the COVID draft, where a lot of teams made some questionable choices, but he did miss here).
2021- Scottie Barnes+Blanton+David Johnson (In an incredible surprise move, he took Barnes very early, and it was a good draft all considering, it was considered a gamble, but it paid off well. The other two late 2nds didn't really amount to much at all.)
2022- Christian Koloklo ( A miss all things considering. Kamm was obsessed with this guy, but didn't pan out. Lots of other late 2nds. J-Dub, Max Christie, Jayden Hardy)
2023- Gradey Dick (a minor miss, but its still panning out).
2024- Ja'Kobe Walter (a moderate miss, but still panning out).
2025- Collin Murray Boyles (although it was reported that Masai did not handle this draft).


Overall, he's made some pretty poor drafting choices. But when he hits, he hits big. I suppose such is the way of the NBA draft, not sure why I have this pessimism. Its also easy to look back with hindsight and pick apart moves, but the Mavs are at an important juncture and they can't mess this up. Maybe it's just because I've become accustomed to the Mavs FO being incompetent over the years so I expect the worst. Plus, for whatever reason, the last 4 years of drafts by the Mavs were all run pretty damn well with solid scouting and picks. Lively trade, Hardy trade, Omax+Holmes trade for free, and of course Cooper Flagg sheer luck.

Masai's trades I'm excited for. We've seen time and again he can wheel and deal.

Trades:
2011- Carmelo trade.
2011- Traded Raymond Felton for Andre Miller
2012- Traded Aaron Afflalo+Al Harrington for Andre Igoudala
2014- Traded Bargnani for Marcus Camby, Steve Novak, Quinten Richardson, NYK's 9th pick (Poeltl) + 2 2nds
2015- traded Greviez Vasquez for a future 1st (which ended up being OG Anunoby) and 46th pick, which was Norman Powell.
2017- traded Terrence Ross+a future FRP for Serge Ibaka
2018- Traded Derozan, Poeltl, and their 2019 FRP for Kawhi+Danny Green.
2021- Traded Kyle Lowry for Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic
2023- Traded OG, Achiuwa, and Flynn for RJ Barrett, Quickley and a 2024 2nd
2024- Traded Siakam for Bruce Brown, Nwora, Kira Lewis Jr and 3 FRPs

His trades are legendary. Draft not so much.

All of this ramble to say, I hope Masai is as good as advertised.

[dirkfansince1998]

Yes, only someone actually interested in shooting, like Towns. For it to work, the Spurs have to actually be worried about the guy in question getting clean shots off enough to attempt to take them away. Or, if they're not that worried, the guy has to be ready and chomping at the bit to make them pay.

In theory, however, Holmgren can move the needle against Wembenyama. He had a bad, bad series, but I wouldn't close the book on that matchup forever over it.

And it's not limited to the center. 5-out is the name of the game. Spurs scheme has Wemby playing off the worst shooter on the floor. OKC won two games because Caruso was able to punish the Spurs for leaving him open.

[mvossman]

The Mavs have to determine if Burries can play the PG and create offense. 

If Burries is an SG, is he really an upgrade over Max Christie?  I don't know that he is, and I would rather have Carr than Burries as an SG if the Mavs are drafting for that position.

He is a better scorer, better playmaker, better rebounder and better defender.  I really don't get this comparison.  They are very different players.

Carr is a pure scorer who didn't impact winning as much as his combine measurements would have you expect.  Given Schmitz recent comments stating mental makeup is a big factor, my guess is they will much more interested in Burries.

[cow]

2011- Kenneth Faried (Again, a solid pick given the talent, but missed out on multiple notable players. Reggie Jackson, Jimmy Butler, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Chandler Parsons).

A bit of an aside but I'm a little shocked the manimal never averaged over ten boards a game.  At a first thought, I'd consider he and Parsons more of a coin flip.

[mvossman]

is it bad that I don't really trust Masai on this and that he may mess up this draft?

Masai is a great GM, especially at making trades. But his drafting history to me leaves a lot to be desired. With the Nuggets he was in control of the 2011-2014 NBA drafts. The picks he made:

Overall, he's made some pretty poor drafting choices. But when he hits, he hits big. I suppose such is the way of the NBA draft, not sure why I have this pessimism. Its also easy to look back with hindsight and pick apart moves, but the Mavs are at an important juncture and they can't mess this up. Maybe it's just because I've become accustomed to the Mavs FO being incompetent over the years so I expect the worst. Plus, for whatever reason, the last 4 years of drafts by the Mavs were all run pretty damn well with solid scouting and picks. Lively trade, Hardy trade, Omax+Holmes trade for free, and of course Cooper Flagg sheer luck.

His trades are legendary. Draft not so much.

All of this ramble to say, I hope Masai is as good as advertised.

I think this is kind of a crazy take regarding his drafting.  If you take the expected return for where he drafted (many times in the 20s) vs the actual return, I would bet his ratio is probably top 5 GMs in the business.  You also didn't mention Fred VanVleet who was technically undrafted free agent, but I would consider him part of the draft process and that decision jacks up his numbers even higher.