2026 NBA draft thread

[Scott41theMavs]

I have really given up thinking about that 9th pick. We´ll get, who we´ll get. I´m more interested in those Hawks/Lakers Gafford rumours, cause I´m worried the "steals" will happen in that 17-25 range (Steinbach, Anderson, Okorie, Peat, Quaintance, Cenac Jr. etc.) and that 30 is kind too late for all those guys. I have no idea who, but I think there will be two future All-Stars hidden in that range, whereas with #30, I feel dead inside. Maybe you get a rotational player, if you pick a senior. No interest at all in the international hype jobs like Suigo or Kayil.

There is very little that could happen with our #9 pick that could elate or appall me. I'm absolutely with you in that if the Mavs don't come away from the first round with a another pick in the 11-25 range, I'll be disappointed.

[mvossman]

From all the scouting reports back in the day, Jalen Brunson’s defense and lack of athleticism will almost certainly relegate him to the bench, as well.

The problem with this argument is that Brunson is top 10 creator in the NBA.  If that is what Acuff and Philon need to be in order to break into a starting lineup then the bar is really high.  Plus, there is history of guys built like Brunson who can play plus defense (Lowry, VanVleet).  There is very little evidence of guys built like Trae Young can play good defense, especially when they don't have any other physical attributes to compensate.

[Torielp10]

Would this be a good draft:

Trade 9 to Okc for 12-17, Trade Gafford and 17 to CHA for 14

Dal 12,14,30, Josh green
OKC 9
CHA 17,18,Gafford

CHA really needs a center, it’d be better if we got away with trading pick 30 and keeping 17 but I wont be greedy.

[KillerLeft]

Would this be a good draft:

Trade 9 to Okc for 12-17, Trade Gafford and 17 to CHA for 14

Dal 12,14,30, Josh green
OKC 9
CHA 17,18,Gafford

CHA really needs a center, it’d be better if we got away with trading pick 30 and keeping 17 but I wont be greedy.

I suppose it would depend on the players you actually draft with those picks, but I'll also make the obligatory "it's really not likely they'll carry that many draft picks on the roster" point, too. I haven't looked at their expiring contracts in a while, but it's pretty tough to make room for four (including their 2nd round pick) rookies. Three is already a stretch, honestly. My strong suspicion is that IF they find a way to snag another top 20 pick it will likely involve letting go of #30. And honestly, the most likely thing might be that they trade #30 away in some other deal...sort of a way to move a player they aren't in love with, along with their contract, for a player they like better, maybe, and not with the goal of getting another top 20 pick.

But, above all else, I think there are about 10 players in this draft earning the "good draft" label, and the majority of those 10 seem to be right in the sweet spot of what's needed here, so to me, trading out of that range would be a huge error.

[SkenfromLMF]

Not sure that 9 gets you 12 and 17.
If there is a Charlotte deal for Gafford to be had I prefer Gafford and 30 & 48 for 14 though I could be convinced to do 18 for future considerations, or Charlotte taking Caleb Martin.

I still feel a little light on Gafford’s evaluation, but the counter is that he is a possible injury risk.

[khaled1987]

From all the scouting reports back in the day, Jalen Brunson’s defense and lack of athleticism will almost certainly relegate him to the bench, as well.

The two biggest mistakes in the draft: focus on player strength and forget about weakness, or focus on weaknesses and forget the strength.

[F Gump]

The hardest thing to draft for is also the thing that is the biggest factor in how good a player becomes: how hard will the player work (on improving strengths, and erasing weaknesses) to become an elite and winning player.

[Dirknows]

Not sure that 9 gets you 12 and 17.
If there is a Charlotte deal for Gafford to be had I prefer Gafford and 30 & 48 for 14 though I could be convinced to do 18 for future considerations, or Charlotte taking Caleb Martin.

I still feel a little light on Gafford’s evaluation, but the counter is that he is a possible injury risk.

Depends on how badly OKC or Charlotte want to move up. Don’t think 30+48+Gafford gets you all the way up to 14 as those are late picks. Charlotte could possibly get Morez Johnson at 14.

[Chicagojk]

So I assume a move up is costly and probably not the direction they go.

Just for fun, a move up to 6 probably takes draft equity. Let’s say there is a deal for either 9 and PJ or Gafford with a bad salary coming back. Do you pull the trigger? 6 would be a move up for Wagler, Flemings or Acuff. Or would you just wait for who falls to
9?

[Winter]

If you don't get in the top #4, then no.

There's those four, and then there's everybody else.

[mvossman]

The hardest thing to draft for is also the thing that is the biggest factor in how good a player becomes: how hard will the player work (on improving strengths, and erasing weaknesses) to become an elite and winning player.

I agree this is a big factor.  If I had to guess on the guys most likely to fit this profile in Mavs range it would probably be Burries and Flemings.  Those two worked the hardest on defense of all the guard options, they both chose to join talented teams because they wanted to win (as opposed to "being the man") and they both are know for high BBIQs.  Its why I am very happy one (if not both) of these guys will fall to the Mavs.  While they may not have quite as much talent upside as some of the other guards, I think they have the best mental makeup.

[mvossman]

So I assume a move up is costly and probably not the direction they go.

Just for fun, a move up to 6 probably takes draft equity.  Let’s say there is a deal for either 9 and PJ or Gafford with a bad salary coming back.  Do you pull the trigger?  6 would be a move up for Wagler, Flemings or Acuff.  Or would you just wait for who falls to
9?

Definitely wait.  I would much rather move up from 30 than 9.  Something like Gafford + 30 for Josh Green + 18 would be more valuable in my mind.

[vfromlmf]

I just tried the draft simulator on No Ceilings and it's pretty fun, but not sure how realistic it is. You draft for your team and the other teams have AI general managers.

When the Mavs were on the clock the Hornets offered #14 + #18 for #9, which I accepted.

Ended up with Burries at 14 + Mo Johnson at 18 + Anderson at 30.

Post draft grade A+

[mvossman]

I just tried the draft simulator on No Ceilings and it's pretty fun, but not sure how realistic it is. You draft for your team and the other teams have AI general managers.

When the Mavs were on the clock the Hornets offered #14 + #18 for #9, which I accepted.

Ended up with Burries at 14 + Mo Johnson at 18 + Anderson at 30.

Post draft grade A+

Hard to imagine Burries possibly falling that far and I doubt Morez falls to 18 either.

[loki]

So I assume a move up is costly and probably not the direction they go.

Just for fun, a move up to 6 probably takes draft equity.  Let’s say there is a deal for either 9 and PJ or Gafford with a bad salary coming back.  Do you pull the trigger?  6 would be a move up for Wagler, Flemings or Acuff.  Or would you just wait for who falls to
9?

9+PJ or Gafford to guarantee you land the guy you're most confident in to be Flagg's co-star is an easy yes from me. I don't think Gafford really has the value to pull that off. I could see the Clippers liking PJ if they aren't going full rebuild. To me the target would be either Wagler or Brown. I'd be surprised if they were that confident in Acuff or Flemings.

[KillerLeft]

So I assume a move up is costly and probably not the direction they go.

Just for fun, a move up to 6 probably takes draft equity.  Let’s say there is a deal for either 9 and PJ or Gafford with a bad salary coming back.  Do you pull the trigger?  6 would be a move up for Wagler, Flemings or Acuff.  Or would you just wait for who falls to
9?

Kind of depends: who's the top PG on my list (as the Mavs), and how likely is he to fall? If I felt strongly that Brown or Wagler or Acuff was THE guy I needed, I'd try to do something like that, probably.

[khaled1987]

I just tried the draft simulator on No Ceilings and it's pretty fun, but not sure how realistic it is. You draft for your team and the other teams have AI general managers.

When the Mavs were on the clock the Hornets offered #14 + #18 for #9, which I accepted.

Ended up with Burries at 14 + Mo Johnson at 18 + Anderson at 30.

Post draft grade A+

It is fun, though I never get trade offers.

I tried playing other teams and seeing who the Mavs pick, Okorie at 9 was consistent

[Chicagojk]

The hardest thing to draft for is also the thing that is the biggest factor in how good a player becomes: how hard will the player work (on improving strengths, and erasing weaknesses) to become an elite and winning player.

So true.  We spend a ton of time taking about wingspan.  Or how some shoots 36 from 3 and someone shoots 40.  Or someone shoots 50 percent at the rim and the other shoots 60 percent.  Like this even means anything in a 30 game sample on who will be successful. 

The important things are ones we don’t know.  How do they respond getting punched in the face a few times.  How do they handle failure.  Is their
confidence ruined when they are the 10th best player for the first time instead of the best player.  Who do they respo d. Do gin a room with 12 alpha dogs who may not be rooting for you to succeed. 

I think most young guys are hard workers who make the nba but who are the ones who just won’t allow themselves to fail?

Lastly there are hall of famers who made it because they are awesome but never really loved basketball.  Who are the ones who breath the sport, and can’t imagine not playing every day. Those are the players I am interested in.  Tough to know just watching highlights

[dirkfansince1998]

https://x.com/DraftExpress/status/2065841376085053517

NEWS: Luigi Suigo has withdrawn from the NBA Draft and committed to Villanova, Sigma Sports and Excel Sports tell DraftExpress. The 7'4, 289-pound 19-year-old will be a physical outlier in the Big East who can pass, space the floor, protect the rim, and finish effectively.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Kind of depends: who's the top PG on my list (as the Mavs), and how likely is he to fall? If I felt strongly that Brown or Wagler or Acuff was THE guy I needed, I'd try to do something like that, probably.

One guy can change your fortunes for a decade.

I personally dont know enough about these guys to know who will be good but that's what Schmitz was hired for.  If he believes in one of these dudes over the others, you absolutely must trade up and get that guy.  

So when people on forums talk about all these guys are in the same tier so trade down and get more "value," I am strongly against that kind of thinking.  Unless of course the talent evaluators you are paying millions of dollars to draft these players don't know any better than we do.