2026 NBA draft thread

[Winter]

@NBADraftWass

Some of buzz/feelings I've heard past week:

-Burries the guy who could go top 8, force a top PG to slip
-Expectations Carr, Swain, Zuby, Tarris go earlier than expected
-Heard from one source said Stirtz workout was team's best
-Lopez, Ament lotto
-Yax, JQ, Koa most vulnerable

I've never understood the love for Swain. He's likely to be a good two-way guy, but I just can't get my mind around him as a late lottery pick.

[Smitty]

@NBADraftWass

Some of buzz/feelings I've heard past week:

-Burries the guy who could go top 8, force a top PG to slip
-Expectations Carr, Swain, Zuby, Tarris go earlier than expected
-Heard from one source said Stirtz workout was team's best
-Lopez, Ament lotto
-Yax, JQ, Koa most vulnerable

I watched No Ceilings yesterday and the not so subtle hint was that GS was HIGH on Stirtz. Take that FWIW

[hakeemfaan]

I don’t know what Evans saiid in his podcast but late first he is going to be a steal.

Great stroke and absolutely fearless.

[Winter]

I don’t know what Evans saiid in his podcast but late first he is going to be a steal.

Great stroke and absolutely fearless.

It wasn't Evans that said anything. It was the No Ceilings analysts who were critical of his game.

He meets the eye test for me, I just thought the criticism was interesting. I mean he's a late first pick, so looking like a Reggie Bullock or a Tim Hardaway may just be expected.

[mvossman]

I've been a cheerleader for him as well. But I've gotten all that from stats and video... and now I'm beginning wonder if he's not too one-dimensional with no play-making skills at all.

An elite three point shooter with strong playmaking skills would be sniffing the lottery.  An elite shooter with good positional size is good value at 30.

[Winter]

An elite three point shooter with strong playmaking skills would be sniffing the lottery.  An elite shooter with good positional size is good value at 30.

I think the criticism was about his inability to get his own shot and his off-ball stuff... but yeah, I'd still take a chance as well.

[Chicagojk]

ESPN final rankings

https://x.com/espn/status/2067970914071744893?s=46

[Chicagojk]

Ok, we have beaten down the Ament talk with most against him at 9, but I have a more polarizing outcome.

Let’s say Ament is really Masai cup of tea and he is the pick at 9. For 30, Mavs don’t move up and make a talent play as Peat or Quintance make it to 30 and is the pick. Dallas leaves with two front court players and no guards. Your thoughts?

[Winter]

Ok, we have beaten down the Ament talk with most against him at 9, but I have a more polarizing outcome.

Let’s say Ament is really Masai cup of tea and he is the pick at 9.  For 30, Mavs don’t move up and make a talent play as Peat or Quintance make it to 30 and is the pick.  Dallas leaves with two front court players and no guards.  Your thoughts?

I'll take Richie Saunders before either one of those guys.  I do think Quaintance could really be something special, but it's too hard to project him. Peat just does nothing for me.

[Mavs2021]

Ok, we have beaten down the Ament talk with most against him at 9, but I have a more polarizing outcome.

Let’s say Ament is really Masai cup of tea and he is the pick at 9.  For 30, Mavs don’t move up and make a talent play as Peat or Quintance make it to 30 and is the pick.  Dallas leaves with two front court players and no guards.  Your thoughts?

It is what it is. Then we take Monk into the TPE, sign one with the MLE and draft a senior at #48.

I don´t like Quaintance for the reason that I think he´s I. Stewart or maybe Jalen Duren, but he moves and plays a brand of basketball that makes me think his knees will always be a major factor.

I think people are too down on Ament, because he started slowly and then had a final poor game against Michigan. So he delivered the whole package of bad first and last impression, which negates all the improvements in between.

I´m totally fine with Peat at #30. Guy been a winner his whole life. Could be a real steal at #30, Josh Hart type at worst.

[michaeltex]

Ok, we have beaten down the Ament talk with most against him at 9, but I have a more polarizing outcome.

Let’s say Ament is really Masai cup of tea and he is the pick at 9.  For 30, Mavs don’t move up and make a talent play as Peat or Quintance make it to 30 and is the pick.  Dallas leaves with two front court players and no guards.  Your thoughts?

That leaves trades and/or the FA market to address a consensus need for DAL. Masai has stated that he doesn't see much value in FAs right now (he referred to the FA market as "dead".)

Soooo, one of Clay/PJW/Gaff for somebody's young, recently drafted, still developing PG?

[dirkfansince1998]

Quaintance knee is a bigger red flag than Brown's back. In the post combine workout clips he is still favoring his left leg. Not putting any weight on his right knee.

[hakeemfaan]

If they are bringing in Ament only now I don’t know how strongly to believe rumors that the Mavs have settled on him.

As I said though the only certainty from 5-10 seems to be that Acuff will be drafted by the Kings if he is available to them. Everything else probably is up in the air.

[Chicagojk]

Quaintance knee is a bigger red flag than Brown's back. In the post combine workout clips he is still favoring his left leg. Not putting any weight on his right knee.

Yes I think I am out on him.  Peat is a diffferent story despite his issues.  He just fits in and usually wins.  I think if you are patient he could be a plus starter who helps
Teams win.

[KillerLeft]

TBH no on has any idea what the Mavs are doing to go.

People just need stuff to talk about on social media and their podcasts so every couple of days a new theory emerges.

Mostly, I agree, but I DO believe the Mavs are trying to move UP from #30 (not from #9), because that's something other teams would know. There's starting to be more and more out there about that.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I'm not gonna pretend like I know more than 12-14 names in this draft so I have no opinion on #30 or moving up.

[hakeemfaan]

https://x.com/swishcultures_/status/2068...08208?s=46

To me this guy is the true boom or bust because if he can keep up defensively on the perimeter his ceiling is much higher than Ament’.

At the same time his floor can be much lower as well.

[mvossman]

I'm not gonna pretend like I know more than 12-14 names in this draft so I have no opinion on #30 or moving up.

I have not had the energy to do a deep dive on end of first round guys either.  Late first round has kind of been a Masai specialty and there is so much projection for those guys I'm happy to trust the FO and see what happens.  If they pick Ament at 9 though, I'll revolt.

[KillerLeft]

I have not had the energy to do a deep dive on end of first round guys either.  Late first round has kind of been a Masai specialty and there is so much projection for those guys I'm happy to trust the FO and see what happens.  If they pick Ament at 9 though, I'll revolt.

I don't think they're picking Ament. I'd be way more ok with it than you, but I don't think that rumor is real.

[hakeemfaan]

I can’t see Masai and Schmitz playing Russian roulette with the only decent pick they might have for the rest of this decade.

Taking a chance with a lower pick seems more likely.