2026 NBA draft thread

[cow]

I wonder about guys like that at the NBA level though.
I've got the same concern with Zuby.

Thomas Robinson comes to mind of guys who were men amongst boys at the college level but their games struggle at the NBA level.
I hope like hell I'm wrong.

I think it's a fair concern, but his defense, rebounding, and rim running should translate.  It also looks like he has a willingness to pull the trigger from outside when unchecked. His otherworld athleticism will be put to use in other areas even if he isn't a proficient post player in the big leagues.

[Scott41theMavs]

No way he is Thomas Robinson. I think this is actually a very safe pick. You can easily see that he is an elite athlete, elite defender and poor shooter. Now the question is does he have the work ethic, desire and smarts to improve on his shooting to become the total package. Usually you have incomplete information, since you can only rely on 1-2 interviews and on college coaches that will praise their players, since they already need to recruit the next generation. 

UNLESS of course you decide to hire the college coach and now he has an incentive to be 100% truthful about the potential and character of his players and he clearly must have agreed Johnson is that dude (over Lendeborg and Mara).

Even Lendeborg, who was recently tagged for his "immaturity" at 23 freaking years old, was asked who would be the best NBA player out of himself, MoJo, and Mara, and said MoJo.

[KillerLeft]

There is definitely work to be done.  Still have a TPE, MLE, Gafford and Klay.

And PJW, frankly, especially if they think Johnson is going to be a part time 4.

[cow]

Even Lendeborg, who was recently tagged for his "immaturity" at 23 freaking years old, was asked who would be the best NBA player out of himself, MoJo, and Mara, and said MoJo.

Seems like Lendeborg is a dog too.  Wish we could have drafted both of them.

[DL2RimRocker]

No way he is Thomas Robinson. I think this is actually a very safe pick. You can easily see that he is an elite athlete, elite defender and poor shooter. Now the question is does he have the work ethic, desire and smarts to improve on his shooting to become the total package. Usually you have incomplete information, since you can only rely on 1-2 interviews and on college coaches that will praise their players, since they already need to recruit the next generation. 

UNLESS of course you decide to hire the college coach and now he has an incentive to be 100% truthful about the potential and character of his players and he clearly must have agreed Johnson is that dude (over Lendeborg and Mara).

I think he'll be a solid role player but I'm just wondering how much of this was a emotional over logical decision. He wasn't on anyone's draft boards this high so it seems we could have picked up some assets and still get their guy.

IDK, he's a good pick but I think we were in a position to take someone with a higher ceiling. Agree that Rez is a safe pick with a high floor.

[hakeemfaan]

No way he is Thomas Robinson. I think this is actually a very safe pick. You can easily see that he is an elite athlete, elite defender and poor shooter. Now the question is does he have the work ethic, desire and smarts to improve on his shooting to become the total package. Usually you have incomplete information, since you can only rely on 1-2 interviews and on college coaches that will praise their players, since they already need to recruit the next generation. 

UNLESS of course you decide to hire the college coach and now he has an incentive to be 100% truthful about the potential and character of his players and he clearly must have agreed Johnson is that dude (over Lendeborg and Mara).

Checked their measurements. Morez is taller and better wingspan, but yes the concerns are valid and it's up to Morez now. Is his upside a Bam (Morez is taller, longer wingspan, more weight) or is he going to be another middling undersized center? We know what the Mavs are betting on.

It's the same though with any of the prospects from 5 down, let alone at 9. All of them have their negatives.   In this case, comparisons are going to be made with Burries and Ament since they were on the board and were touted all along to be value picks in that range whereas Morez was/is considered a reach. Time will tell.

[Scott41theMavs]

I think he'll be a solid role player but I'm just wondering how much of this was a emotional over logical decision. He wasn't on anyone's draft boards this high so it seems we could have picked up some assets and still get their guy.

IDK, he's a good pick but I think we were in a position to take someone with a higher ceiling. Agree that Rez is a safe pick with a high floor.

From what I *did* already know about him before the draft, he sounded about as high ceiling as you can get for a non-creator.

[F Gump]

Is this our 14 at this point?


Lively     Gafford      Cisse 
PJW       Morez
Flagg     Naji           Martin
Christie  Klay           AJ Johnson
Kyrie      de Larrea   Nembhard

Cisse is not on the roster. I'm sure he's an option for a backup C (as is Powell, or Bagley, or both), and he's eligible for a 2-way deal.

Nembhard has a NG contract, but he's also 2-way eligible if they were able to do such a deal.  

The rest have guaranteed NBA deals. I suspect Johnson won't be kept (one way or another). Middleton and Williams are FAs and iffy (the same as Cisse, Bagley, and Powell).

I can see room for multiple moving parts, with a MLE, TPE, and various trades all possible avenues to reshape pieces of the roster.

[Scott41theMavs]

People in the Discord were calling Sergio "Spanish Luka."

I wonder how he gets along with refs.

[KillerLeft]

I think he'll be a solid role player but I'm just wondering how much of this was a emotional over logical decision. He wasn't on anyone's draft boards this high so it seems we could have picked up some assets and still get their guy.

IDK, he's a good pick but I think we were in a position to take someone with a higher ceiling. Agree that Rez is a safe pick with a high floor.

I've seen him consistently in the 10-15 range, and 1) the Mavs didn't like Burries (obviously), 2) most people didn't like Ament, 3) Lendenborg is too old and 4) nobody who has ever watched the NBA could possibly believe Mara would've been good. 

I mean, I guess it would've been nice to trade down with someone wanting to take Burries or Ament and draft him a couple of picks lower, but we don't know whether that option was actually available. And, end of day, I think they drafted the right guy, given who had come off the board before they were on the clock. 

Maybe not the ideal outcome, but indicative of rational thought and sticking to their guns, imo.

[hakeemfaan]

Cisse is not on the roster. I'm sure he's an option for a backup C (as is Powell, or Bagley, or both), and he's eligible for a 2-way deal.

Nembhard has a NG contract, but he's also 2-way eligible if they were able to do such a deal.  

The rest have guaranteed NBA deals. I suspect Johnson won't be kept (one way or another). Middleton and Williams are FAs and iffy (the same as Cisse, Bagley, and Powell).

I can see room for multiple moving parts, with a MLE, TPE, and various trades all possible avenues to reshape pieces of the roster.

I would go with Poulakidas over Martin and AJ Johnson.  When a guy shows you that he has a defined skillset, don't let him go for retread veterans or young uns with potential but don't seem to know how to play the game.

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

De Larrea was one of my guys, I even have him ahead of Anderson.
I would have preferred Stritz but De Larrea can turn out to be better (younger).

As for Morez, I would have taken Morez ahead of Burries (said so some posts ago), but Steinbach was my guy.

Happy with both picks.

Now as for the second round -- I'm predicting the Mavs would take any of these guys:

Baba Miller
Jack Kayil
Jaden Bradley

[F Gump]

Google AI thinks he's a draft-and-stash for us. We need guard help now, dammit.

They need to invite him over for a visit, have him go one-on-one vs. the guard equivalent of Samaki Walker, and thus convince him that he's ready.

I'm thinking Google AI is wrong. There is an opening for MINUTES on the Mavs roster, and if he's anywhere close to NBA-ready (which I think he is), the Mavs will want to bring him now and get him in their own development plan. We'll see.

[KillerLeft]

Now as for the second round -- I'm predicting the Mavs would take any of these guys:

Baba Miller
Jack Kayil
Jaden Bradley

You think any of those dudes make it to 48? Do the Mavs even still have 48?

[hakeemfaan]

What would be the logic for a crappy team that needs a severe influx of talent, especially at the guard position, to stash someone they just traded up for in the 1st round?

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

Jaden Bradley probably makes it to 48.

Jack and Baba - needs a trade for the Mavs to make.
Personally, I like all of them, Jack or Jaden for insurance and Baba is Nate Ament only older with less shotting proficiency.

[Torielp10]

De Larrea was one of my guys, I even have him ahead of Anderson.
I would have preferred Stritz but De Larrea can turn out to be better (younger).

As for Morez, I would have taken Morez ahead of Burries (said so some posts ago), but Steinbach was my guy.

Happy with both picks.

Now as for the second round -- I'm predicting the Mavs would take any of these guys:

Baba Miller
Jack Kayil
Jaden Bradley

I like Jaden Bradley a lot after Evans and Thomas

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

Maybe the draft and stash refers to De Larrea having a current contract with Valencia he recently signed?

Incoming buy-out if the Mavs want him to play.

[mvossman]

I think he'll be a solid role player but I'm just wondering how much of this was a emotional over logical decision. He wasn't on anyone's draft boards this high so it seems we could have picked up some assets and still get their guy.

IDK, he's a good pick but I think we were in a position to take someone with a higher ceiling. Agree that Rez is a safe pick with a high floor.

I seriously doubt this was an emotional pick.  This was a very Masai/Schmitz pick.  So was the guy they traded for at 25.  I would have gone Burries, but I am so glad they didn't go Ament.

[KillerLeft]

Schmitz said in his press conference that they're "looking forward to tomorrow, you know...have a 2nd round pick." Seems like they still have 48, at least.