2026 NBA draft thread

[Smitty]

Not a fan of the Marshall extension. 

My least favorite move by the FO so far. I like the player, just not a fan of how I think they'll continue to use him. Plus, I'm on record of not wanting a player like Naji at anything more than MLE money. I hope I'm wrong on all fronts there...

Main issue for me is the roster structure.

Different topic, but I agree. This is not how I would go about building around Flagg. I'm not ready to say it won't work though. I think Flagg could be good enough to make anything work. As early as this season. I'm just not as optimistic as others seem to be with saying May will make a major difference this year. It's still the NBA. A players league. Talent, the right mix of it, is what wins in the NBA. May will help, but I think many are putting way too much emphasis on the coaching change.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Thinking about sending out picks…

I’d have to feel like we didn’t get good value in one of the deals to think we’ve been flippant about using picks.  The roster was crap.  We needed to add talent and had two currencies:  1.  Second rounders, our fake first and the Laker 2029.  2. Vets whose value was diminished by a poor season - guilt by association.  


I don’t think what was done so far with picks is indicative of a pattern or a failure of the mindset of the new FO.  Either we like adding talent for beans or we don’t.  It is the stage of the cycle we are in.  It always made sense to sell off vets for picks - if that happens at all - once they’ve had a chance to reestablish their value.

[Smitty]

I don’t think what was done so far with picks is indicative of a pattern or a failure of the mindset of the new FO. 

I agree completely. I'm one of the more outspoken here that don't view picks as the only "asset" in the NBA. Good players. Good contracts. Apron/Tax space. Those are also assets.

I did however get a ton of pushback and was told it's imperative that the new FO get draft picks for Vets this summer. Not only did they not do that even once, but they also doubled down with one of the oldest Vets in possible trade discussions, with the Naji extension. Yet, the majority on the board seem to be in favor of the moves, despite them doing the exact opposite of their wishes...

Going forward I think (hope) we can all have more discussions that don't always have to involve draft picks as the only measure of good/bad trade ideas. Maybe the AD trade was the first step in realizing that. Then, this summer.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Yea, I have not been a fan of the offseason. Basically at the "hope they know better than me" point of Mavs fandom. New guys are getting a lot of leeway because they're not Nico.

[SleepingHero]

I think the roster is flawed inherently due to the the amount of wings/bigs with no clear role. Maybe May's system will feature enough ball movement that it doesn't really matter.

The guys they brought in for late 2nds/fake 1st I thought was cheap enough. Those 2nds/fake 1st was not going to be a deciding factor in a major roster shaking deal. Sure they are nice add-ons to fluff up the package, but lets get real no team is going to get that excited to trade a good guy for a mid 2nd rounder.

The guys they did bring in, Risacher and Tarik specifically, are young and worth the gambles. Especially based on their draft status/overseas play. Aldama again was an interesting add for the cost.

If/when Gafford and PJ play better and they get traded, I think we can restock then.

[mvossman]

I agree completely. I'm one of the more outspoken here that don't view picks as the only "asset" in the NBA. Good players. Good contracts. Apron/Tax space. Those are also assets.

I did however get a ton of pushback and was told it's imperative that the new FO get draft picks for Vets this summer. Not only did they not do that even once, but they also doubled down with one of the oldest Vets in possible trade discussions, with the Naji extension. Yet, the majority on the board seem to be in favor of the moves, despite them doing the exact opposite of their wishes...

Going forward I think (hope) we can all have more discussions that don't always have to involve draft picks as the only measure of good/bad trade ideas. Maybe the AD trade was the first step in realizing that. Then, this summer.

I don't remember there being a hyper focus on draft picks.  I do think there was a focus on accumulating assets, whether it was draft picks or young players on reasonable contracts.  It's not a surprise that Masai is leaning towards the player asset route as that has been his MO.  It also helps that most of the assets they have sent came in the AD trade.  I don't think anybody was excited about the Kawhi rumors and the Naji extension was met with mixed reviews on here.

[mvossman]

I think the roster is flawed inherently due to the the amount of wings/bigs with no clear role. Maybe May's system will feature enough ball movement that it doesn't really matter.

The guys they brought in for late 2nds/fake 1st I thought was cheap enough. Those 2nds/fake 1st was not going to be a deciding factor in a major roster shaking deal. Sure they are nice add-ons to fluff up the package, but lets get real no team is going to get that excited to trade a good guy for a mid 2nd rounder.

The guys they did bring in, Risacher and Tarik specifically, are young and worth the gambles. Especially based on their draft status/overseas play. Aldama again was an interesting add for the cost.

If/when Gafford and PJ play better and they get traded, I think we can restock then.

I love Kyrie, but he by far the best option to restock the asset pool.  I get the arguments for holding on to him long term, but it is not ideal from an asset perspective.

[SkenfromLMF]

I will repeat my point from the NBA DRAFT thread:

We are at a point with Kyrie in which it has become very difficult to trade him.
We are full on the roster front and not able to really accommodate a multi-contract return for Kyrie, while his salary makes it very difficult for teams to have enough salary on a single contract to go 1-for-1.

You are also running the risk that his next contract with Dallas might contain no-trade privileges, if your plan is to sign and trade him when the next contract is negotiated.

[Scott41theMavs]

I love Kyrie, but he by far the best option to restock the asset pool.  I get the arguments for holding on to him long term, but it is not ideal from an asset perspective.

There's a renewed buzz out there about rival GMs "monitoring the Kyrie situation." Of course they'd like to get him at pennies on the dollar. They're frustrated that the Mavs aren't taking the bait. M&M know that Kyrie's value has to be rebuilt. It will skyrocket if he can show on the court that he's at least 90% of what he used to be. 

The Mavs are in a strange place in that, yeah, Kyrie, PJ, and Gafford will probably peak in value around the trade deadline. But what should the Mavs do if they're, say, 7th in the standings? The answer would be easier if they had their draft pick. 7th in the West at the TDL would actually be an ideal place to fire-sale (for full value, mind you, which I guess isn't really a fire sale, is it? Oops.) the vets if they had their pick, given the relegation rules - or, if they had an agreement with Silver that they'd get to keep their pick if they made it look good (tin-foil hat time).

[KillerLeft]

I can't believe there isn't more talk about this. I thought the majority of the board would be losing their mind. All the talk before the offseason was about selling off vets and stockpiling picks... Which draft picks seem to be the only thing people think are "assets". Not only did they not sell off one Vet for a (asset) draft pick... They sent out nearly all their future picks this summer.

I like all of their moves. Some more than others. But I wasn't one of the ones screaming to trade vets to add more picks to the stockpile. How do all those folks feel??

The players added are YOUNG, and none of them cost more than just "admin fee" level draft capital, really, it's just that they added a lot of new, young players, so the total amount of picks going out the door isn't ideal, given the Mavs' draft capital situation to start the summer. They didn't touch (or consider touching, I hope) the big, upcoming tradable 1sts - and in fact, seemed focused on adding some, though ultimately unsuccessful.

[Smitty]

IN:
Morez Johnson Jr.
Sergio De Larrea
Santi Aldama
Zaccharie Risacher
Marcus Sasser
Tarik Biberovic
Tobi Lawal*
Jett Howard*
2026 SRP (#56) Vsevolod Ishchenko

OUT:
Klay Thompson
Khris Middleton
Marvin Bagley
Brandon Williams
Ryan Nembhard
AJ Johnson
Dwight Powell
Tyler Smith*
2030 Top-20 protected FRP
2027 SRP
2029 SRP
2030 SRP
2032 SRP
2033 SRP


The back end of the roster has certainly been turned over. There was a "cost" to do so. The only player in the 'OUT' category that's worthy of being in a Top 10 rotation is Klay, but I'd take nearly every 'IN' player over him for next season and beyond at this point.

Of the 'IN' players, only Aldama and Risacher are proven Top 10 rotation worthy NBA players. Of course, I like the upside/potential of everyone on the list...

To be competitive the Mavs will have to play their best players (duh). That's clearly: Kyrie, Flagg, Lively, PJW, Naji, Gafford, Max, Aldama, & Risacher. Safe to assume there is an expectation that Morez, a top 10 pick in a loaded draft, will/should be good.

The remaining 5 are: Sergio, Sasser, Tarik, Cisse, & Martin. 

Of the deep bench guys, I actually think Sasser has the best chance to show that he's the 'best of the rest' this season. At least the most consistent of the bunch. I think Sergio and Tarik will show flashes.

The problem, something nobody enjoys talking about, isn't even the lack of elite guard play as much as it is 2 of your top 3 players are some of the most injury riddled players in the league the last 2 seasons. If Kyrie and Lively don't play in a lot of games, the Mavs have no chance of being good. No NBA teams without their best players do. Doesn't matter what Wing/Big you trade away for another Guard. 

That's why I take very little from last year, when the top 10 players in minutes were: Flagg, Max, Naji, PJW, Klay, BWill, Gafford, Nembhard, Powell, & Martin. Of course they were bad! Their best 3 players entering the season aren't even on the list, when they need to be the top 3!

[F Gump]

You are also running the risk that his next contract with Dallas might contain no-trade privileges, if your plan is to sign and trade him when the next contract is negotiated.

If you do a sign-and-trade contract, there would not be a No Trade clause inserted that gets in the way of what the parties are doing (which is to trade Kyrie to a team he has negotiated a deal with). And its very likely a No Trade would not be legal anyhow (it is only allowed in very limited circumstances).

I suggested a No Trade provision as a way for Kyrie, deciding he wants to play out his career in Dallas, can get security of a guaranteee that his desired setting (Dallas) can't be ripped away from him after he has committed to stay. It assumes he is wanting to stay where he doesnt have to navigate drama.

Interestingly, in the oft-mentioned fantasy of Luka signing with Dallas one day as a FA, he too would be eligible to get a No Trade inserted, ensuring him that a rogue GM would have no ability to send him away. I would expect that such a clause might make his desire for Dallas be more comfortable by being matched by a full commitment by the Mavs to keep him if he comes. 

Also, as I see all these people like Baker leaving, it feels like Masai or Dumont is replacing EVERYONE who had a hand in helping Nico give away Luka. If you were here and didn't scream to PD to stop it, youve forfeited your right to keep that job, just as soon as Masai can get a suitable replacement.

[mvossman]

Also, as I see all these people like Baker leaving, it feels like Masai or Dumont is replacing EVERYONE who had a hand in helping Nico give away Luka. If you were here and didn't scream to PD to stop it, youve forfeited your right to keep that job, just as soon as Masai can get a suitable replacement.

Everyone but the owner.