2026 NBA Draft: Team Needs: Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks

Wants: Level guard, three-point shootingPicks: 9, 30, 48

The Dallas Mavericks have their franchise cornerstone in Cooper Flagg, and discovering a participant of that caliber is the toughest a part of constructing a championship contender. Flagg delivered an incredible rookie season, averaging 21 factors, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists whereas incomes Rookie of the Yr honors. Extra importantly, he established himself as one of many NBA’s elite younger abilities. There are only a few gamers within the league that you’d select to begin a franchise round forward of Flagg, and at only the start of his profession, he already seems able to main the Mavericks for the following decade. His mixture of scoring, playmaking, defensive versatility, competitiveness, and general really feel for the sport provides Dallas a participant who can impression successful in nearly each space. With Kyrie Irving coming back from damage and getting into the later phases of his profession, the Mavericks should proceed constructing round Flagg and figuring out long-term items that match alongside him.

With the ninth choose, there’s a life like probability one of many prime guards might nonetheless be out there. It appears unlikely that Darius Acuff or Mikel Brown slide that far, and Dallas would doubtless dash to the rostrum for both participant. Extra life like prospects embrace Brayden Burries, Kingston Flemings, or Keaton Wagler. Wagler might in the end become extra of a combo guard than a real level guard, however pairing him alongside Irving for a few seasons might create a dynamic backcourt. Dallas might additionally look so as to add further capturing and secondary playmaking round Flagg. The Mavericks have sufficient expertise to stay aggressive, however the entrance workplace ought to be centered on maximizing the years forward moderately than merely chasing short-term outcomes.

The Mavericks may discover shifting Klay Thompson this offseason, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how a lot emphasis they place on doubtlessly retaining Khris Middleton. This nonetheless looks like one thing of a transition 12 months as Dallas continues surrounding Flagg with the expertise wanted to maximise what might change into one of many league’s brightest futures. The excellent news is that discovering a franchise participant is the toughest a part of group constructing, and Dallas has already completed that. Now the problem turns into placing the fitting supporting solid round him. If one of many prime guards unexpectedly slides to ninth, the Mavericks might discover themselves in place so as to add one other foundational piece to develop alongside Flagg for years to return.

Houston Rockets

Wants: True level guard, re-sign Tari EasonPicks: 39, 53

The Houston Rockets needed to adapt final season. Fred VanVleet missed important time because of damage, leaving the group brief on level guards. The Rockets weren’t but prepared at hand the keys to former third-overall choose Reed Sheppard, a lot of the playmaking burden fell to Amen Thompson, who isn’t a conventional level guard. That created challenges. Opponents struggled to match Houston’s dimension and athleticism, however the group typically lacked a real flooring basic able to persistently creating high quality alternatives for teammates. Alperen Sengun helps offset a few of that by way of his personal playmaking means, however the present roster development doesn’t at all times maximize his strengths.

Talking of versatile gamers, the Rockets can not afford to lose Tari Eason in restricted free company. He stays one of many group’s most useful supporting items. With Kevin Durant nearing the top of his profession, Houston is working inside a comparatively brief championship window. Whereas VanVleet should be the reply at level guard for now, it’s tough to view him because the piece that pushes the Rockets excessive. Whether or not Sheppard can finally change into that participant stays an open query.

The Rockets want a real level guard able to organizing their proficient assortment of wings and forwards. This roster typically looks like a case the place the entire is lower than the sum of its components. Sadly, Houston doesn’t possess many expendable commerce property, and its first choice doesn’t arrive till choose 39. Relying on a second-round choose to change into an instantaneous difference-maker for a contender isn’t a dependable technique. Houston has expertise, depth, and flexibility. What it lacks is the connective tissue wanted to convey all the things collectively.

Memphis Grizzlies

Wants: Ja Morant commerce, a contemporary startPicks: 3, 16, 32

Just some years in the past, the Memphis Grizzlies’ younger core regarded promising. Quick ahead to right now, and Jaren Jackson Jr. has been traded to the Utah Jazz, Ja Morant hasn’t been the identical because the 2022-23 season, battling accidents and a sequence of self-inflicted public missteps, Desmond Bane is with the Orlando Magic, and the group has handled an unbelievable quantity of accidents. Now, it’s in all probability time for a contemporary begin. Morant isn’t as efficient ending on the rim as he as soon as was and hasn’t improved his exterior capturing sufficient to compensate. The group has Zach Edey, who has regarded good when wholesome, they usually’ve discovered gamers resembling Cedric Coward and GG Jackson within the draft, which supplies them some items, however they nonetheless want foundational expertise to construct round.

With the third choose, they are going to doubtless be selecting between Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. Secure cash is on Boozer, the extra completed participant with NBA lineage. The hope might be that his inside-out means to impression the sport in a number of methods turns into the primary main step towards constructing a contender. Boozer and Edey would kind an intriguing frontcourt pairing, however the work would nonetheless be removed from finished, particularly relying on what the group can get in a possible Morant commerce. Additionally they personal the sixteenth choose, and a few intriguing choices that could possibly be out there embrace Labaron Philon, Meleek Thomas, Isaiah Evans, Allen Graves, and Morez Johnson. Johnson can be a very attention-grabbing choice if Memphis desires to proceed constructing a younger, bodily frontcourt. His motor, rebounding, toughness, defensive versatility, and long-term upside might make him tough to cross up if he’s nonetheless on the board. Graves might additionally draw sturdy consideration given his versatility, effectivity, analytics profile, and talent to impression successful with no need a high-usage offensive function.

When it comes to what to anticipate in a Morant commerce: in all probability not as a lot as some followers hope. The state of affairs seems strained, nonetheless, and a contemporary begin may gain advantage either side. A participant making over $40 million yearly who has struggled with accidents, off-court points, and declining effectivity is unlikely to command a large return, however resetting the course of the franchise might in the end show worthwhile. Memphis nonetheless has sufficient younger expertise to keep away from an entire teardown, however the franchise wants a brand new centerpiece and a brand new course. The third general choose represents a big alternative to start that course of.

New Orleans Pelicans

Wants: Roster overhaulPicks: 58

Oh boy, the New Orleans Pelicans are a multitude proper now. Zion Williamson is definitely their finest participant, however his incapability to persistently keep wholesome, mixed with limitations associated to his top and lack of out of doors capturing, make him a tough centerpiece round which to construct a roster. Trey Murphy has developed into an excellent complementary piece, however past that, the roster lacks readability. Herbert Jones has regressed considerably, Dejounte Murray has struggled with accidents over the previous two seasons, and whereas Yves Missi, Jeremiah Fears, and Derik Queen have all proven flashes, none at the moment challenge as franchise cornerstones. The choice to commerce away what turned the eighth choose on this draft so as to transfer up roughly ten spots and choose Derik Queen was closely criticized on the time, however it now not seems fairly as dangerous because it as soon as did. Queen has developed right into a productive younger participant and no less than provides the group one other intriguing piece to judge shifting ahead.

Then there’s Jordan Poole doing Jordan Poole issues. The roster feels disjointed, with only a few items becoming collectively in a coherent long-term imaginative and prescient. The Pelicans have to rebuild this group with a transparent identification and function. At current, the one factor they persistently do properly is generate shot makes an attempt, although not essentially make them. The group should decide what it desires to be good at and start setting up the roster accordingly. This isn’t a group that seems able to contend anytime quickly, making the following few seasons essential for establishing a stronger basis.

The Pelicans don’t personal a choose till the top of the second spherical, however it will not be stunning to see them transfer a few of their remaining property both earlier than or in the course of the draft in an effort to amass further draft capital. It is a franchise that can’t afford to sit down nonetheless if it hopes to considerably enhance its long-term outlook. Whether or not meaning shifting veterans, exploring the marketplace for Zion Williamson, or just accumulating future property, important modifications seem mandatory. The present model of the Pelicans is caught within the center, and that’s typically probably the most tough place for an NBA franchise to be.

San Antonio Spurs

Wants: Energy ahead, continued Victor Wembanyama developmentPicks: 20, 35, 44

The San Antonio Spurs have been forward of schedule, ending with the second-best document within the league. Victor Wembanyama coated up most of the group’s weaknesses, however in the long run the defending champion New York Knicks proved an excessive amount of. In the long term, that disappointment may very well profit San Antonio. Had they gained the title, it might need inspired a extra complacent offseason. As an alternative, the Spurs ought to be motivated to deal with some lingering points. How aggressive they change into stays to be seen, however don’t be stunned in the event that they search for alternatives to maximise their championship window.

Dylan Harper was excellent down the stretch and more and more seems like a future star. Alongside Stephon Fortress and Wembanyama, the Spurs have assembled one of many league’s most fun younger cores. De’Aaron Fox stays an excellent participant, however it’s truthful to wonder if he’s the best long-term match given the emergence of the youthful guards. If San Antonio can determine a transfer that higher balances the roster whereas sustaining its championship aspirations, it ought to no less than discover the chance.

As at the moment constructed, energy ahead stays one of many weaker spots on the roster. Julian Champagnie has change into a invaluable function participant and shooter, however including a extra dynamic choice on the place might elevate the group. One intriguing risk can be exploring the marketplace for Zion Williamson. The danger is clear, however a wholesome Zion paired with Wembanyama would create one of many league’s most original frontcourts and will increase San Antonio’s ceiling significantly. If the Spurs determine to maintain the twentieth choose moderately than use it in a commerce, Allen Graves stands out as probably the most intriguing prospects, assuming he doesn’t come off the board earlier to Memphis at No. 16. Graves looks like a traditional Spurs prospect. His analytics profile is among the many strongest within the class, and his means to impression the sport in quite a lot of methods makes him an particularly engaging match. He rebounds, passes, defends a number of positions, makes fast selections, and persistently helps successful with no need a high-usage function. Whereas he might not possess the star upside of some prospects, he embodies most of the qualities San Antonio has historically valued all through its most profitable eras. Different prospects might embrace Jayden Quaintance, Joshua Jefferson, or Luigi Suigo. The Spurs must also completely discover the commerce market to find out whether or not shifting Fox for a participant who higher enhances their younger core might make sense. The muse is already in place for sustained success. The problem now could be discovering the ultimate items wanted to rework a contender right into a champion.