*** Official 2025 - 2026 Dallas Mavericks Season Thread ***

219,887 Views | 2363 Replies | Last: 14 min ago by M.C. Swag
Tksymm7
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Philon has his issues, there's no denying that, but he's such a dog. Dude isn't scared of anyone or anything. I think he's got the chance to be a solid NBA POA defender because of his wingspan and his attitude. He won't be great but can improve a lot.
Vessel
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Yep, and he was a much better defender in 24-25 when he played off of Spears. We have proof of concept there. Defensive metrics also got better after each tournament game this year.
Tksymm7
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I also would not mind Flemings. I think if you put him on a team where he's not the focal point, he could really flourish, and you look up in two years and he's a key piece on a playoff team on offense and defense. He was literally the only consistent offense for Houston this year and had to do everything.

Sorry for blowing everyone up as well, but a lot of these guards being below 6'4" and below 6'3," imo, will turn some teams off them. I just think there is too much value placed size and length that some teams will cross a few of these guys off their list.
Vessel
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I've always thought of Flemings as a Cason Wallace type of player. They measured at the same height, but Wallace has a 5" better wingspan.

Wallace is a better defender than Flemings will be, but Flemings has more to his offensive game, in my opinion.

We could do a lot worse than Flemings as our Kyrie heir.
Vessel
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So true
Guitarsoup
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AG
30th pick

Vessel
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Would love Anderson at 30 but there's no way he'll be available there. The plus 5.5" wingspan and strong testing numbers will get him over the line for somebody.

Thinking Detroit, Toronto, or Denver would like to have him.
Vessel
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This is interesting, and a positive for Flemings. This is the start of a thread where he lists the average result of every anthro and test for each position. Flemings has a shorter wingspan than average but his standing reach is taller than average by half an inch. He's not that short lol.
jeffdjohnson
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Flemings is a great athlete but the low 3 point volume and short wingspan will be scary for some teams to draft in the top 8. Wouldn't be surprised if he is there at 9. Also Mara's combine numbers were impressive, seems like he is someone that could jump in the 5-8 range depending upon need. I don't think Brown Jr. or Acuff will be there at 9. I could see any of Wagler, Philon, Burries, and Flemings available though depending on how it shakes out.
Tksymm7
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I love Wagler personally, but I do agree that there's a chance he falls. He's got good size and length, but he doesn't appear to be a great athlete, and I think the NBA speed and athleticism could eat him up pretty good for a few years until he physically matures and the game slows down for him.
M.C. Swag
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It's scary because Flemmings specifically is cast as a primary POA defender. I don't see how he can do that at his size. His ceiling just seems so incredibly limited.
zgolfz85
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of all the exciting lotto guys that could realistically fall to us, I'd go brown, wagler, burries, flemmings, philon in that order.

If somehow wilson or acuff fall to us, I'd put them both at the top of that list.

No matter what, we'll have an all star potential talented piece if we don't trade down.
thegoodolag15
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I think I'd order them the same. I really like Brown and Wagler. Brown is bigger than I realized and I love his ability to score and facilitate.
Tksymm7
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What I like the best about each of them in the context of fitting into this team, and you could say this about Burries to some extent as well, is there ability to play off-ball guard. As long as Kyrie is on this team he will be the primary ball-handler. So I am also on the Brown, Wagler, Burries train so-to-speak.
zgolfz85
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thegoodolag15 said:

I think I'd order them the same. I really like Brown and Wagler. Brown is bigger than I realized and I love his ability to score and facilitate.

and when interviewed at the draft lotto, he said "Dallas is the best city in the country." That has to be bs because you'd have to be a psychopath to believe that, but I'll pretend it's genuine. I mean, I love my hometown, but it's light years away from being the best city in the nation lol
Vessel
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zgolfz85 said:

of all the exciting lotto guys that could realistically fall to us, I'd go brown, wagler, burries, flemmings, philon in that order.

I'd be similar, just flip Flemings and Burries. Flemings should still test well athletically. Flemings is a good shooter, it's just a matter of taking more shots. Given his speed, he'll benefit as much as anybody in the draft from the floor spacing of the NBA.

I loved Wagler all year, but if Brown's back is cleared, then he probably has a higher ceiling than Wagler. Still think Wagler will be awesome in the league despite some athleticism limitations.
M.C. Swag
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Players I'd do a backflip for (non top 4):
Acuff

Players I'd be happy to have:
MBJ
Wagler

Players I'd need therapy for:
Flemmings
Philon
Burries
Yaxel
Vessel
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I don't think we'll end up with him, but you would need therapy for Yaxel? He's probably the 5th best player in the draft, he's just old.

I wouldn't have a problem with it because the Mavs are trying to be good immediately and he's as instant impact as anybody in the class.

If we took him, we could trade PJ for guard/shooting help.
Vessel
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A guy I'd be interested in the Mavs drafting with number 48. Really good shooter but he tore his ACL in January or February. Late first round talent who will probably fall because of the injury.

BYU had no chance of doing anything crazy in the tourney after he got hurt.
Tksymm7
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This is my thought about Yaxel as well. I think right now he's probably one of the six best players in this draft; you're just going to have to be comfortable with his prime being 6 or so years starting right now. I kinda like him at nine over everyone else if Mikel Brown Jr., Flemmings or Wagler aren't available.

Again, this team needs to start winning NEXT YEAR. TBH we can't really afford to draft a guy who might be good in two years. We need someone who's a good player now and can give you 30 minutes a night.
Vessel
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Yep. I like Burries, but I would have no problem if the team took Yaxel over Burries if all the other guards are wiped out. Would take Yaxel over Acuff as well.
zgolfz85
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Vessel said:



A guy I'd be interested in the Mavs drafting with number 48. Really good shooter but he tore his ACL in January or February. Late first round talent who will probably fall because of the injury.

BYU had no chance of doing anything crazy in the tourney after he got hurt.

agreed. their season went to hell after that. if he stays healthy, I think he's a classic tourney hero that likely propels them to sweet 16 or better
zgolfz85
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yaxel is definitely in that most NBA ready now group along with AJ, Cam and Peterson. Lower ceiling, but great floor.
Vessel
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zgolfz85 said:

yaxel is definitely in that most NBA ready now group along with AJ, Cam and Peterson. Lower ceiling, but great floor.

I'd argue he's more ready to play in the NBA playoffs right now than anybody in the class because of his age and physical maturity. Defensively, he's the most impactful non-center in the draft.

I'd also argue he has the highest floor of anybody. At minimum he's an elite defender. At worst he's a poor man's Paolo on offense. At best he's what people thought Paolo would be on offense.

Pairing Coop with Yaxel would be so nasty defensively. A frontcourt trio of Coop, Yaxel, and Lively would have a defensive rating around 100 probably.

If you guaranteed me Christian Anderson or Tyler Tanner at 30, I'd take Yaxel at 9 in a heartbeat. Assuming no Brown, Wagler, or Flemings available.
Tksymm7
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I've read some here and there about Lendeborg having some maturity issues, which I find pretty crazy as a 23 about to be 24 year old. Do you know what that is about?
Guitarsoup
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I'd still take Morez Johnson over Yaxel.
zgolfz85
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Tksymm7 said:

I've read some here and there about Lendeborg having some maturity issues, which I find pretty crazy as a 23 about to be 24 year old. Do you know what that is about?

I have some in my 40s
Vessel
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Tksymm7 said:

I've read some here and there about Lendeborg having some maturity issues, which I find pretty crazy as a 23 about to be 24 year old. Do you know what that is about?

I was listening to a pod the other day, can't remember which, and there was a throw away line about Yaxel not having the maturity of a 23 or 24 year old. Thought it was interesting, but there was no follow up on that. So I guess this is a known thing to teams/scouts.
Vessel
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Guitarsoup said:

I'd still take Morez Johnson over Yaxel.

Sounds like he's rising as much as anybody so far. Isaac Harris went as far as saying he's close to considering him at 9. Elite measurables and athlete.



Guitarsoup
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Vessel said:

Guitarsoup said:

I'd still take Morez Johnson over Yaxel.

Sounds like he's rising as much as anybody so far. Isaac Harris went as far as saying he's close to considering him at 9. Elite measurables and athlete.





I've been targeting him for the Spurs for months and it looks like his insane combine moved him way above where we can get him. In addition to all those measurables, he has an elite motor.
Vessel
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Would make a trade with OKC extremely palatable if Johnson was the pick at 12. If we got 17 in the trade, then we could add Swain, Stirtz, or Lopez at 17.

If we added two of those guys to go with taking a player or two from OKC in a trade, possibly getting control of our own pick in 28 back...
Vessel
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Charlotte has 14 and 18. I wonder what they would have to add to move up to 9 and add Yaxel.

We could get our 27 first back and may be able to get something else.
Guitarsoup
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He had some recent legal problems, wonder if it was suicide?

Vessel
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I was a big fan of his game when healthy. RIP
M.C. Swag
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Vessel said:

I don't think we'll end up with him, but you would need therapy for Yaxel? He's probably the 5th best player in the draft, he's just old.

I wouldn't have a problem with it because the Mavs are trying to be good immediately and he's as instant impact as anybody in the class.

If we took him, we could trade PJ for guard/shooting help.

He's good but maxed out developmentally. My evaluation is based mostly on likely ceiling outcome. I think Acuff is Dame Lillard 2.0 with better meaurables where Yaxel is like...Trevor Ariza? Idk the Mavs need to swing on someone with insane upside and i just don't see it with those group of guys.
 
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