The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a stunning win in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery with just a 1.8% chance, and now a recent mock draft has them sliding back a spot, balancing the scales a bit.
With the 12th-best record in the Western Conference and the eighth-worst record overall, the Mavericks are embracing a rebuild rather than chasing a 35-win season. The focus is on building around Cooper Flagg, a promising talent for the future. Max Christie and Naji Marshall have made significant strides this season, and with Dereck Lively II set to return next year, the Mavericks have a promising core to build upon.
They also hold their own draft pick for 2026, which is a strategic asset.
In a recent mock draft simulation, Dallas, despite having the eighth-best odds, moved down one spot to ninth overall. Considering their lottery luck last year, a slight drop seems like a fair trade-off.
The mock draft projects Dallas selecting Hannes Steinbach from Germany, currently playing for Washington. History has shown that a German big man can be a great fit for Dallas, especially with the ninth pick!
Steinbach is making waves in his freshman season, averaging 18 points and leading the Big Ten with 11.3 rebounds per game. His ability to space the floor could allow the Mavericks to go big with a lineup featuring Lively II, Flagg, Marshall, and Christie.
Adding to the mix, Kyrie Irving is expected back next season, providing veteran leadership and playmaking.
Steinbach's defensive skills and rebounding prowess make him a valuable addition, and with some development, he could become a reliable floor-spacer. The hope is that he could become a Brook Lopez-type player alongside Flagg, who is projected to be a defensive powerhouse in the future.
While adding Steinbach would be a significant step forward, the Mavericks still need to find a young point guard to align with Flagg's timeline. Irving may serve as a short-term solution, but with the ninth pick, the strategy should be to select the best player available, and Steinbach appears to fit that bill perfectly.