The Mavericks didn’t exactly make life easy on themselves when they used the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Morez Johnson Jr. The reaction came fast and split right down the middle: some fans saw a reach, others saw a steal. That kind of divide usually tells you a pick is going to be debated for a while, and Johnson Jr. fits that bill perfectly heading into the 2026-27 season.
What makes him such a tricky evaluation is that both sides have real arguments. Johnson Jr. brings energy, hustle, defense, rebounding and a reputation for helping teams win.
He also has a connection with new head coach Dusty May, which only adds to the appeal. In a rebuild centered on Cooper Flagg, Dallas now has two frontcourt pillars with high character and a relentless approach.
But the fit questions are impossible to ignore. Johnson Jr.’s best position is power forward, which is also arguably Flagg’s spot.
The Mavericks also need guard depth more than another forward. Add in the fact that Johnson Jr. is still a work in progress as a 3-point shooter, has a limited offensive package and seemed likely to land outside the top 10 before draft night, and you can see why the pick drew pushback.
Still, the biggest thing Mavs fans need to understand is that this is not a verdict that will be handed down in year one. Johnson Jr.’s rookie season is not going to tell the whole story. Dallas drafted him with the future in mind, and that’s the lens that matters here.
That’s why the fit concerns don’t loom quite as large as they would on a team trying to win right away. The Mavericks are building around Flagg, and the draft priority was finding someone who complements him. Johnson Jr. checks that box.
At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-3.5 wingspan, Johnson Jr. has the size to handle both power forward and center at the NBA level. Pairing him with Flagg gives Dallas an early frontcourt foundation built on defense, effort and doing the little things right. For a team assembling a new core, that’s a strong place to start.
He may not jump into major minutes immediately if he’s buried behind other forwards, but that doesn’t make the pick any less relevant over time. Johnson Jr. has room to grow, room to prove he belongs and room to become a future starter next to Flagg.
So the verdict on the No. 9 pick won’t come quickly. Fans can watch the rookie season, track the progress and note the flashes, but the real judgment on Johnson Jr. will have to wait a few years. That’s when MFFLs can finally decide whether Dallas got it right.
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Irving may be the piece that makes the whole arrangement look cleaner. His ballhandling and shot creation should take some of the burden off both forwards, giving Washington a better chance to settle into cleaner offensive spots and letting Flagg play off advantages instead of forcing them. Dallas does not need a perfect answer right away, but if Irving helps smooth out the spacing around those two, the Mavericks could finally start getting a clearer read on one of their most interesting lineup combinations. [Read more 🡒]