The Dallas Mavericks didn’t exactly hand Morez Johnson Jr. a clear lane when they grabbed the Michigan forward with the 9th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
This is a roster with plenty of size already. Dallas added Santi Aldama in a trade, matched the offer sheet for center Moussa Cisse, and still has P.J.
Washington, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Cooper Flagg and the re-signed Dwight Powell in the mix. That’s a crowded frontcourt before the rookie even walks in.
Still, new head coach Dusty May knows Johnson well, and he made it clear on Friday at media day that he sees a player who can slide into whatever the Mavericks need.
"I know one of the things that makes him so valuable is he checks a lot of boxes,"May said at media day on Friday. "Whatever that moment needs, or that game needs, or what the team needs, he is adaptable.
He transformed his game last year for us [Michigan] because of his adaptability, but the things that make 'Rez, 'Rez, are his tenacity, his heart, his physicality, doing whatever it takes to win and assist his teammates. I don't know the specifics of what position yet, but I think he'll find a way to be in the rotation, impacting winning."
That’s not the kind of sentence fans usually want to hear about a top-10 pick, but Johnson’s defensive profile gives him a real path to matter. He brings value on that end, and in a frontcourt that is already dealing with injuries to Lively and Aldama, there may be openings if he’s ready to take advantage of them. Johnson is also working back from his own injury, though the specifics of that remain unknown.
Offensively, the fit is more complicated. Johnson’s game is still limited there, which is why he probably profiles best as an undersized center. Dallas could also play around with Johnson and Aldama together once both are healthy.
That pairing at least makes some sense on paper. Aldama has the size to hang inside defensively and the shooting touch to drift out on offense, while Johnson offers versatility as a defender on the perimeter and in the paint. The issue is that Johnson’s offense is still much more comfortable around the basket.
For this to really click, Johnson will need to become more dangerous from deep. He took 35 threes at Michigan, a noticeable jump after not attempting any in his freshman season, but the Mavericks would benefit if that number keeps climbing and the shots start going down.
In Other News...
Mavericks Face A Costly Roster Decision After Dwight Powell Return
Dwight Powell is back in the mix for Dallas, and the Mavericks are weighing whether to keep the longtime veteran on the regular-season roster. Powell has been a respected presence in the organization for years, but his role has steadily shrunk, and his return comes at a time when the roster is already crowded enough to force a hard choice.
The issue is less about Powells place in the room than the domino effect his spot would create. Dallas already has a full slate of standard contracts, and making room could push the front office toward an uncomfortable financial decision involving Caleb Martin, whose guaranteed deal gives the Mavericks little flexibility and a lot of incentive to think twice before making a move. [Read more 🡒]
Mavs Camp Just Put One Key Injury Question Front And Center
Training camp opened with the Mavericks trying to get a clean read on a roster that has already spent some time on the injury report, and coach Dusty May laid out a mixed picture on the first day. Santi Aldama is limited by a minor issue, Max Christie is dealing with a bump and bruise that is not considered serious, and first-round pick Morez Johnson is trending in the right direction after missing Summer League games because of an illness. It was the kind of early-camp update that says more about pacing than panic, with Dallas still trying to settle bodies and roles before the season gets moving.
The bigger question sits with Dereck Lively II, who has been working outside of practice while recovering from foot surgery. He said he can run and jump, but the timetable for his return to full work remains one of the central storylines around camp, especially with the Mavericks eager to move past a difficult stretch and lean into the joy of basketball message their president highlighted at media day. For a team that wants to reconnect with its fans and establish a better tone, getting key pieces healthy is obviously part of the equation, and Livelys status is one of the first things everyone around the building is watching. [Read more 🡒]
Dereck Lively II Leaves Mavs Waiting On The One Thing That Matters
Dereck Lively II is back around the Mavericks as training camp gets rolling, but he is still not a full participant while he continues to work his way back from foot surgery performed in December 2025. Dallas is taking the cautious route with its young center, a sensible approach given how much of his early career has already been shaped by foot issues and surgery.
For the Mavericks, the priority is bigger than getting Lively back on the floor right away. They want him healthy for the long haul, and that patience comes with the usual waiting game for everyone involved because there is no timetable yet for when he will return to normal basketball activities. In a camp built around preparation and progress, his status remains one of the clearest reminders that the most important update is still to come. [Read more 🡒]