The Dallas Mavericks’ draft cupboard doesn’t look loaded on paper, but that’s not the whole story.
Yes, the future first-round situation is messy. Dallas does not own its first-round pick next year unless it lands in the top two, and its first-rounders in 2028, 2029, and 2030 are tied up as pick swaps with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. The Mavericks do, however, hold the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick in 2029.
That setup makes it harder to go shopping for another franchise cornerstone to put next to Cooper Flagg. But Dallas also quietly added a trio of young players this offseason who could soften the blow: Morez Johnson Jr., Sergio De Larrea, and Zaccharie Risacher.
Johnson Jr. looks like the easiest one to project as an immediate help piece. Dallas took him with the No. 9 overall pick in this summer’s draft, and he should be ready to contribute right away.
At Michigan, he posted 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game as a sophomore while helping his team win a National Championship. His defense, versatility, energy, and physicality should give the Mavericks’ frontcourt a real lift, and he fits cleanly alongside Flagg and Dereck Lively II.
De Larrea brings a different kind of value. Dallas traded up from 30 to 25 to grab the 20-year-old guard from Spain, and he already looks like someone who can handle backup point guard responsibilities behind Kyrie Irving.
His best trait is playmaking, and he flashed it during Summer League, where he led all players with 8.8 assists per game across four contests. The passing out of the pick-and-roll, the feel, and the alley-oop delivery were all there.
If his European shooting carries over, he could end up in the conversation as Dallas’ point guard of the future in a couple of years. Building chemistry with Johnson Jr. will matter, too, because the Mavericks have a strong rookie duo here.
Risacher may be the most interesting name of the bunch. He could wind up being the real story of the summer in Dallas, and the move makes sense for a player who seemed to need a fresh start after a rough year in Atlanta.
His speed, shooting, transition play, and defense give the Mavericks another wing with real upside, and he and Flagg could form a strong tandem on the perimeter. Dallas was excited to bring in the first overall pick, and for good reason.
So while the Mavericks may not control a pile of premium future picks, they do have something just as important: the beginnings of a young core already taking shape. With Flagg, Risacher, Johnson Jr., and De Larrea, Dallas has more to work with than the draft pick shortage suggests.
In Other News...
Mavericks Need More From Naji Marshall In One Crucial Area
Naji Marshall came to Dallas with a reputation as a useful two-way wing, someone who could give the Mavericks sturdy perimeter defense and enough offensive pop to keep the floor spaced. Since arriving, though, the shooting has not traveled with him in the same way it did in New Orleans, and the team is still waiting for that part of his game to settle in alongside the rest of his role.
Marshall has still shown value as a defender, including at least one steal per game in each of the last two seasons, but Dallas wants more consistency on both ends as it heads into the new year. With Kyrie Irving set to return to the lineup, the Mavericks need Marshall to be cleaner and more reliable as a spacer and to bring the kind of effort that helps hold up the wing rotation over the course of a long season. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Opening Night Lineup Suddenly Feels Much More Settled
Dereck Lively II has not yet returned to practice, and his chances of being ready for the Mavericks season opener look slim enough to narrow one of the teams biggest early questions. With the calendar moving toward opening night, Dallas is beginning to get a clearer picture of how its frontcourt will line up, and that matters for a roster still sorting out roles around the paint.
Dusty May is expected to go with Daniel Gafford at center to begin the season, a familiar move for a player who has already started games for Dallas before. The more interesting wrinkle is what comes next: Gafford is slated to take on a bigger offensive role, and that could mean a different look for the Mavericks spacing if his game stretches beyond the usual rim-running duties. [Read more 🡒]
Dereck Lively II Just Became A Bigger Long-Term Mavs Question
Dereck Lively II has become one of the more interesting long-term decisions on the Mavericks docket, with the team facing an October 19 deadline to work out a rookie-scale extension. For now, the expectation is that Dallas will keep its powder dry and take a longer look, especially with Lively still working back from foot surgery and not yet ready to return to practice.
That creates an awkward but understandable pause for a player the Mavericks still view as part of their future, but one whose health and role need more clarity before any multiyear commitment. Recent reporting has also pointed to other players from the 2023 draft class being more likely to land extensions first, which only sharpens the question hanging over Lively as Dallas weighs recovery, fit and timing. [Read more 🡒]