Happy draft day! Your Dallas Mavericks are just hours away from finding themselves on the clock, and, well, nobody really knows what they’re going to do! It’s going to be an interesting night for the organization. With that in mind, one last time for the 2026 NBA Draft, lets round ‘em up!
The Athletic
9. Aday Mara (C, Michigan)
With Dusty May finalizing a deal as the Mavericks’ new coach, league sources speculated about which Michigan player could follow him, as Morez Johnson, Yaxel Lendeborg and Mara are realistic options at No. 9. I got
Johnson’s name a lot early on, but league sources are now moving more toward Mara as the most likely option if they go this direction due to the desire to shore up the center position. Additionally, a few league sources noted that general manager Mike Schmitz was a big part of drafting Yang Hansen in Portland last season and loves bigs who can really pass the ball.
League sources have recently brought up Mara’s conditioning more regularly, wondering if he’ll be more than a 25-minute-per-game guy at his peak. Michigan did an excellent job utilizing him in short stints to keep him fresh, allowing him to be at his best throughout the season. Coaches won’t be as excited about that luxury in the uptempo NBA, but May knows him better than anyone and would be able to figure this out.
30. Sergio de Larrea (G, Valencia)
De Larrea had a strong season for Valencia this season and measured exceedingly well, coming in at 6 feet 6 without shoes. He also plays the kind of style that should blend well with Boston’s scheme as a quick decision-maker, a sharp passer and a terrific shooter from distance. He can play both with and without the ball and would give the Mavericks another ballhandling option as Kyrie Irving returns from injury.
ESPN
9. Nate Ament (F, Tennessee)
Dallas’ hiring of coach Dusty May away from Michigan was an intriguing Monday headline, with all three Michigan prospects — Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg — potentially on the board for the Mavericks at this slot. However, there is skepticism within the league about the extent of May’s influence on this pick, with team president Masai Ujiri set to make his first selection in charge.
Rival teams have come to view Ament as a candidate for the Mavs, with his range starting at No. 6 with Brooklyn and another potential landing spot at No. 10 with Milwaukee. He would be an intriguing frontcourt partner for Cooper Flagg, creating a tall, skilled forward pairing with plenty of long-term upside.
The Mavericks have expressed openness to moving back in the draft, keeping their options open as they build around Flagg. The franchise has signaled to other teams that it plans to keep Kyrie Irving entering next season.
30. Jayden Quaintance (C, Kentucky)
Teams have been unclear about Quaintance’s floor, with some speculation he could slip out of the first round due to health. He did not earn a green room invitation as teams continue to express concern about the state of his injured knee, which multiple team sources fear could cause him to miss time next season. He had knee surgery in March 2025 after tearing an ACL at Arizona State, and he played in just four games at Kentucky last season due to precautions around that injury.
Still, teams love his talent and physical tools as a vertical spacing 5-man and see major upside if he can get back to full strength. Where Quaintance lands will depend on teams’ comfort level selecting him. There remains enough enthusiasm around his ability that it’s hard to see him falling all the way out of the first. Dallas could take a swing as they start to build out the team on Cooper Flagg’s timeline.
Bleacher Report
9. Brayden Burries (G, Arizona)
Brayden Burries is getting looks in the No. 6-10 range. He’s not as creative as some of the other ball-handling guards, but there is also little question about the translation regarding his three-level scoring, downhill attacking, defensive tools and overall efficiency.
On paper, he seems like an easy fit next to Kyrie Irving with how comfortable he is scoring on fewer dribbles.
30. Joshua Jefferson (F, Iowa State)
Improved shooting and a new playmaking role have turned Joshua Jefferson into a complete player and believable NBA prospect. Aside from the improved three-point efficiency, his passing has really popped the most, particularly for a 6’9″, 240-pound forward. But he’s tough around the basket with strength and touch, and he’s quick and smart defensively.
There will be NBA teams that would rather target youth and upside, but Jefferson has turned himself into a popular name with so much versatility and adaptability.
The Ringer
9. Brayden Burries (G, Arizona)
The “offensive upside” guard buffet has been picked over in this scenario, but it could be a blessing in disguise for the Mavericks. Burries might not have the eye-popping self-creation traits of Acuff, Brown, and Flemings, yet he’s easily the most capable defender of the guards at the top of this class, and he’s no slouch on offense either. He’ll need some polish off the dribble and as a passer, but he was right at 40 percent on both dribble 3s and catch-and-shoot 3s last season, on credible volume. He’d also make a great pairing with Cooper Flagg.
Have you ever been in a situation where two people from your separate friend groups meet and instantly hit it off? That’s what I expect would happen with Burries and Flagg, who have the winning mentalities and dynamic skill sets to become one of the more intriguing two-way duos in the West. If you’re building culture from the ground up the way the Mavs are, you want players like Brayden Burries. Plain and simple.
30. Isaiah Evans (G, Duke)
The Mavs were one of the least prolific and least efficient catch-and-shoot teams from 3-point territory last season, so adding Evans, a versatile perimeter threat who can also make an impact on defense, to their earlier pick of Brayden Burries would be a nice way to end the first round. Evans is an off-ball merchant who can really get hot and light it up from 3. And as an added bonus, the Duke sophomore has some experience playing with Cooper Flagg.
Yahoo!
9. Kingston Flemings (G, Houston)
Dusty May leaving the defending champion Michigan Wolverines for Dallas is massive for the future of the Mavericks. May is one of the game’s greatest coaches, both as a tactician and as a motivator. And now he’ll get to coach Cooper Flagg for years to come.
I’d imagine May going to Dallas increases the probability that we see the Mavs take a Michigan prospect with this ninth pick, or trade down with the Thunder for the 12th and 17th picks. If the Mavericks don’t have a big guard on the table here, that likelihood would increase even more. But for this mock, the Mavericks find a point guard of the future to pair with Cooper Flagg here in Flemings, who plays with surgical midrange touch, an explosive first step and the passing vision of a true point guard who can run an offense. But Flemings is also 183 pounds and midrange-heavy in a 3-point league, and he watched his efficiency crater against the stiffest competition late in the season. The question is whether his scoring package translates against NBA length and spacing, or whether opposing scouts figure him out the same way late-season defenses did. Still, he brings incredible effort and passion to the floor and will likely maximize whatever he’s going to become.
30. Isaiah Evans (G, Duke)
Evans is the kind of shooter that defenses guard and think they’ve got him contained, then he uses a screen and catches it off a full sprint, moving away from the rim, and somehow manages to rise into a perfect 3-pointer. He’s a legitimate sharpshooter with the off-ball chops to thrive without even running any offense for himself, and he also has a developing handle that could unlock more creation chances. But he’s still a perimeter-based player who needs to add more layers to his game to become a complete offensive talent.
CBS Sports
9. Brayden Burries (G, Arizona)
Burries has been my pick here since the very beginning and while it’s possible someone is intrigued earlier, there continues to be very little information on him taking other visits. It is worth noting that Dallas has hosted a variety of point guards, and if one of them were to slip (which would happen if Mara or Ament moves up), then things could change here. As it stands, the team appears committed to Kyrie Irvinig for now and Burries fits a more critical positional need at the two, giving them another two-way player to grow alongside Cooper Flagg. The news that Dallas has hired Michigan’s Dusty May doesn’t necessary change the board here for the Mavericks, but it does provide more insight into Wolverine prospects like Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson. Still, Burries remains the mostly likely pick here for Dallas.
30. Joshua Jefferson (F, Iowa State)
Jefferson is a strong-bodied four-man who is an outstanding passer and has great defensive instincts. He would add to a growing two-way core that Dallas would be building with Flagg and Burries. Ejiofor and Baba Miller could be possibilities here as well after both visited Dallas in the pre-draft process.
The Fanduel Sportsbook currently lists Burries (+200) as the morning line favorite, with Michigan’s Aday Mara (+470) and Yaxel Lendeborg (+650) next in line. Rounding out the top five in odds are Houston’s Kingston Flemings (+700) and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler (+1000).
