The Dallas Mavericks are going to be in a fascinating spot during round one of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night. Intel from the sourcing has been light, with very little to nothing coming from inside the building in Dallas. Because of that, for Mavericks fans the draft should be exciting.
This is our final mock draft podcast that we’re doing here at Mavs Moneyball. You can catch the stream here, where myself, Kirk, David, Jack and Bryan tossed and turned and burned the midnight oil over all thirty
selections.
1. Washington Wizards: Darryn Peterson (G, Kansas)
Perhaps a shocker at number one, we’ve got Peterson joining the Wizards. Washington had him in for a multi-day visit recently, so if they can get comfortable with the off-floor stuff, I have no issues with the pick.
2. Utah Jazz: AJ Dybantsa (F, BYU)
This pick could be interesting if it’s AJ at number one, but this should be a no-brainer here. The Jazz, via owner Ryan Smith, have many financial ties to Dybantsa. It makes sense they want to see that culminate with him in a Jazz uniform.
Read AJ Dybantsa’s player profile here.
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Boozer (F, Duke)
There might be no quicker pick than this one. Boozer is a fantastic fit for Memphis, who needs to reset after blowing it all up last year.
Read Cam Boozer’s player profile here.
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson (F, UNC)
The fourth and final of the easy picks. No discussion needed here.
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Mikel Brown Jr. (G, Louisville)
This is where the draft begins. It sounds like this pick is on the auction block, and whether it’s the Clippers or otherwise, Mikel Brown Jr. is a great selection.
Read Mikel Brown’s player profile here.
6. Brooklyn Nets: Nate Ament (F, Tennessee)
I was stunned by this pick! I personally do not believe the Ament smoke in the top ten (including Dallas), but if a team will, it’s Brooklyn, who needs a big swing after whiffing last year.
Read Nate Ament’s player profile here.
7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff (G, Arkansas)
By all accounts, this is the floor for the Arkansas Razorback. We see no reason to dispute that.
Read Darius Acuff’s player profile here.
8. Atlanta Hawks: Kingston Flemings (G, Houston)
Atlanta is a nice spot for Kingston, where they truly need a lead guard with defensive upside. They could’ve gone center here, as well, but one of these guards would be likely too good to pass on.
Read Kingston Flemings’ player profile here.
9. Dallas Mavericks: Keaton Wagler (G, Illinois)
That sound you just heard is me doing backflips down Nowitzki Way. Wagler is the perfect guard not only to pair next to Kyrie Irving, but when he eventually leaves, Wagler has the ability to be an initiating guard. What a development this would be.
Read Keaton Wagler’s player profile here.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Aday Mara (C, Michigan)
This feels like the Ament team to me, but with him off the board I like Mara here. New coach Taylor Jenkins gets a hallmark big to develop with very little pressure to win.
11. Golden State Warriors: Brayden Burries (G, Arizona)
This is a great selection for the Dubs, who land a win now player that can be supremely versatile around Steph.
Read Brayden Burries’ player profile here.
12. OKC Thunder: Yaxel Lendeborg (F, Michigan)
As OKC turns over the roster, Yaxel seems to be a great fit to replace Hartenstein.
Read Yaxel Lendeborg’s player profile here.
13. Miami Heat: Labaron Philon (G, Alabama)
For now, this is the Heat. We’ll see if it stays. Personally, I think this is a bit rich for Philon, but it’ll be interesting to see who makes the pick.
Read Labaron Philon’s player profile here.
14. Charlotte Hornets: Morez Johnson Jr. (F, Michigan)
This is a perfect pick for the Hornets. No notes.
15. Chicago Bulls: Hannes Steinbach (C/F, Washington)
I think this is rich for Steinbach, but he is a nice rebounder who could be interesting in Chicago.
16. Memphis Grizzlies: Bennett Stirtz (G, Iowa)
I like Stirtz a lot, and Memphis is a fun spot for him. He and Boozer would be a great tandem.
17. OKC Thunder: Cam Carr (G, Baylor)
At 12, we replaced Hartenstein. At 17, we’re replacing Dort. Carr is a legit shooter with tools to be a good defender.
18. Charlotte Hornets: Jayden Quaintance (C, Kentucky)
If healthy, Quaintance could be the best center in this class. In Charlotte, he’ll have the necessary leeway to get healthy and, hopefully, stay healthy.
19. Toronto Raptors: Christian Anderson Jr. (G, Texas Tech)
Anderson is the best shooter in this class, and any team would do well to take him in this range. He would fit well in Toronto, who needs a guard.
20. San Antonio Spurs: Chris Cenac (F/C, Houston)
The Houston product stays in state here, with an organization that expects contributions right away to continue winning.
21. Detroit Pistons: Ebuka Okorie (G, Stanford)
Okorie is a walking paint touch, which would compliment Cade Cunningham very nicely. Additionally, it seems that Detroit is doing a lot of legwork here.
22. Philadelphia 76ers: Dailyn Swain (F, Texas)
Philly has two guards to build around in Maxey and Edgecombe, so now they must tackle the rest. Swain is a nice selection, and they’ll surely hope the defense is back to the level it was at Xavier.
Read Dailyn Swain’s player profile here.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Allen Graves (F, Santa Clara)
After taking Flemings at eight, the Santa Clara product would be a nice compliment to the Hawks rotation.
Read Allen Graves’ player profile here.
24. New York Knicks: Tarris Reed Jr. (C, UConn)
Mitchell Robinson is a free agent this offseason, so why not bid him farewell and bring in Reed, who is a hard-nosed traditional center like Robinson.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Karim Lopez (F, NZB/Mexico)
Luka Doncic said he wants to play with three-and-D wings and a center that can be his roller. It’s the formula that got him to the NBA Finals here in Dallas, and perhaps it can work in Lakerland, too. Lopez accomplishes the wing part if he pans out, but being the second youngest player in the class means there could be some lag time before that happens.
Read Karim Lopez’s player profile here.
26. Denver Nuggets: Koa Peat (F, Arizona)
If Aaron Gordon isn’t part of your plan moving forward, why not draft the guy who is the closest thing out there to a young Aaron Gordon?
27. Boston Celtics: Joshua Jefferson (F, Iowa State)
Giving Joe Mazzulla high-IQ players who can pass the basketball and just figure things out is a good strategy. Even if the shot isn’t fully realized, Jefferson would fit in well off the bench in Boston.
Read Joshua Jefferson’s player profile here.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves: Sergio de Larrea (G, Valencia/Spain)
If Minnesota keeps the pick, expect them to take the best guard available. de Larrea needs some seasoning in the NBA, but you can’t teach 6’6” at the guard position.
Read Sergio de Larrea’s player profile here.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers: Isaiah Evans (G, Duke)
Evans is a good shooter that can provide a very expensive Cavs team with some needed pop off the bench.
Read Isaiah Evans’ player profile here.
30. Dallas Mavericks: Meleek Thomas (G, Arkansas)
Although he played alongside a very ball-dominant Darius Acuff, Thomas showed enough creation to compliment his scoring ability to make him a real option in round one.
