The Mavericks eye North Carolina's freshman star in a recent 2026 mock. He could become Cooper Flagg's elite running mate, boosting Dallas' future core.
The NBA season is over halfway done, and the college basketball season is winding down and nearing March Madness. And that means that mock drafts are going to start flying all over the place.
In the latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft from Adam Finkelstein of CBS Sports, the Dallas Mavericks are projected to make a compelling addition to their future core by selecting forward Caleb Wilson.
"The Anthony Davis trade was motivated by the fact that Dallas does not control its own first-round pick again until 2031. Between that and the star power atop this draft, 2026 represents the best chance in the foreseeable future to find a long-term running mate for Cooper Flagg," Finkelstein writes. "While Dallas would love to land any of the top three, Wilson provides an elite athlete at the four and a defensive playmaker whose offense has proven ahead of schedule at North Carolina."
Wilson has steadily ascended draft boards throughout the 2025-26 college season. Standing 6-foot-10 with a versatile forward’s frame, he has shown the ability to impact games in multiple ways. Wilson’s scoring and rebounding have been standout parts of his profile, averaging near double-double figures prior to an injury late in the season. Scouts have lauded his athleticism, defensive instincts, and developing offensive game — traits that project well to the NBA level.
He is averaging just under 20 points, nine rebounds, and a block and a steal per game in his freshman season at UNC. A fractured left hand has sidelined him for the moment, but scouts saw enough in the 24 games that he has played in.
He is an NBA-ready prospect.
For Mavericks fans, the idea of pairing Wilson alongside Flagg creates intriguing possibilities. Flagg’s emergence as a transformative talent has given Dallas a cornerstone to build around, and adding a forward with Wilson’s length and defensive promise could accelerate the team’s rebuild. It would also be interesting to see a young star duo comprised of a former Duke Blue Devil and a North Carolina Tar Heel.
If the mock draft plays out this way, the Mavericks could be carving out another exciting chapter in their rebuilding journey — one that blends today’s young stars with tomorrow’s high-ceiling prospects.