Mavs brass reacts to the NBA Draft lottery with optimism, despite falling one spot from the pre-lottery odds.
The Dallas Mavericks didn't enjoy as much luck in 2026 as they had in 2025 with regard to the NBA Draft lottery, but that isn't shying the new administration away from the possibilities of this year's addition to the roster.
New team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz watched in Chicago as the Mavs fell to the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, one spot below their pre-lottery placement of the eighth-best odds to land the top pick.
"We wanted the No. 1, of course," said team representative Rolando Blackman after leaving the stage. Last year, he was at the Mavs' podium as the first overall pick, which turned into Cooper Flagg, landed in Dallas' arms.
"When you talk about a deep draft the way it is right now, and also the No. 9 pick - I was No. 9," said the Mavs' 1981 draftee and franchise legend. "I can’t drag down on the No. 9 pick. We have great talent to choose from out of this draft. The important factor for us, it’s always going to be about being healthy and really having the opportunity for our guys to have developed ... to be able to have everyone come together.
"So, the health and development are going to put the Mavs exactly where they need to be..."
As for next season, the return of Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II headline how Dallas can promptly return to contention, along with Flagg's continued brilliance after a Rookie of the Year-worthy campaign.
Not to mention the type of rookie the Mavericks can land with their lottery placement and new leadership and scouting that direct the team on a new trajectory.
"We’re looking for someone who can fit our culture and have an impact at a high level for many years to come," Schmitz said. "That's the beauty of this class, it's very deep, there's a wide variety of players at different positions that bring different skillsets, and so we're going to bring those guys in and really vet the market and get a really good player."
In this range, early draft predictions have players like Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr., Arizona's Brayden Burries, and Houston's Kingston Flemings as potential targets.
Asked about the type of player Schmitz, Ujiri and company might target, the Mavs' new GM - who comes with substantial draft expertise - kept his answer broad, yet optimistic.
"Very confident [in landing a rotational player]. I think we want someone who can bring a variety of different skills and bring a mentality that we’re looking for," he said. "But we’re really confident we can get a rotation-level player and we’re gonna do everything we can."
"Just excited for the opportunity, to be honest," Schmitz added in his reaction. "You look every year at redrafts, and there’s always a thinking of consensus, but the reality is there are players who end up being All-Star caliber guys or even better that don’t go in the top 2-5. I feel really confident that we’re going to get a high-level player at nine and excited to get the process going."
