The Dallas Mavericks selected Morez Johnson ninth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, before trading up into the first round to add Sergio De Larrea 25th overall.
Want to know how Morez Johnson Jr. will fit in Dallas Mavericks' head coach Dusty May's system? Just look at his play at Michigan last season.
Johnson is expected to be a day-one starter for the Mavericks, further propelling their youth movement forward. In an effort to add as much young talent as possible, the Mavericks traded up into the first round, selecting wing Sergio De Larrea from Spain 25th overall.
For the Mavericks, both picks have been touted as successes, suggesting that the team is finally facing the right direction. However, Cooper Flagg remains front and center in their rebuild, and both selections aim to complement his skillset.
How Mavs' Draft Picks Fit With Cooper Flagg
It's probably a good thing that the Mavericks ran the point-Flagg experiment last season, even if it helped get Jason Kidd fired. Dallas did not manage to snag a top-tier playmaker or ball handler in the draft, so Flagg and Kyrie Irving will be running the offense.
They did, however, get two solid weapons to join the rotation.
Johnson is a bruising big man who can share the floor with another center, giving Dallas plenty of size and versatility. Johnson is a powerful offensive player who does most of his work in the post, although on defense, he can guard both inside and out, allowing Flagg to be a roaming weapon, where he excels.
De Larrea, meanwhile, probably didn't get the respect he deserved in the draft. In his most recent season in the Spanish League, he averaged 9.7 points on 40.7 percent shooting from deep. Compare that with 2024's first overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, who averaged 10.4 points on 35.2 percent shooting in his final French League season.
Should De Larrea gone in the top five like Risacher? Nope, but he was a draft faller.
He can handle and shoot the ball, and while he might not be a well-rounded creator like Irving or Flagg, he does project to be a long-term starter who can thrive off-ball and space the floor for Flagg's slashing.
With Johnson holding down the paint, De Larrea spacing the floor, and Flagg doing a bit of everything, Dallas finally has a well-rounded young core. While the playoffs might still be a few seasons away, a firm direction has been established.
