The Mavs could eye a dynamic playmaker in the 2026 draft. Houston's Kingston Flemings offers explosiveness and court vision, which could make for a future cornerstone.
The Dallas Mavericks may already have a cornerstone piece in place, but their long-term vision could take another major step forward in the 2026 NBA Draft. And in a recent mock draft from Bleacher Report, they have the Mavs getting a running mate for Cooper Flagg.
In Zach Buckley's mock, he thinks that Dallas should take their point guard of the future with the seventh overall pick and take Houston's Kingston Flemings.
Flemings has quickly emerged as one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft class. The Houston standout brings a blend of explosiveness, feel, and playmaking ability that immediately stands out on film.
For a Mavericks team looking to build sustainably, that skill set is especially valuable. Flemings thrives with the ball in his hands but also shows the awareness to operate within a system, something that would be crucial alongside a developing core. His ability to read defenses and make quick decisions gives him the potential to run an offense at the next level.
The star freshman averaged 16 points and five assists per game with the Cougars, and was vital in their run to the Elite 8. He also was able to do all of this efficiently with 47 percent shooting from the field and just under 39 percent from three.
For Dallas, this type of pick would be about investing in their future. While he is injured right now, Kyrie Irving is the point guard at the moment for the Mavericks. But it might be wise to start planning ahead and draft a guy who Kyrie could mentor to be the team's next facilitator.
There are still areas for development. Flemings doesn’t yet take a high volume of shots from deep or consistently get to the free-throw line, leaving room for growth as a primary scorer. But those concerns are relatively minor compared to the overall strength of his profile.
If this mock projection becomes reality, the Mavericks could walk away with not just another young piece, but a potential building block. And in a loaded 2026 draft class, landing a player with Flemings’ combination of skill, efficiency, and upside could prove to be a major win for Dallas moving forward.