Mavericks eye Arizona guard Brayden Burries in a "wild" mock draft projection. He could become a crucial piece alongside Cooper Flagg.
The Dallas Mavericks are officially in the middle of a rebuild around 19-year-old rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, and they could continue to retool around him in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley put up a recent mock that he says comes with a "wild" lottery simulation. With the ninth overall pick in that mock, he has the Mavericks drafting Arizona guard Brayden Burries to go alongside their new superstar.
"He could land closer to a home run selection if he proves able to consistently separate at the NBA level, but even without that skill, there's a lot to like about a freshman guard providing so much winning basketball for one of the country's top teams," Buckley writes. "He is efficient on offense and active on both defense and the glass. He could have a long, productive career ahead of him, even if he doesn't have a ton of super-high-end possibilities in his range of outcomes."
Arizona is one of the best college basketball teams in the country, and it is due in no small part to the incredible play from Burries.
The 20-year-old guard is averaging 15.5 points and five rebounds per game, and he is shooting at a solid 49 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc.
Those numbers, combined with his defensive effort for a guard, have helped push his name firmly into the lottery discussion.
For Dallas, the potential fit is intriguing. The Mavericks have been searching for young talent that can grow alongside their core players and strengthen the backcourt rotation. Burries’ ability to play both on and off the ball could make him a flexible piece in multiple lineup combinations.
Kyrie Irving is out for the rest of the season while he recovers from an ACL tear that he suffered last season. That, combined with the fact that he is 33 years old, could push Dallas to make a move for a young guard in the upcoming draft.
With the 2026 NBA Draft still months away, projections will continue to shift. But if Burries keeps producing at a high level in college, the Mavericks could find themselves strongly considering the Arizona standout as a key part of their future.