Projected to go No. 9, Arizona’s Brayden Burries offers the two-way versatility and elite shooting necessary to bolster a Dallas core featuring Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
The Dallas Mavericks already have one franchise-changing building block in Cooper Flagg, but another lottery addition could give them another guy to be a cornerstone of the franchise.
Dallas may not have gotten the number one pick with their 6.7 percent chance, but the Mavs could still do some damage with the ninth pick.
In ESPN’s latest mock draft, Dallas is projected to select Brayden Burries out of Arizona with the No. 9 overall pick. The fit makes plenty of sense for a Mavericks team trying to balance long-term upside with the ability to compete right away around Flagg and veteran guard Kyrie Irving.
"Burries endeared himself to teams over the course of the season as a steady two-way contributor with room to grow as a scorer," ESPN's Jeremy Woo writes. "Scouts see an intriguing upside as he continues to improve as an on-ball playmaker, but he is a solid enough shooter to play the 2, giving him appealing versatility. He is older than other freshman guards in the lottery and not as toolsy or flashy, but he might be closer to directly impacting winning."
Burries emerged as one of college basketball’s fastest-rising prospects during his freshman season at Arizona. After a slow few games to start the year, he developed into one of the Wildcats’ most reliable scorers and two-way players, helping lead the program on a deep NCAA Tournament run.
He averaged 16 points and five rebounds per game on 49 percent from the field and a very solid 39 percent from three. Burries also showed flashes of playmaking, as he finished multiple games with five or more assists.
For Dallas, the attraction would likely come from Burries’ versatility. At 6-4 with a strong frame, he can play on or off the ball and doesn’t need to dominate possessions to impact a game. That matters on a roster that already features established creators.
Youth also matters more than ever to the Mavs right now. They still have Kyrie Irving, but his best days are absolutely behind him after this ACL tear, so the team could look more into their future as a result.
The Mavericks may see him as a player capable of growing into a major offensive weapon while also bringing the toughness and versatility winning teams need.
If he is still on the board when Dallas is on the clock, Burries could be one to watch.