ESPN’s latest mock draft pairs Dallas with high-upside guard Mikel Brown Jr., a dynamic playmaker who could secure the backcourt future as Kyrie Irving enters his mid-30s.
DALLAS - The path forward for the Dallas Mavericks is still taking shape, but one thing is clear: adding another young playmaker could go a long way in strengthening the foundation of this roster.
And - while weighing "risk'' - they could do that through the 2026 NBA Draft.
In a recent mock by ESPN's Jeremy Woo, he has them doing exactly that. With the No. 9 pick in his draft, he has the Mavericks taking their guard of the future in Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr.
"The Mavericks have a long-term need at the point and will be hoping to find a running mate for Cooper Flagg, as they won't control their own first again until 2031," Woo writes. "Brown would be the biggest upside swing left on the board if available here, but also comes with a little more risk in his profile than some alternatives."
Brown put together an impressive year as a scorer and facilitator in his freshman season with the Cardinals. At 6-5, he combines size with a natural feel for the game, allowing him to operate comfortably as a lead guard. He can create his own shot, get downhill against defenders, and keep an offense flowing with smart decision-making.
Brown averaged 18 points and just under five assists on his lone year at Louisville. He also did so on some solid numbers, shooting 41 percent from the field and just under 35 percent from beyond the arc.
So ... what's the risk?
Brown arrived in college as arguably the top guard in his class, but a back injury limited him to some degree.
For Dallas - assuming the medicals work out - the potential fit is hard to ignore. The Mavericks are continuing to build around Cooper Flagg, and adding another young creator would only accelerate that process. Brown’s ability to handle the ball and generate offense could take pressure off other pieces while giving the team more versatility in how it attacks opposing defenses.
The Mavs were without their star point guard this past season in Kyrie Irving, as he was rehabbing from a torn ACL that he suffered in the 2024-25 season. While he will be back this coming season, he may never be the same Kyrie that he once was.
Even if he is, he is 34 years old, and might not have that many years left playing at the top of his game.
And that is where drafting a guy like Brown would could come in. ... "risk'' or not.
