The Mavericks do not have a first-round pick in 2026 (traded in the Kyrie Irving deal). Their first selection is in the second round. Here is who they should target.
What the Mavs need from a second-round pick: A player who can contribute immediately in a specific role. Dallas does not have the luxury of a development project — they need someone who can play 10-15 meaningful minutes as a rookie.
Archetype 1: Shooting wing A 6-5 to 6-8 wing who shot 38%+ from three in college and has enough defensive instincts to stay on the court in a playoff rotation. These players exist in the 35-50 range of most big boards.
Historical comp: Duncan Robinson was undrafted and became a 40%+ three-point shooter playing 25+ minutes for Miami. Wings who can shoot are always available later in the draft.
Archetype 2: Defensive big A center who blocks shots and defends the rim at a high level but has limited offensive game. These players get pushed down boards because they cannot shoot, but Dallas does not need their center to shoot — they need him to defend.
Historical comp: Robert Williams III fell to pick 27 because of medical concerns. Pure rim protectors with limited offense routinely slide in drafts.
Archetype 3: Bench point guard A high-IQ floor general who can manage an offense for 12-15 minutes per game while Luka and Kyrie rest. Does not need to score 15 per night — needs to run the offense efficiently and not turn it over.
Sources:
- NBA Draft Net — big board rankings
- Basketball Reference — historical second-round hit rates
- The Ringer — mock drafts with Mavs-specific analysis
The bench point guard idea is interesting. Finding someone who can run a competent offense for 12 minutes while the stars rest would solve one of the team\'s biggest weaknesses.