The Mavericks dropped one spot in the lottery but still walked away with a real chance to add another building block next to Cooper Flagg. Dallas officially holds the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and the rebuild around the rookie of the year is about to get serious.
The 2026 NBA Draft runs June 23 and 24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Washington holds the top pick. The Mavericks are slotted ninth, which is good enough to land a real prospect but not guaranteed to land an immediate impact starter.
The Plan Around Flagg
Flagg won Rookie of the Year and is the face of the franchise. The Mavericks know they need to build a real core around him before Luka’s full impact fades. The No. 9 pick is going to be evaluated through that lens.
Dallas does not need a project. They need a player who can contribute next season and grow into a starter alongside Flagg. The board at No. 9 is rumored to have several guards who fit that profile, including a couple who could push for starting minutes if they fall to that spot.
The Acuff Connection
Dallas has been linked to Brandon Acuff, a 3-level scoring guard who has been moving up boards through the pre-draft process. Acuff would give Flagg a long-term backcourt running mate who can create his own shot and shoot off the catch.
The Mavericks are also reportedly exploring trade-up scenarios. NBA insiders have suggested Dallas could package the No. 9 pick with future first-rounders to move into the top five if a player they like slides.
The most realistic trade-up target appears to be a guard or wing who can play next to Flagg in lineups that don’t require traditional positional roles.
The Trade-Down Option
There is also a real conversation about trading down with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder hold the 12th and 17th picks and have been mentioned as potential swap partners. Turning No. 9 into two rotation pieces at 12 and 17 might be the smarter long-term play for Dallas.
The Thunder have surplus draft capital and are looking to consolidate. The Mavericks have flexibility and need depth. That is the kind of trade that makes sense for both sides if the right player is sitting at No. 9 when Dallas comes on the clock.
The Draft Class Is Loaded
The 2026 class is being called one of the best in the last decade. Multiple potential All-Stars are expected to come off the board in the top 10. Dallas is going to get a real prospect at No. 9 regardless of which direction they go.
The bigger question is how aggressive the front office wants to be in turning that pick into either a higher selection or multiple selections.
What This Means for Dallas Long-Term
The Mavericks have been on a fascinating ride. They lost the title in 2024. They made a midseason trade that turned out to be one of the worst in NBA history. They got the worst lottery luck possible. They got the best lottery luck possible. They drafted Flagg. They went from contender to rebuild back to potential contender in about 18 months.
The No. 9 pick is the next domino. Get this one right and the Mavericks are back in the playoff hunt next season. Miss on it and the rebuild stretches another year.
Nico Harrison’s future may depend on this draft going well. The Dallas fanbase has been giving him a long leash given how the Doncic situation unfolded, but another bad decision in the lottery would test that patience.
The countdown to June 23 is on.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
