Grading every Mavericks pick from an action-packed 2026 NBA Draft

The Dallas Mavericks had one of the most eventful NBA Drafts in the league, surprisingly landing Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the ninth overall pick, trading up for Sergio De Larrea at No. 25, staying put at No. 48 to nab Tobi Lawal, and acquiring a potential draft-and-stash prospect, Vsevolod Ischenko, in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 56.

Grading all four of the Dallas Mavericks draft picks

All in all, there's plenty to unpack from Dallas' action-packed draft. With that in mind, each pick will receive a letter grade.

Of course, these grades aren't evaluations of the players themselves. For example, Johnson could average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game next season, making any grade short of an A+ look silly in hindsight. Instead, these grades are based on where each prospect was generally projected before the draft and where Dallas ultimately selected them. Also, fit, both positionally and within the Mavericks' roster construction, also plays a role in the evaluations below.

Morez Johnson Jr.

Johnson was arguably the most surprising top-10 selection in the draft. While widely regarded as a first-round talent, the former Michigan Wolverine was generally projected to come off the board somewhere in the 11-15 range. Bleacher Report and ESPN both ranked him No. 15 in the class, while No Ceilings, Yahoo Sports, and The Ringer placed him 11th, 11th, and 13th, respectively.

As such, there isn't a significant gap between where Johnson was projected to be selected and where the Mavericks took him at No. 9. While the fanbase gave mixed reactions to the pick, several draft outlets praised the selection, citing the added athleticism, length, and physicality he brings to Dallas' frontcourt.

Yet, this writer isn't particularly fond of the selection. Johnson tested extremely well at the NBA Draft Combine, posting impressive numbers across the board while also measuring better than expected. He possesses an NBA-ready body and athleticism — that's apparent.

From a fit perspective, though, the selection is a bit wonky. Dallas already has Cooper Flagg, a forward tweener, and P.J. Washington, another versatile frontcourt piece. Add in starting-caliber centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, and it's fair to question where Johnson fits in Dallas' lineup.

Of course, Johnson brings more upside and intrigue than at least some of the names listed above. However, does he address a glaring weakness on the roster? Not really.

Johnson is an athletic marvel who can rebound, defend, and create havoc at a high level, but that's not necessarily where Dallas should have spent one of its few premium draft assets over the next half-decade. A guard such as Arizona's Brayden Burries, who went one pick later at No. 10, would have addressed a far greater need while still offering the type of long-term upside Johnson brings to the table.

Grade: C+

Sergio De Larrea

Unlike Johnson, De Larrea was all over the board in pre-draft rankings. Yahoo Sports had the Spaniard as high as No. 20, while No Ceilings ranked him as low as No. 41. Opinions varied widely on the international guard, and Dallas ultimately snagged him right smack dab in the middle at No. 25.

Later in the draft, fit becomes less important. It's unrealistic to expect most late first-round or second-round selections to develop into long-term starters, so the focus shifts toward value. At that stage, the question isn't necessarily whether a prospect fills a positional need, but rather how much he can contribute to the team that selected him.

De Larrea presents an intriguing archetype that Dallas doesn’t really have — a jumbo-sized floor general. The 20-year-old measured 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan at the NBA Combine. He’s also a solid shooter and offers value as a connective playmaker, with passing as one of his biggest strengths.

Nonetheless, there are some concerns about De Larrea's athletic profile and defensive projection. He’s big, but not an explosive athlete, which shows up in finishing around the basket and his ability to draw free throws. As more of a combo guard, there are also real questions about where he fits defensively and which position he’ll ultimately guard at the NBA level.

Grade: B

Tobi Lawal

At the later stages of the second round, it often turns into a bit of a dart throw, and that’s exactly what Dallas did with Tobi Lawal.

Lawal is a fantastic athlete. He posted an otherworldly 45.5-inch max vertical at the NBA Draft Combine and was also among the fastest players in testing drills. Yet that may be the extent of his scouting appeal. He put up solid numbers as a senior at Virginia Tech, averaging 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game, but at 23 years old, it's fair to wonder how much more there is to his game beyond elite athleticism.

In today's day and age, there aren’t many enticing younger prospects left to take a flier on in the second round (thanks, NIL). The focus has shifted more toward experienced players who can step into defined roles right away. Lawal might not end up being more than an energetic, highlight-reel presence off the bench, but if that’s all Dallas gets from a late second-round pick, that’s still a win.

Grade: B-

Vsevolod Ishchenko

If Lawal was considered a big swing, Ishchenko is an even bigger one. The Russian-born wing is a relative unknown who wasn’t listed on many draft boards, with Yahoo Sports ranking him as low as the No. 76 overall prospect.

Ishchenko put up solid numbers in Russia’s VTB United League with Lokomotiv Kuban, averaging 8.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Yet the step up from the VTB United League to the NBA is, of course, significant. Ishchenko probably won’t be suiting up this season and is likely to remain a draft-and-stash, which is at least a solid outcome for a Mavericks roster that is already nearly full.

Grade: C+

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow