Mavericks could draft Mikel Brown Jr without trading up if Kings create ripple effect

The 2026 NBA Draft is less than a month away, and a fresh draft scenario coming out of Sacramento would be incredible news for the Dallas Mavericks if it gains traction on draft night. According to Dave Weiglein, also known as "Carmichael Dave," Kingston Flemings is among the prospects that the Sacramento Kings are eyeing in the draft with the seventh overall pick.

If this is true, and the Kings take Flemings, the Mavericks would be in a prime position to pull off a major heist by drafting Mikel Brown Jr. with the ninth pick, assuming the other teams in the 5-8 range don't draft him. It once seemed like Dallas would have to trade up to land Brown Jr., given the hype that surrounded him at points during his freshman season, but the Kings taking Flemings and creating this ripple effect could prevent the Mavs from having to move up.

"The Sacramento Kings are looking hard at Kingston Flemings, and he is very much in play at #7," Weiglein said.

Flemings being drafted at No. 7 would be a major win for the Mavericks, as this would likely mean that Brown Jr. would be on the board when they're on the clock at No. 9. The other seven teams in the top eight would also have to pass on Brown Jr., but if Dallas selected him at nine, this would undoubtedly be the steal of the draft and they'd land a player who would fit perfectly into their young core alongside Cooper Flagg.

Brown Jr. at No. 9 would be a steal the Mavericks can't ignore

He was the top true point guard in high school basketball before committing to play at Louisville, and there's a real case that he has the highest upside of any of the point guard prospects.

Great character, two-way ability, and a deep hunger to get better all make him special, and among his best potential landing spots is the Mavericks.

His playmaking, 3-point shooting, handle, and positional size would make him a dream fit in Dallas, and he would quickly make the Kings and other teams in that range regret passing up on him.

No one expected him to be drafted as low as nine in the 2026 NBA Draft after seeing how dominant he was in high school, and he looks like he's going to be a star in the NBA. The same can't be said about some of the guards who are projected to be picked in front of him, and him falling to the Mavs would be a huge steal.

How Brown Jr. could fall into the Mavericks' lap

Flemings going before Dallas is on the clock would be great news for them, as his potential fit on the Mavericks is already shaky to begin with. The Kings are obviously interested in other prospects, meaning that Flemings isn't a lock to go to them just yet, but it's good news for the Mavs that Sacramento is at least intrigued with his game.

For Dallas to draft Brown Jr., the draft board ahead of them would need to look something like this:

The top four of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson are a lock. Those four players have been at the top of mock drafts and big boards for months now, and it would be a shock if any of them fell out of the top four.

The 5-8 range is where Mavericks fans really need to be paying attention. This is where the point guard prospects are going to start getting drafted, and every team that passes on Brown Jr. is a win for Dallas.

Wagler and Acuff Jr. seem like the top two point guards in the class, leaving Flemings, Brown Jr., and Brayden Burries in that next group. The Kings' pick will hold significant implications for the Mavericks, especially if Wagler and Acuff Jr. are off the board, and Brown Jr. falling past Sacramento would all but guarantee that Dallas can land the guard their fans are dreaming about.

The Atlanta Hawks don't need a point guard as badly as they need another big man, making Aday Mara the perfect pick for them at No. 8. The four teams from 5-8 all drafting a point guard seems highly unlikely, given how talented Mara is, and just one of these teams taking Mara would give Dallas an even better shot at landing Brown Jr.

One pick after Atlanta, Brown Jr. would still be on the board in this scenario, and Dallas could take him if they decide to go that direction. Mavericks fans fell in love with his game after he said that Dallas was his favorite city in the country at the NBA Draft Lottery, and he has all of the tools to become the Mavs' point guard of the future.

Brown Jr. fits in Dallas now and later

Standing at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-7.5 wingspan, he has the size to play off the ball if needed. This would allow him to play alongside Kyrie Irving in some lineups, and this is the type of positional versatility that they need around Flagg.

His length, shot creation, and confidence should help him become a deadly 3-point shooter at the next level, making him a perfect fit for a Mavericks team that struggled from long range last season. He truly has the potential to become one of the best players in this year's draft, and if players like Flemings go in front of them, Dallas will be in a great position to draft the former Cardinal.

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