Mavericks' draft pick shortage isn't nearly as concerning as it looks

One of the biggest knocks about the Dallas Mavericks heading into the Dusty May era is their lack of high-value draft capital. They don't own their first-round pick next year (unless it lands in the top two) and their first-round picks in 2028, 2029, and 2030 are pick swaps with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. Dallas also owns the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round pick in 2029.

While the Mavericks aren't in a great spot to draft another foundational building block to play alongside Cooper Flagg, they quietly have an intriguing group of young players that could make the team's lack of control over their future first-round picks less concerning.

Dallas added Morez Johnson Jr., Sergio De Larrea, and Zaccharie Risacher this offseason, and all three players have the chance to establish themselves as key pieces of the young core.

Morez Johnson Jr. gives Dallas' frontcourt a major boost

The Mavericks drafted Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick in this summer's draft, and he is poised to be an impact player right away. He averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game as a sophomore at Michigan, helping lead his team to a National Championship.

His defense, versatility, energy, and physicality will give the Mavs' frontcourt a significant boost, and he projects to be a great fit with Flagg and Dereck Lively II in the frontcourt.

Sergio De Larrea is already showing promise as a playmaker

Dallas' other first-round pick from earlier this summer, De Larrea, is also intriguing. The Mavericks traded up from 30 to 25 to select him, and the 20-year-old guard from Spain seems ready to handle some of the backup point guard duties behind Kyrie Irving.

His playmaking is the best part of his game, and he showed this off for the Mavericks during Summer League. He averaged a Summer-League-high 8.8 assists per game over four contests, and his passing out of the pick-and-roll, feel for the game, and alley-oop passing were all on display.

If he can carry over the success that he had as a shooter in Europe, he could find himself as Dallas' point guard of the future in a couple of years. Building chemistry with Johnson Jr. will be key for him, and Dallas has a strong rookie duo.

Zaccharie Risacher is the real story of the summer in Dallas

The Mavs' picks from the NBA Draft may have been the biggest story of the summer, but Risacher has a real chance to become a rising star in Dallas. He clearly needed a change of scenery after a rough year in Atlanta, and the Mavericks give him the fresh start he needed.

His speed, shooting, transition play, and defense make him a promising young player for the Mavs to build around, as he and Flagg will form a strong duo on the wing. Zacch was the first overall pick for a reason, and Dallas was excited to bring him in.

The Mavs may not have the flashiest set of future first-round picks to bring in players to play with Flagg, but they have the framework of a strong young core right in front of them. Coop, along with Risacher, Rez, and Sergio, gives Dallas what they need to build for the future, and they're much better off than they get credit for.

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