Mavericks' dream Kyrie Irving successor awaits Cooper Flagg in the NBA Draft

With the Dallas Mavericks shifting their focus to this coming summer's draft just before play begins after the All-Star break, fans have been in a frenzy about who the Mavericks might select with whatever draft pick they land. The obvious answer would be AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, or Darryn Peterson, but the likelihood of the Mavericks finishing with a top three or even four draft pick is slim to none, which is why fans have been pinpointing Darius Acuff Jr out of Arkansas.

Acuff Jr. just dropped 49 points against Alabama on Wednesday, putting the entire nation on notice. He is extremely dangerous once he gets going, and he could end up being one of the first guards taken off the board in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Acuff Jr. isn't just one of the NCAA's best freshman point guards, but he fills multiple needs for a Mavericks team that, even with a healthy Kyrie Irving, who was recently shut down for the remainder of the season, is still searching for depth. The 19-year-old true freshman isn't just the offensive punch the Mavericks are desperately searching for, but he may be the perfect name to pair alongside Cooper Flagg and build a lasting tandem for years to come.

Darius Acuff Jr. fits the Mavericks' most pressing need

With a 19-35 record, the Mavericks' guard play isn't the only need, but it might be their biggest roster hole. Many basketball experts have already slotted the Mavericks to pick a guard with whatever draft pick they acquire, and although Acuff Jr. isn't the highest-rated guard in this draft class, his name fills exactly what Dallas needs and could very well be available from the 7-11 draft range.

Some major pluses to Acuff Jr.'s game are his immediate offensive impact. For Arkansas, Acuff Jr. is averaging an eye-popping 22.3 points per game on an impressive 51 percent shooting from the field, while also being his team's main facilitator with 6.2 dishes per outing.

The only real concern surrounding Acuff Jr.'s game, and also why he may not be being selected to go higher in mock drafts, is the defensive hole he has become. At 6-foot-3, Acuff Jr. has become a total scoring machine, but in an NBA system where all five players need to be locked in on the defensive side of the ball, he is already finding himself getting off on the wrong foot.

Luckily, in a Mavericks uniform, Dallas may buy just enough time for Acuff Jr. to get comfortable on either side of the ball. For starters, the freshman guard wouldn't be slotted as an instant starter with a healthy Kyrie Irving returning, and secondly, alongside Max Christie, Acuff Jr. wouldn't be asked to guard the opposing team's best backcourt player.

Acuff Jr. may have his struggles on the defensive side of the ball, but when it comes to shooting and throwing up lobs, his name is at the top of the list. It would be hard for a Dallas team that has been searching for a heartbeat on offense not to look towards his way come draft night, but there are some valid concerns that Acuff Jr. may become the next Jordan Hawkins or Cam Thomas.

Assuming the 19-year-old freshman can buy into Jason Kidd's defensive philosophy and not become a cone, he could be the perfect draft night steal for the Mavericks.