Mavericks' lottery fate gives them their first chance to fix last No. 9 mistake

The Dallas Mavericks officially have the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after falling one spot in the NBA Draft Lottery earlier this month. Their last ninth pick came in 2017, when they selected Dennis Smith Jr. Dallas' most recent selection at nine failed to meet expectations and live up to the hype, quickly proving to be a draft mistake.

Dallas, though, can rewrite history at nine by bringing in a player who can make that next leap Smith Jr. failed to do. The team has a ton of options to consider, as they try to shake off the bad juju from 2017.

Dennis Smith Jr.'s failure to improve cost him a future in Dallas

Dennis Smith Jr. came into Dallas with high expectations. He was a savvy, young guard with elite athleticism and perimeter defense. His strong finishing at the rim and playmaking made Mavs fans excited to have him on the roster in 2017.

Smith Jr. was electric during his rookie season, averaging 15.2 points per game, 5.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds. He was a spark for the Mavs' offense, as he knocked down 3-pointers and fascinated fans with his dunking and athleticism. Smith Jr. also achieved a key milestone by becoming one of the youngest players to record a triple-double.

His future seemed bright in Dallas after his rookie season, and fans were interested to see how he would progress. However, he failed to make key improvements during his sophomore season, and Dallas shipped him off to the New York Knicks.

So, what really happened?

Well, he failed to adapt to a system built around Luka Doncic. Smith Jr. failed to become an off-ball player alongside Doncic, and his struggles became widely visible.

His playstyle clash eventually forced Dallas to trade him, as the team now hopes to rewrite history by selecting a No. 9 pick they can pair alongside Cooper Flagg.

Dallas can correct their last No. 9 draft mistake

The Mavericks struck gold in 1981 when they drafted Rolando Blackman with the ninth pick in 1981. He turned out to be a four-time NBA All-Star and a retired Dallas legend. The organization now hopes they can draft someone at nine who can reach the same potential, especially with this being a loaded draft class.

The team has plenty of holes to fill in the upcoming draft, including finding a true playmaker, reliable scorer, and 3-and-D wing. This is where players Arizona guard Brayden Burries, Houston guard Kingston Flemings, and Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. come into play. The players mentioned have the potential to be excellent rookie guards who would boost Dallas' backcourt.

Burries, for example, can score from all angles. He is a two-way player who has the intangibles to develop into a solid 3-and-D guard, as his defense has taken major strides. The young guard would be an ideal fit next to Kyrie Irving, due to his 3-point shooting and defense.

Flemings and Brown Jr. would fit other Dallas needs, as their playmaking ability would easily elevate the Mavs' offense. They are both good shot creators who aren't afraid of attacking one-on-one when needed. Plus, they have plenty of room to grow. They would be a perfect secondary scorer to pair with Flagg, giving Dallas the additional playmaker they lacked last season.

Dallas could also go look to draft a frontcourt player, as there are other options to consider, like Aday Mara, Nate Ament, and Karim Lopez. The three players would give the Mavs stability inside and on the wing, as injuries made things difficult for the team at these positions last season. No one is off the table for Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz.

The Mavericks can shake off their bad luck from the ninth pick in 2017 and start fresh in 2026. Dallas has plenty of options to choose from, so it'll be interesting to see which player they select and if they can do what Dennis Smith Jr. couldn't.

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