Mavericks' next Kyrie Irving is on the verge of slipping past Dallas

It's looking more and more like the Dallas Mavericks are a lock to get a top 10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. What now seems more unlikely by the game is one of their dream picks falling out of their hands. The Mavs' main option in the draft for Cooper Flagg's sidekick should be Darius Acuff Jr. from Arkansas, who has taken college basketball by storm in his freshman season.

Acuff Jr. just won SEC Player of the Year, as well as SEC Freshman of the Year. He looks like he'll be the next star that NBA GMs will be talking about nonstop. On the downside, he's playing super well, so he's starting to rise instantly in mock drafts and draft boards. Veteran college basketball head coach Sean Miller, who's now at Texas, said that Acuff Jr. should be the No. 1 overall pick.

Miller has been around the game a long time, and Texas was one of many victims of Acuff Jr.'s elite play this season. The Mavs still have a chance, but it seems like the odds of him being on the board when they're on the clock are slipping by the day.

Mavericks' odds to land Darius Acuff Jr. are slipping fast

Acuff Jr. led his team to an SEC Championship win for Arkansas, with hopes of taking the Razorbacks to a national championship, which hasn't been done since 1994. His calmness, ball handling, and maturity with the basketball are looking better each game.

We're not sure who's going to be the No. 1 pick overall at this point, but Acuff Jr.'s name wouldn't be a bad name to put in the pot if he has a dominant NCAA Tournament. The Mavs currently have the sixth-best odds of landing the No. 1 pick, but who knows? Will the draft lottery bless the Mavericks once again?

It took a 1.8 percent miracle for the Mavs to win the draft lottery to draft Cooper Flagg last year, and the ping pong balls went their way. They have a chance to jump into the top four, and while it would be cool to think about, it's really not that much of a difference, but with this rookie class, you've got to think Acuff Jr.'s stock is rising rapidly.

He has the offensive game to replace Kyrie Irving one day, and the Mavericks should be all over him if he's still available. Acuff Jr. could learn from Irving for the first few years before turning into Flagg's running mate, and Mavericks fans would be ecstatic if the team can draft him.

What's a reliable backup plan in case Acuff Jr. is off the boards?

In case Acuff Jr. is taken when the Mavericks are on the clock, the alternative routes are endless for Dallas.

Keaton Wagler of Illinois was underrecruited at first, but has since thrived under Brad Underwood in his freshman year. His physicality might be a liability at first, but even against the best defenses in the country, he has still managed to look like a lethal offensive weapon.

The only problem would be Max Christie and Wagler at the same position, trading minutes, unless Wagler is ready to play point guard on day one. Christie has done everything to prove he is starting material, and even an early candidate to be Flagg's co-star if he continues to grow his bag. Wagler could start as a key bench piece if the Mavericks picked him. Someone like Acuff Jr., though, could make a major impact right away.

The Mavs almost have no choice but to pick a guard to be their next star in the 2026 NBA Draft. With at least Dereck Lively II still in their plans, and possibly Daniel Gafford as well, the Mavs don't really need to look for a big man anyway. No true center is anywhere close to where the Mavs are projected to draft, and the backcourt talent in this draft is too strong to overlook.