Mavericks' possible draft target just made his case impossible to ignore

At Klutch Sports Pro Day on Friday, Brayden Burries proved why he'd be an incredible pick for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2026 NBA Draft. He's the type of player who Dallas can't overlook if he's on the board when Dallas picks at No. 9, and he just made his case impossible to ignore with all eyes on him in Los Angeles.

The former Arizona Wildcat lit it up with his 3-point shooting off the catch, and this is exactly what the Mavericks need as they look to build a playoff team around Cooper Flagg. Dallas interviewed him at the NBA Combine, showing they have some interest in him, and he could fall perfectly into their lap given the guards who could get drafted in front of him.

Brayden Burries would bring the shooting the Mavericks are missing

The Mavericks were one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA last season (26th in 3-point percentage and 29th in 3-pointers made), and someone like Burries coming into the picture would help them trend in the right direction from beyond the arc. He shot 39.1 percent from downtown on 4.6 attempts per game as a Wildcat, and his shooting on Friday showed that these numbers should translate beautifully to the next level.

He looks confident and comfortable when catching the ball on the wing and in the corners before letting it fly, and this is what should make Mavericks fans excited when watching the clip of his Klutch workout. Burries would most likely be playing shooting guard alongside Kyrie Irving as a rookie, and he's going to have to be able to make open shots to make this fit work. He already looked like a strong backcourt partner for Irving before today, but his pro day further proved this.

He's more than a shooter

On top of his shooting, his on-ball creation looked promising as well when getting to the bucket. You can never have too many players who can create their own shot, and Burries looks like someone who will be able to do this at the next level. This is another area in which Dallas struggled last season, and drafting Burries would give them another player who can run the offense while also being able to score in secondary actions.

Dallas' other shooting guards such as Max Christie aren't the best at scoring off the bounce or leading the offense, and someone like Burries gives them more offensive capabilities.

This is exactly why the Mavericks should seriously consider drafting him with the No. 9 overall pick.

While finding a player who can handle the brute of point guard duties right away would be nice, this isn't a necessity with Irving on the roster. Irving should remain the team's starting point guard for the time being, and finding a player who can complement him off the ball in the backcourt to begin their career is a major plus.

This isn't to say that Burries will never be able to develop into a lead guard, but the best role for the early days in his NBA career is at shooting guard.

Burries has the body to be a lethal defender

His body type screams this as well, and NBA scouts and personnel at his pro day got a great look at this. Standing at 6-foot-3.75 barefoot with a 6-foot-6 wingspan and weighing 215 pounds, Burries has the frame to play either guard spot.

His strength is easy to see, and this is why he was such a strong defender at Arizona.

He defends multiple positions exceptionally well, and his motor and versatility make him someone whose game would work perfectly in Dallas. The Mavericks need players who can switch on defense and play hard around Flagg while being able to drill open shots on the other end, and this is exactly what Burries does.

His Klutch Sports Pro Day at the Los Angeles Lakers Practice Facility sent a loud message to teams that are interested in drafting him, and for the Mavericks, his potential fit is too strong to ignore.

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