Mavericks' Sergio De Larrea trade-up fixes concern raised by Morez Johnson Jr. pick

The Dallas Mavericks' shooting was doubted even more after they drafted Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Dallas was one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA last season, and with Johnson Jr. attempting less than one 3-pointer per game last season at Michigan, he doesn't seem like the player who will instantly fix Dallas' shooting woes.

This was one of the biggest talking points after the pick, but the Mavs silenced the doubters by trading up from the 30th pick to the No. 25 pick to select Valencia's Sergio De Larrea and strengthen their shooting and guard play. There was serious buzz about Dallas looking to trade up from pick 30 in the days leading up to the draft, and their move for De Larrea proved those rumors true.

Sergio De Larrea's shooting will help the Mavs immediately

He's a 6-foot-6 guard from Spain, and one of his biggest strengths is shooting. The newest Dallas Maverick will make up for what Johnson Jr. lacks, and his year last season for Valencia in the Liga ACB proves this.

The 20-year-old Spanish guard averaged 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 40.7 percent from three, and it's easy to see why his jumper should be strong at the next level. He is slightly better at shooting off the catch than he is off the dribble, but his versatility in this area will help Dallas significantly.

Sergio is confident off the catch, even with defenders closing out, and this should help him play either guard spot. This makes him a strong fit next to Kyrie Irving, and his size should help him in this area as well.

De Larrea offers more than just 3-point shooting

They need more shot creation if they want their offense to turn around, and De Larrea certainly brings this. He is extremely skilled with the ball in his hands, and with the Mavs needing another ball handler with Brandon Williams set to hit free agency, this pick helps shore up their backcourt at the perfect time.

Fans were worried that Mike Schmitz and Masai Ujiri were ignoring the backcourt completely after seeing them draft Johnson Jr., a big man with limited offensive versatility, early in the first round, but the sudden De Larrea trade changed this narrative.

The Mavericks gained more playmaking, positional size, and shooting by picking Sergio, and he was the perfect pick to cap off Dallas' first round.

They get dirty work, rebounding, and defensive versatility in the frontcourt with the Johnson Jr. pick. De Larrea gives them a player with the potential to be a lead ball handler. Sergio is confident with the ball in his hands, and his passing, transition play, and high basketball IQ will make him a strong fit next to Cooper Flagg.

Dallas had an impressive first night at the 2026 NBA Draft, and any shooting concerns were erased by their late decision to trade up to select Sergio De Larrea.

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