Mavericks should be able to steal 'best perimeter defender in the country' in draft

Emanuel Sharp is projected to be on the board when the Dallas Mavericks are on the clock in the second round, and he's the type of defender that they can't pass up on with their final pick. Most mock drafts have Sharp going in the 50s or even undrafted, meaning Dallas should have the perfect chance to steal him with the No. 48 overall pick if he doesn't rise too far up draft boards.

This is the Mavericks' final pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and with Sharp's Houston teammate Milos Uzan calling him the top defender in college basketball while at the NBA Combine, the case here is obvious. He averaged 15.5 points per game while shooting 37.2 percent from three as a senior as a Cougar, and Uzan's scouting report on him will make Mavs fans fall in love with his game based on where Dallas struggled last season.

Emanuel Sharp would be a no-brainer in the second round

"I feel like he’s a perfect fit in the league as well," Uzan said at the NBA Combine. "He’s a great 3-and-D guy. The best perimeter defender in the country…And he can shoot the ball from deep, and he has a high clip."

Sharp backed up Uzan's claim with a strong performance at the combine, as he looked like the exact dirty-work player Dallas needs in their backcourt. He was drilling threes and playing hard-nosed defense, and he looks like he'll be an excellent role player in the league.

His best fit is at shooting guard, and with Ryan Nembhard and Kyrie Irving not being the most gifted defenders, he'd be able to cover up for them when needed.

You can never have too many 3-and-D players on your team, and the Mavericks desperately need more 3-point shooting and point-of-attack defense if they want to return to the NBA Playoffs. They were among the worst shooting teams in the NBA last season (34.4 percent on 31.9 attempts per game) and struggled defending on the perimeter. Sharp would address both of those needs.

His bread and butter is defending as hard as he can on one end while knocking down open shots on the other, and his development under Kelvin Sampson at Houston helped him turn into one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. His physicality at the point of attack helps him make things hard for opposing ball handlers, and his motor allows him to bring this intensity at all times when he's on the floor.

Sharp fits the winning identity the Mavs need around Flagg

This much effort, physicality, and toughness is rare, especially from a collegiate player, and he fits the mold of the type of player they need to put around Cooper Flagg. He's a leader who takes pride in his offensive and defensive game, and taking him at pick 48 would be a no-brainer.

Coach Sampson ingrained the importance of defense into his mind over his four years as a Cougar, and it resulted in him becoming a top perimeter defender in the country. He always stays glued to his man, even when battling through screens, and his approach on this end helped Houston finish as the No. 2 defense by defensive rating. Sharp was their general, constantly communicating off the ball and setting the tone off the ball.

On top of his skill, he's a clear winner as well. His No. 1 priority has always been winning, and he does whatever it takes to help his team win. These are important qualities for a young team. Flagg's top focus is winning as well, and Masai Ujiri should do his best to bring in players who share this mindset.

Sharp would space the floor, be a menace on defense, provide leadership, and give them backcourt depth, and picking him in the second round would be a major low-risk, high-reward move.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow