After a strong week at the NBA Combine in Chicago, former Arkansas Razorback Trevon Brazile made a great case for the Dallas Mavericks to draft him with the No. 48 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Dallas has three picks in this year's draft, including No. 9 and 30, but what they do with their second-round pick will be crucial as well. Someone like Brazile would be a steal in the second round, and his performance at the combine proved this.
It all started with his measurements. Brazile measured at 6-foot-9.5 barefoot with a 7-foot-3.75 wingspan to go along with a 9-foot-1 standing reach. This is incredible size and length for a versatile power forward, and drafting a frontcourt player who will be listed at 6-foot-10 at the very least with his skills in the second round doesn't happen often.
A day later, he posted a 35-inch standing vertical leap, a 41.5-inch maximum vertical leap, and a 2.71-second shuttle run. These all ranked in the top five at the combine, and a player who's nearly 6-foot-10 without shoes on putting up these kinds of athletic numbers is not normal.
Trevon Brazile's freak combine is hard to ignore
Brazile is a freak athlete for his size, and stealing him in the second round would give the Mavericks an A+ draft if they hit on their first two picks. He's the type of guy who could turn a good draft into a great one due to the ceiling his intangibles help provide, and he's someone to keep an eye on for the Mavericks given their roster needs. They've already been predicted to draft him in a mock draft from ESPN, and this was before he was a combine standout.
We already know that Dallas is going to draft a difference-maker ninth overall. Someone like Kingston Flemings, Mikel Brown Jr., or Brayden Burries would give their backcourt a major boost, but what they do later in the draft could end up being just as important.
The Mavericks need more than one impact player to return to the playoffs, and this starts in the draft. They need to ace this offseason to put a much better roster around Cooper Flagg, and finding a way to draft Brazile on day two of the 2026 NBA Draft would be a great start.
In his final year at Arkansas, he averaged 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from downtown on 3.7 attempts. He was a key reason for their success, and his strong season under John Calipari carried over into his showing in his combine scrimmages.
Yesterday, he finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, and a steal in his final scrimmage of the week. This included catching a lob from Jeremy Fears Jr., knocking down two threes, and using his length on the wing to cause havoc and lead to offense on the other end. This type of performance shows that he can be exactly what the Mavericks need, as they've missed having a stretch big over the last few years.
Brazile would fill Dallas' longtime frontcourt problem
Marvin Bagley III was the closest thing they've had to that in the 22 games he played for Dallas last season, but outside of him, they've lacked consistent floor spacing in the frontcourt. It has been one of their main weaknesses as of late, and Brazile would definitely help them get back on track. He's a good rhythm shooter whom defenses have to close out on, and having another threat from long range would help make life easier for everyone else on the floor.
Brazile is the type of second-round pick that would be the nail in the coffin for a draft masterclass for Dallas. His blend of size, length, and athleticism makes him a can't-miss prospect in the second round, and his inside-out play is the cherry on top. He loves to run in transition and catch lobs, but he can play in the dunker's spot and drill open shots as well.
If Brazile is on the board when Dallas is on the clock in the second round, he's the type of swing they can't afford to pass on.
