Mavericks' Vsevolod Ishchenko trade with Lakers looks like round 2 robbery

The Dallas Mavericks' night seemed over after they drafted Tobi Lawal with the No. 48 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. This was the last pick that they owned after taking Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio De Larrea in the first round the night before, but Dallas pulled off a shocker by acquiring the draft rights to Vsevolod Ishchenko through trading cash considerations to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Vsevolod Ishchenko is a diamond in the rough

The Lakers and Mavericks were part of two separate trades with one another during the 2026 NBA Draft, as a trade sent Cameron Carr to Los Angeles and De Larrea to Dallas. The Ishchenko move was the cherry on top of a busy two days for the Mavericks, and there's a real case that he's one of the biggest steals of the second round.

Henri Veesaar falling to pick 52 is obviously a major steal as well, along with Isaiah Evans at No. 33, but Ishchenko needs to be in this conversation as well. Dallas got him for cash. That's robbery. They didn't even have to use a pick to land him, and the Lakers will be furious if they just gifted the Mavericks a future rotation player.

The 6-foot-8 Russian wing averaged 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game for Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League last season while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 46.3 percent from three. These stats may not jump off the page upon first glance, but watching his film and diving into his efficiency makes it clear why he's one of the best value picks of round two.

There's no way that a 6-foot-8 player who shot better than 45 percent from downtown should be a late second-round pick, and Mavericks fans should remember Ishchenko's name. He has real talent, and him earning a standard NBA deal one day would tilt this trade with the Lakers completely in Dallas' favor.

This is a low-risk, high-reward move by the Mavericks, and the Lakers are betting on him not developing. Mike Schmitz and Masai Ujiri seem to think otherwise.

His offensive game is extremely advanced for a second-round wing

Despite being the size of a wing, he has some serious guard skills. Ishchenko can operate out of the pick and roll, drill jumpers from long range off the dribble, pick apart the defense with his playmaking, push the pace in transition, and finish strong at the rim.

Many players selected this late in the draft can fall into the trap of being one-dimensional, but that's not the case with him. Despite being a flashy offensive player with a knack for making highlight plays and incredible passes, he has real two-way potential.

Ishchenko is much more than a flashy passer and strong shooter

His athleticism and length help him thrive as a help-side rim protector on opposing drives, and he has great instincts as an off-ball defender as well. Feel is important, especially in today's NBA, and the recent second-round pick does not lack in that department. He's good at playing the passing lanes and has active hands, and his size and 7-foot wingspan should help him defend forwards effectively.

Ishchenko's game is complete, and Dallas found a high-value pick with the fifth-last selection of the draft. There's a real path for him to secure a roster spot one day, depending on how their roster shakes out this summer, and the Mavericks certainly took a swing here.

If he pans out, he could be a home run for a team looking to put young talent around Cooper Flagg. The 21-year-old Russian has real signs of being an NBA wing, and the upside is what should have fans excited.

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