Mavs’ dodge of Trae Young only looks better with latest mock draft

When Trae Young hit the open market, 29 other teams inevitably internally explored how the four-time All-Star would fit within their rotation. The Dallas Mavericks inevitably entered the speculative realm, due in no small part to the inconsistency that's plagued them at the point guard position.

By steering clear of Young and allowing another team to trade for him, the Mavericks have ensured that they'll be able to enter the 2026 NBA Draft with complete flexibility.

Christopher Kline of FanSided.com offered an early look at how valuable Dallas' optionality could be. In Kline's latest 2026 NBA mock draft, the Mavericks selected Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 8 overall.

Kline's case for Brown as the ideal option for Dallas is that he'd be an ideal fit alongside Flagg, who excels playing off of high-level playmakers.

"To that point, the Mavs need to get Flagg a proper point guard to shepherd this offense into the future. Flagg is quickly becoming the all-around beast we saw at Duke, but he’s at his best when teammates can feed him favorable looks and tilt the defense to his liking. Enter Mikel Brown Jr."

Brown has issues with inefficiency as a shooter, but his upside has many believing that he could be a legitimate star in the NBA.

Mavericks take Mikel Brown Jr. in Christopher Kline's new mock draft

Brown is listed at 6'5" and 190 pounds and puts his size to use on the offensive end of the floor. He's a dynamic playmaker and assertive scorer who consistently gets to the charity stripe and converts with tremendous efficiency in said scenarios.

Through 10 appearances, Brown is averaging 16.6 points, 5.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 1.9 three-point field goals made per game on .381/.268/.838 shooting.

Whether or not Brown proves to be the ideal target, the reality is that avoiding a trade for Young has made this a valid possibility. Flagg is an adaptable talent, meaning the Mavericks can prioritize the best player available instead of boxing themselves into a rigid definition of who can fit.

Had they traded for Young, however, Dallas would've had to rule all players who need the ball to be effective out before taking another step.

Young is a phenomenal talent, but his ball-dominant nature would've limited additional opportunities for incoming talent. With Young, Flagg, and perhaps even Anthony Davis, the Mavericks would've found themselves struggling to incorporate another player who needs touches to develop.

Instead, Dallas opted to stay the course, trust in the less ball-dominant abilities Kyrie Irving provides, and open the door to a transformative 2026 NBA Draft.