Sergio De Larrea pick solves one of the Mavericks' biggest backcourt weaknesses

After trading up to draft 6-foot-6 guard Sergio De Larrea with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks have finally addressed their need for more positional size at the point guard position. Last season, Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard were Dallas' starting point guards. With Nembhard standing at 5-foot-11 and Williams at 6-foot-1, this is nowhere near enough size for your point guard tandem.

This guard duo struggled to hold down the fort during Kyrie Irving's return, and lack of height quickly became one of the Mavs' backcourt's biggest weaknesses. Teams torched Dallas at the point of attack, and these players provided little resistance.

De Larrea is vastly different from the Mavericks' other guards

Irving's return will help a little bit, as he is 6-foot-2 with a 6-foot-4 wingspan, but even he is undersized despite being one of the most skilled players of this generation. With Williams likely set to depart in free agency, this left Nembhard and Irving as the team's true point guards for next season before last night's draft. This is not the depth or size they need to compete in a loaded Western Conference, and De Larrea gives the backcourt the boost and shakeup it needed.

Standing at 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, De Larrea has ideal measurements for a jumbo playmaker in today's NBA. These are great measurements, especially for a guard, and he immediately becomes the tallest point guard on the team.

Dallas' backcourt now has a completely different look, and they now have the option to allow a player taller than 6-foot-2 to orchestrate the offense. Cooper Flagg did this as a rookie, but with his best position being off the ball, the Mavs needed to draft another player with size and lead-guard potential.

Positional size is as important as ever in NBA backcourts

Positional size has never been more important in the NBA, as players who are undersized get hunted on defense, and even get played off the floor in playoff settings if they aren't strong defenders or elite at a skill. With De Larrea's size, he'll be just fine.

Size across the board is one thing that isn't talked about enough by fans, and this is a slept-on tool that the Mavericks desperately needed after watching how last season went. They lost the second-most games they've ever lost in the 21st century, and this can't continue.

Their guard play was one of their biggest weaknesses, and it doesn't help that both of their main guards were 6-foot-1 or shorter. De Larrea will tower over Irving and Nembhard, giving them someone who can play on or off the ball while having the height and length to guard up if needed.

De Larrea projects to be a strong fit in Dallas

His defense is still a work in progress, but his motor and feel will help him survive on that end. The Spanish guard has elite basketball IQ on both ends, and this is part of his game that fans should be most excited about. He always seems to make the right play.

De Larrea provides elite vision, precise passing, and strong playmaking as he enters his first season in the NBA. He's also a strong shooter and an underrated driver, and he is much more than a point guard who can pass.

The Valencia guard can knock down open shots, finish around the bucket, and lead the offense, and Mavericks fans should be pumped up about his potential in blue and white. He will give Dallas a completely different look from what they put forth last season with Williams and Nembhard running the show, and a guard room led by Irving, Nembhard, and De Larrea is going to be much stronger than the B-Will-Nemby pairing that played alongside Flagg for most of his rookie year.

For the first time since Luka Doncic was traded during the 2024-25 season, the Mavs will be able to roll out a reliable point guard who isn't physically outmatched compared to his peers.

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