2026 NBA mock draft roundup: Who do the Dallas Mavs take at pick No. 9?
The Dallas Mavericks will pick in the top 10 of the 2026 NBA Draft for the second straight season, and hope this year’s selection can provide an impact similar to that of Cooper Flagg.
The draft takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barclays Center. Which top college and international prospects do pundits predict the Mavs will target with the ninth pick?
The consensus seems to be that the Mavs will target a point guard, which makes sense as the Mavs’ current lead guard, Kyrie Irving, is 34 and missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL.
Isaac Trotter, CBS Sports
This decision is between Michigan center Aday Mara or a point guard. Atlanta’s defense would be one of the best units in the league with Mara in the fold, but Atlanta has a second first-round pick at No. 23. Almost all the point guards are likely gone at that point, but there are some intriguing bigs on the market in the early 20s. That leaves an interesting two-by-two decision at stake. Do you like a (Kingston) Flemings-Henri Veesaar combination more than the best-case scenario that you can get Mara at No. 8 and then maybe Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie at No. 23?
Selection: Houston PG Kingston Flemings
Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo Sports
Karim López checks a lot of boxes with his excellent physical tools, a hard-nosed approach, a well-rounded ability to defend multiple positions and handle the ball, and a blossoming shot. But he’s thus far more of a jack of all trades since his jumper runs hot and cold, and he lacks the burst to blow by defenders off the bounce. Regardless, not every player is drafted with stardom in mind. López has all the requisite skills to enhance a star teammate as a key piece on a winning team.
Selection: New Zealand Breakers forward Karim López
Brett Siegel, Clutch Points
Forward Nate Ament has been selective with his workouts and opted not to participate in one with the Warriors, which backs up claims that the Bucks have given him a promise at No. 10 overall. One spot in front of Milwaukee, it’s the Mavs who could surprise many and take a chance on Ament should he fall to them in this spot. Masai Ujiri never ceases to disappoint when it comes to draft theatrics, and new GM Mike Schmitz has a better pulse on draft prospects than any other executive in the league.
Selection: Tennessee forward Nate Ament
Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report
In a perfect world, then, they’d spend this pick on someone who can contribute right away but also offer long-term potential. That’s essentially what they could be getting with Brayden Burries. Short-term, he’d be a snug-fitting running mate for (Kyrie) Irving as a physical off-guard who can shoot, defend and rebound. Long-term, Burries has a non-zero chance to cement himself as Flagg’s sidekick if his flashes of on-ball creation become go-to parts of his arsenal.
Selection: Arizona guard Brayden Burries
Jeremy Woo, ESPN
Brayden Burries has drawn a good amount of interest inside the top 10 but has not scheduled many workouts, appearing comfortable with his potential landing spots, including the Clippers, Hawks, Mavericks and Warriors. His pre-draft process has largely been under the radar. Any of those teams would give him an opportunity to contribute in a role in a competitive context right away.
Selection: Arizona guard Brayden Burries
Reese Kunz, Rip City Project
Brayden Burries may not have that same ceiling because of his lack of a go-to trait, but it’s also difficult to find a flaw in his well-rounded game. The ceiling of this roster is one where Flagg has the ball in his hands, initiating the offense as a point forward. They need guards who can contribute to winning without the ball, and Burries’ two-way impact makes him the perfect fit.
Selection: Arizona guard Brayden Burries
Ben Couch, NBA.com
Switchable and impossible to pin down, Brayden Burries projects to be a two-way terror, and potentially a game-changer on defense.
Selection: Arizona guard Brayden Burries
James Fletcher III, ON3.com
The Dallas Mavericks made a complete change to the franchise over the last year, eventually handing the keys to 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. With a new vision and GM in the door, it is time to fill out the roster around the future cornerstone. Brayden Burries built his value as a combo guard throughout the season at Arizona, helping drive success. However, he must continue to develop consistency to complete his game, which has plenty to build on moving forward.
Selection: Arizona guard Brayden Burries
J. Kyle Mann, The Ringer
Many have Keaton Wagler higher on their boards than this (I’m one of them), but if the guard order shakes out this way, Dallas could be a good fit. The idea of pairing his fantastic positional size, elite shooting, and versatility with Cooper Flagg is something that I’ve been thinking about for quite some time. There aren’t many (if any) players in this class who can provide the shooting gravity that Wagler can while also being able to take the reins as a facilitator. I think he’d make Cooper’s life easier by supporting him when they share the court and also spelling him.
Selection:Illinois guard Keaton Wagler
