DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks enter the 2026 NBA Draft with one priority above the rest: surrounding Cooper Flagg with the right complementary talent.
On the latest Dallas Hoops Journal podcast, draft analyst Ersin Demir, who does basketball talent evaluation on his NBA Draft Newsletter, broke down how Dallas should approach the No. 9 pick, the No. 30 pick, and the second round. His central argument was that the Mavericks should prioritize fit over raw upside now that they have a franchise cornerstone in place.
Cooper Flagg’s Rookie Year and Long-Term Fit
Demir said Cooper Flagg projects as a power wing, the most valuable archetype in the league, and a scorer who will do his best work inside the arc as he continues to add strength. Flagg won Rookie of the Year after Dallas experimented with him as a primary ball handler, an arrangement Demir viewed as a developmental exercise rather than his long-term role.
The priority, Demir said, is giving Flagg more floor spacing and secondary creation. Flagg’s three-point shooting remained a work in progress as a rookie, and Demir attributed part of that to the lack of consistent perimeter shooting around him.
The Case at No. 9
Demir identified strength, a quick first step, and mid-range scoring as the traits Dallas should target with its first selection. He named Brayden Burries of Arizona and Kingston Flemings of Houston as his preferred fits, describing both as physical guards who can play off Flagg’s gravity without requiring heavy usage.
He also discussed Labaron Philon of Alabama, a combo guard he praised for his composure and ability to create advantages off the dribble, and Mikel Brown Jr. of Louisville, a dynamic downhill scorer whose pick-and-roll playmaking would demand a larger on-ball role. Demir cautioned that a high-usage guard such as Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas would pull the ball away from Flagg, making him a less natural fit.
Wing and Frontcourt Swings
If Dallas passes on a guard at No. 9, Demir pointed to Karim López, a physical wing with two seasons of NBL experience, as a long-term developmental bet better suited as a screener and off-ball finisher than a shot creator. He framed the approach as building a defense-first, length-heavy roster.
For the frontcourt, Demir highlighted Koa Peat of Arizona as a rugged, undersized big who would complement Flagg, and suggested Dallas target Maliq Brown of Duke early in the second round to reunite Flagg with a former teammate and high-level interior defender.
Late-Round Value
Demir floated Sergio de Larrea of Valencia as a traditional playmaking option in the late first round, citing his fundamentals and development in the Spanish system. He stressed that second-round picks should carry an outlier skill, with shooting the most important, and named several defenders and shooters worth monitoring through the pre-draft process.
Building Around the Core
Beyond the draft, Demir said Cooper Flagg, Dereck Lively II, and Naji Marshall stand out as the Mavericks’ clearest long-term pieces. He viewed P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford as movable contracts that hold trade value, giving Dallas flexibility as it reshapes the roster around Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
