Mavericks launch new era, selecting Morez Johnson Jr. of Michigan with No. 9 pick in 2026 NBA Draft
The Dallas Mavericks opened a new era on a pivotal draft night Tuesday, selecting Morez Johnson Jr. of Michigan with the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft – the first major move under new head coach Dusty May and a restructured front office.
Johnson started all 40 games for Michigan last season, emerging as a breakout sophomore after starting just eight games as a freshman at Illinois, and capped his rise with a double‑double in the national title game under May. He was the 2023-24 Gatorade Illinois Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
The Mavericks later drafted Koa Peat, a versatile 6‑7 forward from Arizona, with the No. 30 pick. Dallas then sent Peat and two second‑rounders to New York for No. 25 pick Sergio De Larrea, and the Knicks subsequently moved Peat to the Phoenix Suns for three second‑rounders, according to multiple reports.
With the franchise not expected to control its own first‑rounder again until 2031, this draft represents a rare – and critical – opportunity for the new regime to reshape the roster's long‑term core.
Leadership overhaul shapes direction
Shortly before draft day, the team hired May, the former Michigan national championship coach, to lead the squad, continuing an organizational overhaul under recently installed front‑office leadership. The shift signals a fresh direction centered on player development and long‑term roster construction.
May comes to Dallas after guiding Michigan to its first national title since 1989, a run that vaulted him into the upper tier of college coaches. Now, the 49‑year‑old turns his attention to an NBA roster headlined by Flagg and a Mavericks team eager to return to championship contention.
