​Cameron Boozer shot just 7-of-17 from the field in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 96-88 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday at Thomas & Mack Center. Vsevolod Ishchenko, who was selected 56th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, played a pivotal role in those results.In order to acquire Ishchenko, the Mavericks traded cash considerations to the Los Angeles Lakers for his draft rights. The pick had traded hands multiple times: the Lakers first sent cash to the Chicago Bulls to acquire the pick, then quickly flipped Ishchenko’s rights to Dallas for cash of their own. It was a low-risk investment in a 6-foot-8 wing with high upside shown in the VTB United League.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith Morez Johnson Jr. sidelined due to calf soreness, the defensive assignment on Boozer, the No. 3 overall pick and reigning Naismith and Wooden Award winner out of Duke, fell to Ishchenko for the bulk of the night.Boozer, at 253 pounds, just pulled off a freshman season at Duke averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. At 218 pounds, Ishchenko had never faced NBA-level size or physicality in three seasons with Lokomotiv Kuban. By all accounts, one would view this as a mismatch.READ MORE: Mavs Impressed By Rookie’s ‘Poise’ As Lead Guard in Summer LeagueIshchenko finished with 6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. However, what shows beyond the box score is how he limited Boozer at the rim and challenged him into tougher shots than in his first three Vegas games. Boozer still finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds on 3-of-5 shooting from the free-throw line, but his efficiency was uncharacteristically low for a player who’d comfortably hit 20 points in each of his previous two games. Additionally, he turned the ball over 3 times.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”You just fight him and fight him for the whole game,” said Mavericks coach Joe Boylan, pointing to Ishchenko’s size, activity and instincts as the reasons the assignment worked. “Like most defenders, it starts with a mentality. Are you willing to put your body on the line against a bigger, maybe stronger guy?”READ MORE: Miami Heat Eyes Klay Thompson Trade; What Should Mavs Get Back?Ishchenko was a VTB United League All-Star and Young Player of the Year, shooting 50.6% from the field and 46.1% from three in 43 games for Lokomotiv Kuban. He spent two seasons impressing in Russia. He won back-to-back VTB Youth League MVP honors before his senior debut in September 2024. Monday’s game was his best two-way performance in Vegas, showing the potential Dallas saw when evaluating him.As it stands, it remains to be seen how Ishchenko factors into the Mavericks’ roster plans for the 2026-27 season, or if he will be a stash player in the short term.