Mavericks executive reveals the real reason Dallas changed its draft strategy

Mavericks executive reveals the real reason Dallas changed its draft strategy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Mavericks entered the 2026 offseason with plenty of uncertainty surrounding the franchise. Despite having one of the league’s brightest young stars in Cooper Flagg, Dallas struggled to find consistency throughout the season and ultimately fell short of expectations.
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After enduring a difficult season that featured roster instability, defensive shortcomings, and significant organizational changes, the Mavericks approached the 2026 NBA Draft with a clear vision. Their focus centered on adding length, athleticism, and defensive versatility across multiple positions. Recently, Mavericks executive Mike Schmitz explained why those traits have become valuable in today’s NBA.
“With the evolution of shooting, there’s even more space you need to cover & more ground you need to cover defensively. With the pace of play & just kind of the modernization of the game, having players who are bigger, longer, faster, stronger & just take up more space allows you to cover up more mistakes. We’re really excited about the size that we’ve added, the athleticism that we’ve added & these last couple of days showed that,” Schmitz said.
The Mavericks selected four prospects during this year’s draft as part of that strategy. Dallas used the No. 9 overall pick to draft Michigan defensive standout Morez Johnson Jr. The team later added Sergio De Larrea with the 30th overall selection.
On the second day of the draft, the Mavericks continued strengthening their roster by selecting Tobi Lawal with the 48th pick. Dallas also completed a separate draft-night transaction with the Los Angeles Lakers, acquiring the draft rights to Vsevolod Ishchenko in exchange for cash considerations.
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Dallas’ approach to the 2026 draft reflected a direct response to the issues that plagued the team throughout last season. Ultimately, the organization’s goal is to accelerate the team’s development around Cooper Flagg and build a roster better suited for the modern NBA.

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