Everything appears to be on the table for the Mavericks’ front office when it comes to building around Cooper Flagg, including a deal involving their No. 9 pick in the NBA draft.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line is reporting Dallas has told teams it is open to moving up or down the draft order from the No. 9 slot. After Fisher explained the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks, who pick at No. 7 and No. 8, are comfortable with their draft positions, he wrote that the Mavericks are not a certainty to stay put.
“Sources say that the Mavericks have told rival teams that they are very much open for trades in either direction with their No. 9 pick,” Fischer said.
New team president Masai Ujiri has expressed confidence in the ninth overall selection, but he has a history of making aggressive moves with draft picks to try and improve. While with the Toronto Raptors, he traded a 2019 first-round pick as part of a deal to acquire Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs.
A move up the draft would likely be in pursuit of a player the Mavericks covet, while a move back could mean additional picks in 2026, or that a proven NBA player is headed to Dallas. The Dallas Morning News’ latest mock draft has the team selecting guard Mikel Brown Jr. out of Louisville with the No. 9 pick, but that could change if the Mavs find a way to alter their draft position.