DALLAS, Texas — The NBA draft unfolded without the fireworks many fans expected, with no lottery-day trades as teams largely stuck to their boards. Still, the Dallas Mavericks drew attention with their first-round selection.
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Mavericks take Morez Johnson Jr. at No. 9 in quiet NBA draft first round
Dallas used the ninth overall pick to take big man Morez Johnson Jr., adding size and defense and a player their new head coach already knows well. Johnson played his freshman season at Illinois before transferring to Michigan, where he reunited with Dusty May.
That move paid off quickly. May led the Wolverines to a 64-13 record over two seasons, and Johnson started all 40 games during Michigan’s national championship season. He was named to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team and the NCAA All-Tournament Team after establishing himself as one of the top defenders in college basketball.
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While some draft experts expected Dallas to target a higher-upside prospect, the Mavericks chose a player seen as a culture fit who can contribute right away. Johnson’s rebounding, physicality and defensive presence are expected to pair well with top pick Cooper Flagg as Dallas continues building a young core with an eye on winning now and in the future.