Mavericks Take Morez Johnson Jr. at No. 9 to Bolster Cooper Flagg's Core

3 articles · Updated · Mavs Moneyball · Jun 24

Dallas used the ninth pick on Morez Johnson Jr., a 6-foot-9, 250-pound Michigan wing, after slipping one spot from the lottery’s eighth-best odds.
Johnson’s rise accelerated through the season and combine as scouts bought into his two-way upside beyond a traditional center profile.
At Michigan, he averaged 12.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while shooting better than 60%, building his value with rebounding, rim protection and lob-finishing.
Dallas sees that skill set as a way to address defensive and versatility issues after missing the 2025-26 playoffs and to better fit the roster around franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg.
The pick is the first lottery decision by new front-office leaders Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz, making it an early test of their roster-building plan.