The Dallas Mavericks have two first-round picks to work with in the 2026 NBA draft.
The Mavericks own their first-round pick this year, but they also acquired the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first-round selection in the trade with the Washington Wizards for Anthony Davis. NBA Draft On SI contributor Derek Parker conducted a recent mock draft where the team selected Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner.
“In the scenario that the Mavericks don’t take a lead guard with their top pick, a gamble with the newly-acquired Thunder pick makes sense. Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner fits the bill as a do-it-all guard with first-round stock,” Parker wrote.
“Tanner’s amid a breakout season, averaging 18.6 points on 39% 3-point shooting, boasting mistake-free play-making and impeccable defense for his size at 2.5 steals per game. The only catch being he’s 6-foot tall, potentially entering a league that’s fading away from undersized guards.
“Tanner’s athleticism and plus-defense makes his size less of a factor, but it’s still hard to make his case over other first-round guards. In a world where Dallas has both Cooper Flagg and Caleb Wilson backing him up, they’d likely feel just fine about risking this pick.”