The Dallas Mavericks finished another tanking season, parting ways with Anthony Davis, and ending with a record of 26-56. With that, they’ll have a top pick in the draft, giving them someone they can pair with their young star, Cooper Flagg.
In Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report’s latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft, the Mavericks once again defy the odds, and land the No. 1 overall pick. They then use that pick to draft BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa.
“A second consecutive No. 1 pick for the Mavericks? Let the conspiracy theories fly, folks. Seriously, though, how incredible would this be for the franchise? Look, that Luka Dončić will always be remembered as a disaster, but Cooper Flagg has already shown cornerstone potential, and Dybantsa has all of the qualities needed to do the same…Between Flagg’s versatility and Dybantsa’s forever coveted archetype, Dallas could rebuild this roster however it wants. Or maybe the Mavs mess around and become a force in the Western Conference already next season if Dybantsa hits the ground sprinting and Kyrie Irving shows no ill effects from the ACL tear he suffered in March 2025,” Buckley wrote.
This past season with the Cougars, Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals in 34.8 minutes per game. Combine that with Flagg’s talents, and the Mavs could have the best back-to-back draft duos since the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Pairing these two would set Dallas up to have a superstar duo as their core for years to come. They would have two stars to build around, and create a contender that can match the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and all the other perennial playoff teams.
Hopefully, this mock draft comes true, and the Mavs have a future to look forward to.
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