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Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. celebrates during the first half of the NCAA college basketball tournament national championship game against UConn at the Final Four, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo\/Michael Conroy)<\/p>\n
Michael Conroy\/AP<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Dallas Mavericks<\/a> selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 pick in the NBA draft<\/a> Tuesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n With the selection, it\u2019s clear the Mavericks prioritized versatility and length and believe the 20-year-old will become the \u201cdifference-maker\u201d they need, as new general manager Mike Schmitz<\/a> told The Dallas Morning News last month.<\/p>\n The Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick, followed by Darryn Peterson to Utah at No. 2, Cameron Boozer to Memphis at No. 3 and Caleb Wilson to Chicago with the fourth pick. The LA Clippers picked Keaton Wagler with the fifth pick, followed by Brooklyn\u2019s selection of Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 6, Darius Acuff to Sacramento at No. 7 and Kingston Flemings to Atlanta at No. 8.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The first eight picks of the draft were accurately projected by several national mock drafts, but the Mavericks\u2019 selection of Johnson was the first shake-up since he was projected as a late lottery pick.<\/p>\n Johnson joins a Mavericks team headlined by Cooper Flagg<\/a>, the Rookie of the Year and last year\u2019s No. 1 overall draft pick.<\/p>\n Johnson helped the Wolverines post a 37-3 record last season en route to a national championship. In 40 games, he averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks for Michigan, which won its first title in 37 years under new Mavericks coach Dusty May.<\/p>\n The 6-9, 250-pound wing aligns with the archetype of many of Masai Ujiri\u2019s former No. 1 draft picks, a versatile forward who plays physical and can excel on both ends of the floor. He was efficient at the rim in college,\u00a0finishing 62.3% of his field goals as a sophomore at Michigan. His addition will provide Dallas with another strong defender, especially in the\u00a0frontcourt next to Flagg and Dereck Lively II.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The Mavericks entered Tuesday\u2019s draft with some intrigue surrounding their plans for the No. 9 pick, especially after naming a new head coach<\/a>. All three of May\u2019s former Michigan players \u2013 Johnson, Aday Mara, and Yaxel Lendeborg \u2013 were in Dallas\u2019 range for this selection. Lendeborg went 11th to Golden State and Mara was selected with the 12th pick by Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he had a little bit to do with it, but not that much,\u201d Johnson said in an interview with ESPN. \u201cWe\u2019re the Michigan Mavs now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n