The 2026 NBA Draft is six days away, and the Dallas Mavericks approach it with three total picks, two of them in the first round. This draft marks the final year the franchise will control a first-round selection until 2031, putting extra pressure on the front office to get the most out of its assets. A year after landing Cooper Flagg, a high-potential defensive prospect, the Mavericks are still searching for the complementary shooting and playmaking that Flagg’s game lacks.

Flagg arrived as a surprise first-round find and immediately gave Dallas a defensive anchor. However, his offensive upside remains limited, and the team’s current core already includes P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall, both of whom can handle the ball and guard multiple positions. What the Mavericks lack is a true floor spacer who can stretch defenses and create open looks for the rest of the roster.

A recent mock draft puts the Mavericks on track to select Karim Lopez, a 6-foot-8, 222-pound wing out of the New Zealand Breakers. Lopez is described as a versatile defender who can handle the ball, but his shooting is not a strength at this point. Adding another 6-foot-8 wing who struggles from the perimeter would duplicate the skill set already present in Washington and Marshall, rather than addressing the team's evident need for a shooter.

The mock draft also ranks Lopez ahead of Kingston Flemings, projected as the 10th-overall guard, and Labaron Philon, slated around the 19th spot. The reasoning behind bypassing those guards is a reluctance to reach for a smaller backcourt player, especially after Mikel Brown Jr. and Brayden Burries were taken earlier. Flemings is widely regarded as the top guard in this class, and Philon is considered a higher-rated prospect than many peers. Both players could provide the perimeter threat that Dallas is missing.

Choosing Lopez therefore raises strategic questions. The Mavericks already possess multiple wing defenders, and their offensive layout would still lack a reliable three-point option. If the team proceeds with Lopez, it will need to supplement the roster elsewhere, through later picks, trades, or free agency, to secure the shooting depth required for a modern, pace-and-space offense. The draft’s outcome will be judged not only by Lopez’s development but also by how quickly the Mavericks can pair Flagg’s defensive instincts with a genuine scoring complement.