Mavericks Linked to Sophisticated Ball-Handler in NBA Draft

The Dallas Mavericks are going through a major rebuild under new team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz, and one of the most important aspects of the future of this team is securing talent for what’s ahead.

That’s why the 2026 NBA draft is so important to the Mavericks.

In a mock out on Saturday, May 23, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report offers up his projections for the upcoming draft. He has Dallas going with Chris Cenac Jr. out of Houston.

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“In our hypothetical deal, Dallas has given Flagg a franchise floor general in Ball and a high-end three-and-D wing with Cameron Carr,” he says in the piece. “Now, the Mavericks can attack the interior, where Daniel Gafford looms as a logical trade candidate (should Dallas go asset-hunting) and Dereck Lively III keeps encountering availability issues. Cenac would be a fascinating dart to throw.”

My Take: Chris Cenac Jr. to the Mavs

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Cenac has the size and athleticism teams love in a modern big man, but what makes him really exciting is how smoothly he moves for someone his size. At 6-foot-10 with a massive 7-foot-5 wingspan, he can protect the rim, run the floor and even knock down outside shots when needed. That kind of versatility is hard to find.

Pairing him with Cooper Flagg would give the offense a lot more space to work with, because defenders would have to respect his shooting ability while also dealing with his size around the basket.

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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 11:44 AM.