The Dallas Mavericks entered the 2026 NBA Draft with the #9 pick, the #30 pick and a fair amount of trade rumors swirling around them. After selecting Morez Johnson, Jr. at #9, things went dreadfully quiet on the trade front. As subsequent picks were made and the minutes ticked by, it seemed apparent that Dallas would be making a selection at #30 instead of packaging that pick with a veteran in an effort to move up the draft board. Any hope at picking up a young guard to help in the rebuild looked bleak.
Dallas, TX
Wizards Look to Sweep Season Series vs. Mavericks
The 1-8 Washington Wizards are taking on the 2-7 Dallas Mavericks, in a matchup between two of the worst teams in the NBA. This marks the second, and final, time these two teams will match up this season, with the Wizards winning their only game of the season back on Oct. 24 in Dallas.
This time around, both teams are banged up, with Mavericks star Anthony Davis and Wizards stars Kyshawn George and Bilal Coulibaly’s health being in question. With both teams suffering from the injury bug, this could be the perfect opportunity for Washington to sneak out their second win of the season.
If Davis plays, then he will be at the top of the Wizards’ scouting report. His ability to operate as an offensive hub whilst simultaneously being one of the best defenders in the NBA makes him one of the more potent players in all of basketball. However, if Davis doesn’t play, rookie sensation Cooper Flagg will top the Wizards’ report.
Although Flagg has struggled with offensive consistency throughout the early skirts of his NBA career, that doesn’t make his impact any less felt. Flagg is an elite athlete and open floor playmaker, making him a formidable threat in transition.
Along with that, Flagg has elite touch around the basket, allowing him to finish from a variety of angles. Flagg’s shooting touch has wavered throughout the early portions of his rookie year, but he has proven in the past to be more than capable of stepping out and hitting threes — along with having a smooth mid-range game. Flagg is also an elite defender, considering his age, making him all the more impactful to a struggling Mavericks team.
The Mavericks’ lack of secondary creators is what has held them back the most this season. Although they have a plethora of guys that could get hot at any point and impact a game, their lack of consistency makes the team offense waiver from game to game.
PJ Washington and D’Angelo Russel have been the team’s most “consistent” threats, providing a constant offensive gravity. Washington thrives off of playing others —- hunting open space with cuts and relocation —- in turn setting himself up for clean looks. Russell, on the other hand, is the team’s starting point guard, getting the team set in actions and operating as a lead ball handler.
Max Christie, Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall are three guys who make an impact every night, along with being capable of taking over games. Christie and Marshall are both creative scorers who have proven defensive prowess, allowing them to gel into any lineup. Gafford is a prototypical play finishing big, who catches lobs and blocks shots on the other end. Gafford did exit the Mavericks’ last matchup versus the Memphis Grizzlies early with reported ankle soreness, though, leaving his availability up in the air.
As previously mentioned, the Mavericks have a plethora of guys who can get hot at any moment. Brandon Williams stands out as the most consistent threat in the second unit, using his speed and ball handling skill to get to his spots in a hurry. Klay Thompson, although well past his prime, is still one of the best shooters in NBA history, making him someone the Wizards must keep track of if they wish to pull this one off.
The Mavericks have proven the ability in the past to take down the Mavericks, making this a more than winnable game. Both teams being banged up means that others will have to rise to the occasion, filling the shoes of those who are absen’t. In Washington’s case, they will need consistent play from their best player, Alex Sarr, along with a few other guys capitalizing on the moment in hopes of propelling the team to victory.
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With the #30 pick, Dallas selected Koa Peat, Adam Silver said goodnight and that was that. Except it wasn’t. As the first round of the Draft was concluding, rumors started buzzing that the Mavericks were in fact making a move. Details are still being confirmed, but as it stands, Dallas will be trading the #30 pick Koa Peat and two future second-round draft picks to the New York Knicks in exchange for Sergio DeLarrea’s services. The exact second-rounders were still being determined late Tuesday night.
Here are the details we have at this time:
Los Angeles Lakers Received: 24th Overall Pick (Cameron Carr, Baylor)
Dallas Mavericks Received: 25th Overall (Sergio de Larrea, Spain)
Phoenix Suns Received: 30th Overall (Koa Peat, Arizona)
New York Knicks Received: Cash (Lakers), two second-round picks (Mavericks), and three more second-round picks (Suns)
DeLarrea was on the radar of a number of Mavs Moneyball staffers, perhaps none more than Tyler Edsel who wrote an excellent crash course on him and what he can bring to the Mavs. To be clear, it is unlikely he is going to have a massive day-one impact on the team, but the Mavericks really needed to do something to acquire more young talent that fit a position of need. While he may not be as flashy a name as Brayden Burries (whom the Mavs skipped over in favor of Morez) or Labaron Philon, Jr. (who somewhat surprisingly slipped to #22), Dallas really needed to do bolster the guard position and they came through.
If DeLarrea’s shooting transfers to the NBA level, it would be a big boon for a team that struggled from downtown much of last season. While not an immediate impact player, Dallas did well to move up a bit in a low-cost move that keeps all of their other assets intact for what will surely be a summer of retooling via trades and free agency.
Stay tuned for updates, as it is unclear which second-round picks the Mavericks will let go of in this deal.
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What Drake London’s new deal could mean for George Pickens
Falcons WR Drake London is now the NFL’s third-highest paid wide receiver in AAV, signing a four-year, $141 million extension with $100 million guaranteed and $35.26 million per year.
London, who is 25, is the same age as Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, and both are heading into their fifth seasons in the NFL. Pickens too was seeking a long-term contract, but the Cowboys told him and his representation that would not happen this offseason, and he instead signed his $27.3 million franchise tag that keep shim under contract for the 2026 season.
Pickens’ one-year deal on the tag makes him the 17th highest-paid wide receiver in the league in AAV. Should Pickens go out and post a year similar to his 2025 campaign where he had more than 1,400 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, a deal similar to London’s may be in the ballpark of what Pickens could seek. For reference, CeeDee Lamb is the league’s fifth-highest paid WR at $34 million annually. If Pickens surpasses him and is closer to London’s $35 million per year mark, he and Lamb would become the highest-paid WR duo in NFL history, surpassing the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who currently combine for $69 million per year. – Tommy Yarrish
The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Garland Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abby Policastro and Marissa Aulbaugh prosecuted the case.
“This verdict should send a clear message to drug dealers that we will dismantle any effort to peddle deadly fentanyl in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their dedicated collaboration in taking thousands of fentanyl pills off the streets of Dallas.”
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