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
Dallas City Council halts proposal to close four neighborhood libraries
Dallas City Council members and residents slammed a proposal this week that would have closed at least four libraries throughout the city. While the plan to close these libraries is now on hold, a solution for what to do next is still up in the air.
One of the libraries on the chopping block was the Oak Lawn Branch Library, a space referred to as a neighborhood staple.
“It brings, I think, just a good cultural piece to the community,” said Kevin Miller, the president of the Cedar Springs Merchants Association. “It has the greatest number of authored books for the LGBTQIA generation. It also serves as a resource for folks that may not have access to technology, or the internet, or materials that might be needed to help them get a job.”
But the future of this library is now in limbo, along with three other branches: Skyline, Renner Frankford and Arcadia Park. That’s after residents and city council members raised concerns Tuesday over a city proposal to close the four libraries under a new regional model.
“I think that would be very hurtful for our community, and I know that’s a simple term, but I think it would have ripple effects for future generations,” Miller said.
The new regional model would have extended hours and shifted staff to larger branches. Library officials said the proposed model would have saved the city an estimated $4.5 million. But council member Cara Mendelsohn, whose district includes the Renner Frankford Branch, said the plan was poorly executed.
“The whole plan was developed without input from communities, without input from the library commission, which all of the council members appoint somebody to that, and without even talking to the council member who is in the affected area,” she said.
After unanimous pushback from the council, the plan is now on hold; however, Mendelsohn said taking away services from certain communities to save money isn’t the answer. Some of these libraries also serve as voting locations.
“The truth is we can save all these libraries and have them stay open and serve the residents, and reduce costs in other places pretty easily,” said Mendelsohn.
Community members like Miller agree.
“Just because it’s the easiest doesn’t mean that’s the right thing,” said Miller. “So let’s look a little bit harder and see what else we can do to preserve these places, because they’re important to our community.”
Council is expected to revisit the issue sometime in March.
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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