Mavs' missing lottery magic doesn't mean Cooper Flagg won't get help

TL;DR

The Dallas Mavericks will select 9th in the 2026 NBA Draft after missing out on the top pick. However, the draft is expected to be highly competitive, providing opportunities for talent acquisition.

Key points

Dallas Mavericks will pick 9th in the 2026 NBA Draft
Mavericks previously had the No. 1 pick in 2025
2026 draft is expected to be highly competitive

Cooper FlaggDallas Mavericks2026 NBA Draft

Mavs' missing lottery magic doesn't mean Cooper Flagg won't get help originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A year ago at this time, the Dallas Mavericks had a massive win. Despite long odds, they earned the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft lottery, allowing them to take Cooper Flagg.

That magic dust wasn't there on Sunday, so the Mavs will pick No. 9 in the loaded 2026 NBA Draft.

The good news, though, is this draft is stacked.

If the Mavericks were hoping to get a strong running mate for Cooper Flagg, that's very much available.

"The Mavs, however, are in desperate need of shooting as they build around Cooper Flagg, who averaged 21.0 points per game during his Rookie of the Year campaign, despite poor spacing around him," ESPN's Tim MacMahon wrote in a new article on Monday.

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Dallas likely has at least some sense already of who might be available.

Q&A

Why did the Dallas Mavericks drop to the 9th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft?

The Mavericks missed the lottery magic that previously allowed them to secure the No. 1 pick, resulting in their current 9th position.

Who is Cooper Flagg and how does he relate to the Mavericks?

Cooper Flagg is a highly regarded prospect who was previously selected by the Mavericks when they had the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

What makes the 2026 NBA Draft considered loaded?

The 2026 NBA Draft is considered loaded due to the depth of talent available, providing teams like the Mavericks with valuable opportunities to enhance their roster.