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Mikel Brown Jr. could fall right into Dallas' lap if these eight picks go right way originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Mavericks hold the No. 9 pick in the NBA Draft. This is their last controlled first-round selection until 2031.
With Cooper Flagg established as the franchise cornerstone, Dallas needs guard creation, point-of-attack defense, and players who fit next to a high-usage playmaker. The front office, led by new team president Masai Ujiri, has little room for error.
Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. fits these requirements. As the top-ranked point guard in the 2025 recruiting class, Brown earned ACC All-Rookie and third-team All-ACC honors as a freshman.
His season was highlighted by a 45-point game against NC State, which broke both the Louisville program and ACC freshman single-game scoring records.
Across 21 games, Brown averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds. He shot 41% from the field and 34.4% from three-point range. However, a back injury forced him to miss 14 games and sidelined him for the postseason.
That injury is no longer a concern now. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Brown's back is fully healed heading into the pre-draft process and he has since worked out for Dallas, which also holds No. 30 and No. 48 alongside No. 9 pick.
But there is a big catch because Brown's range on draft night is wide. Mock drafts have him going anywhere from No. 5 to as late as No. 8, meaning Dallas needs guards-needy teams like the Clippers (No. 5), Nets (No. 6), Kings (No. 7), and Hawks (No. 8) to look elsewhere.
SportDFW’s Cem Yolbulan recently shared a mock draft detailing the eight picks ahead of Dallas. If the draft follows this exact sequence, Mikel Brown Jr. will easily become a Maverick:
Wizards: AJ Dybantsa
Jazz: Darryn Peterson
Grizzlies: Cam Boozer
Bulls: Caleb Wilson
Clippers: Keaton Wagler
Nets: Darius Acuff Jr.
Kings: Kingston Flemings
Hawks: Aday Mara
He has already conducted pre-draft workouts for the Clippers, Nets and Hawks, signaling clear interest up the board. If these franchises select wings, bigs, or other guards instead, Brown becomes a realistic target for Dallas.
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