With the 2025-26 season almost over, the Dallas Mavericks look forward to the 2026 NBA Draft. With the organization hoping to acquire young talent for the roster in the offseason, CEO Rick Welts explains why the upcoming draft is so important for the franchise.
Welts said the Mavericks are aiming to add more than one prospect in the draft who they plan on playing for the team for a long time. Dallas is projected to be a top 10 pick and could potentially add more draft capital before the draft begins.
"This is going to be a really important draft for us because we'll be picking up at least a few players that will probably be a part of our roster for a long time," Welts said.
Dallas is gearing up for a busy offseason. Ideally before the 2026 NBA Draft, the Mavericks need to find a new general manager to replace Nico Harrison. Depending on how the draft goes, it could determine other moves the club makes in free agency or trades.
With a 23-47 record and 12 games remaining on the schedule, the Mavericks are well back in the play-in tournament mix. They're technically not out yet, but the trajectory for the team is to miss the playoffs altogether. If so, it would be the second consecutive campaign where Dallas fails to reach the postseason.
We'll see how the postseason plays out for the Mavericks. Depending on the steps taken by the club, they could change things. Especially considering that Cooper Flagg will be going into his second year, and Kyrie Irving is expected to return from injury. Add in an exciting prospect, and you have an attractive roster for next season.
