The [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/nba/dallas-mavericks) finished the 2025–26 regular season with a 26–56 record, tied for the seventh-worst in the NBA. This is a brutal outcome for a franchise that is now considering how to contend next season amid a ton of uncertainty.
The Mavs community still doesn't know who their head coach will be. Kyrie Irving, who was supposed to return to the court after missing last season due to injury, has now become a serious trade topic.
The only thing everyone knows for sure is that the Mavs are planning to build their team around Cooper Flagg, who averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists this season. And to make it happen, they must use their first-round draft asset carefully. A single mistake will cost them big and absolutely no blunder is acceptable with the No. 9 pick.
After the disappointing season, they secured the ninth overall pick as Dallas continues to build around Flagg and a revamped front office featuring president Masai Ujiri and new GM Mike Schmitz. Dallas will not control their own first-round pick again until 2031, which is exactly why this selection can't be wasted on the wrong guy.
They need to find a player who fits next to Flagg without the benefit of a top-three pick. While Flagg is a strong foundational piece, he needs a reliable on-ball guard to share the playmaking duties.
Last season, the 19-year-old averaged 2.3 turnovers and shot just 29.5 percent from three-point range, largely because he was forced to create too much of the offense himself.
Two names fit the requirement here. One is Arkansas Razorbacks freshman Darius Acuff Jr., who averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game. The Alabama Crimson Tide's Labaron Philon is the other live option. He was the only Division I player last season to average at least 22.0 points and 5.0 assists while shooting 50 percent or better from the field.
When asked about finding a rotation player at No. 9, Schmitz [stated](https://x.com/noahweber00/status/2053574809766785380) last month that he was very confident, noting the team is looking for a versatile player with the right competitive mentality.
To complement Flagg, that player must be a creator who can space the floor and handle the ball, rather than just a safe, athletic wing. If Ujiri keeps the pick and selects the right guard, Dallas can build a proper foundation. Drafting a forward who can't shoot will just leave the team stuck with the exact same problems for years.
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