Mavs Future Focus
Dallas Mavericks Draft Tobi Lawal, Morez Johnson, Signaling Development-Focused Rebuild
Key Points
Morez Johnson Jr., selected at No. 9, is a Michigan guard who helped Dusty May win a national title, started all 40 games last season, and earned recognition as a top young talent entering Dallas.
Sergio De Larrea is a 6-foot-6, 20-year-old Spanish guard developed through Valencia Basket, regarded as one of Europe’s most polished young playmakers with size, vision and efficient shooting.
Koa Peat was drafted No. 30 and then packaged with two second-round picks to move up to No. 25 for Sergio De Larrea; the Knicks later traded Peat to the Suns for three second-rounders.
Dusty May’s hire and the surrounding front-office reset signal a shift toward a development-driven rebuild aimed at long-term contention for Dallas.
Tobi Lawal posted 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game as a Virginia Tech senior on 54/25/76 shooting; he is expected to log limited minutes backing up the Mavericks’ forwards in Year 1.
The Dallas Mavericks drafted Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal with the No. 48 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on June 25, adding a raw but explosive athlete to a roster deep in rebuild mode. Dallas Morning News reported Lawal averaged 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game last season on 54% shooting from the field.
Lawal is a 6-foot-8 London native who didn't pick up a basketball until age 16. He climbed from a Maine prep school to two college programs before landing in the NBA draft — a late-bloomer story that fits perfectly into Dallas's new development-first identity.
From London to Lee Academy to the NBA Draft
Lawal grew up in England with no basketball background. He started playing the sport at 16 and enrolled at Lee Academy, a prep school in Maine, to sharpen his game. WMTW noted he is the latest Lee Academy grad to reach the NBA draft. He then played at VCU before transferring to Virginia Tech for his final two seasons.
At Virginia Tech, Lawal emerged as a defensive force. 247Sports highlighted his two productive seasons, while Hokie Sports noted he became the first Hokie drafted since 2019. His calling card is his athleticism — he posted a 45.5-inch max vertical jump, the best number at the entire 2026 NBA Combine. His three-point shot, at just 25%, remains a work in progress.
Mavericks' Day 1 Moves Set the Draft's Tone
Dallas made waves before Lawal's name was called. The Mavericks took Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. at No. 9 on June 24. Johnson started all 40 games for coach Dusty May at Michigan during the Wolverines' national title run. "It's insane... to play under [May] again in Dallas is a dream," Johnson said, per Sports Illustrated.
Dallas then selected Arizona's Koa Peat at No. 30, only to flip him and two future second-round picks in a three-team trade to move up to No. 25 and land Spanish guard Sergio De Larrea. De Larrea, a 20-year-old developed through Valencia Basket in Spain, is seen as one of Europe's sharpest young playmakers. European scouts called the pick the "steal of the draft" based on his court vision and 40% three-point shooting, per Sports Illustrated.
Dusty May's Hire Anchors a Full Franchise Reset
Lawal's selection sits inside a much bigger shake-up. On June 22, Dallas hired Dusty May as its 11th head coach ever. May had just led Michigan to its first national title since 1989. He becomes the first college coach to jump straight to an NBA head job since 2019. "This is one of the most respected franchises... with a clear commitment to building a championship organization," May said in his introductory press release.
New team president Masai Ujiri is driving what analysts are calling a "sweeping Dallas reset" following the trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers. The franchise is now building around 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. With Flagg (6-foot-9), Johnson (6-foot-11), and Lawal (6-foot-8), Dallas projects to field one of the most switchable defensive frontcourts in the league within two years.
Lawal's Role: Defense First, Development Always
In Year 1, Lawal is expected to play limited minutes backing up Dallas's forward spots. The Dallas Morning News reported his role will focus on defense and rebounding while his offensive game — especially his jumper — gets refined. He may spend time in the G League to accelerate that growth.
Fighting Gobbler noted that despite going undrafted in the first round, several mock drafts had projected Lawal as a potential late first-round pick based on his upside. At No. 48, Dallas is betting on his "jaw-dropping" athleticism and defensive instincts as low-risk, high-reward assets. For a team playing a long game, Lawal is exactly the kind of piece that fits.
Sentiment
Mostly PositivePublishers
14
Articles
14
Reach
28
