Rumors are circling that Dallas Mavericks president Masai Ujiri is open to trading the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Ujiri has a track record for holding onto picks, with an emphasis on scouting and getting the most out of his draft capital. With this context, it’s likely he has some kind of strategy in place if the Mavericks have mobility in the draft. The 2026 class is absolutely loaded throughout the first round, making the ninth pick an enticing asset for both rebuilding franchises and potential contenders.
As talented as the entire class is, it still manages to be top-heavy, with potential franchise-altering prospects such as AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson leading the headlines. Moving further up the draft will take a significant investment, but with Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg proving himself as the real deal, finding a legitimate sidekick for him may become a priority in Dallas.
Regressing down the draft order is also a viable option. With a deep talent pool and the elite scouting emphasis of Ujiri and GM Mike Schmitz, the Mavericks may be able to turn one pick into several great pieces. Let’s take a look at the optimal outcome for both scenarios.
Best Case Scenarios If Mavericks Trade 9th Overall Pick
Trading Up
Mavericks receive: 4th overall pick and Patrick Williams
Chicago Bulls receive: 9th and 30th overall picks, a 2029 first round pick (via the Los Angeles Lakers) and Daniel Gafford
At face value, this seems like an absolute overpay to only move up five spots in the draft. In most drafts, that would be correct, but with a potential generational co-star for Flagg up for grabs, the Mavericks will struggle to find a better deal than the one above.
The Chicago Bulls have incredible cap mobility in the upcoming free agency period, and the inclusion of Williams in this trade will offset the salary of Gafford and allow them to remain flexible. Williams, to be blunt, will add nothing to the Mavericks. Gafford, on the other hand, would be welcomed with open arms if he returned to the Bulls, who drafted him in 2019.
The Bulls are devastatingly thin at the center position since trading Nikola Vucevic, and the gritty attitude of Gafford, along with his athleticism, makes him a valuable bargaining chip. A future Los Angeles Lakers draft pick (acquired in the Luka Doncic trade) sweetens the deal, and the two 2026 firsts allow an injection of youth for the Bulls, who also possess the 15th pick this year. With three picks in the first round and a wealth of cap space, this allows the Bulls to completely retool their roster in advance of the 2026-27 season. It also gives the Mavericks an opportunity to create a generational pairing between Flagg and one of the top four prospects in the draft.
Trading Down
Mavericks receive: 12th and 17th overall picks and Isaiah Joe
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: 9th overall pick and PJ Washington
For most general managers, the Thunder side of this trade weighs more than what they are receiving. But for Sam Presti, this would be an astute move. The Thunder GM famously hoards draft picks, and while that strategy built a championship team, it now creates an interesting predicament. With so many outstanding players on the roster, the pressure of cap space management is rivaled only by the agony of deciding which of his stars he wants to keep long term.
There are only so many minutes available in every game, and adding two first-round picks would only make the roster more congested with high-level players. Consolidating these picks and moving up creates less of a headache and brings even more elite talent to the Thunder. For the Mavericks, adding two picks in the first round allows a more expansive roster overhaul, and moving down three spots creates a real possibility of still acquiring talent that they intended to draft with the ninth pick. It also makes the 30th pick a more expendable asset.
Washington and Joe have equal impact in different positions, and a swap for the two would be mutually beneficial. Joe is a clinical shooter who will absorb regular guard minutes, of which Dallas has plenty to dish out. Washington, who has notably been a thorn in the Thunder’s side in the past, has a winning mentality and a relentless work ethic. His cultural fit and expansive ability while playing alongside an elite point guard make him an appealing fit to play next to league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
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