{"id":200117,"date":"2026-06-12T05:43:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T09:43:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=200117"},"modified":"2026-06-12T05:43:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T09:43:04","slug":"2-nba-lottery-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/12\/2-nba-lottery-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"2 NBA Lottery Teams Looking to Play ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ Before 2026 Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the NBA draft is less than two weeks away, the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks have officially made it known they are willing to listen to offers for their picks, according to NBA Insider Jake Fischer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2 NBA Lottery Teams Looking to Play “Let’s Make A Deal” Before 2026 Draft<\/h2>\n

It shouldn’t be a huge surprise that either Dallas or Atlanta is interested in trading their draft pick. Both the Mavericks and Hawks own two first-round picks. However, the teams appear to be “open for business” for different reasons.<\/p>\n

Dallas<\/a> seems to be in rebuild mode. The Mavericks, who surprisingly won the draft lottery last season, have a new basketball boss in Masai Ujiri, though they still don’t have a head coach.\u00a0 The Mavs went 26-56 this past season, tying the New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> for the eighth-worst record in the league. It marked the third time in the last four campaigns that the Mavs missed the playoffs and their worst season since 2017-18.<\/p>\n

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Mavericks Plans<\/h3>\n

Dallas has 11 players under contract for 2026-27 with a salary cap hit of $152 million. Thus, giving the Mavericks nearly $13 million in cap space. Ryan Nembhard<\/a> is the only one of the 11 players not to be assured a spot, as the 23-year-old has a team option that figures to be exercised.<\/p>\n

The Mavericks, who plan to build around 2026 Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg,<\/a> figure to move on from several veterans. Kyrie Irving has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> and Detroit Pistons among several other teams. PJ Washington<\/a> and Daniel Gafford<\/a>‘s names have also been thrown around in the rumor mill this summer. Naji Marshall<\/a> is also a trade candidate.<\/p>\n

“The Mavericks still have a long journey ahead of them to make it back to title contention,” Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron said<\/a>. “They have a strong collection of role players but no other young cornerstone that fits Flagg\u2019s timeline. They will have an opportunity to get that with the 9th overall pick, but after that, they don\u2019t have control of their draft for the next four years. They\u2019ll have the challenge of figuring out ways to bring in more young talent while trying to be competitive with no incentive to bottom out.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Dallas holds three draft picks in this June’s upcoming draft: No. 9, No. 30, and No. 48. The Mavericks also have three trade exceptions that don’t expire until February 4, including a $20.8 million one as a result of the Anthony Davis<\/a> trade.\u00a0 The Mavs will also have the mid-level nontax payer exemption and biannual exemption at their disposal. However, they only guaranteed five first-round picks from 2027 to 2032 and four second-round picks.<\/p>\n

The Mavs Could Move Off the No. 9 pick.<\/h4>\n

Part of the Mavericks’ rebuilding plan likely involves replenishing their draft capital. The Mavs could kick-start the process by trading the No. 9 pick, as Fischer said that the Mavs are open to trading up or down.<\/p>\n

“Sources say that\u00a0<\/span>the Mavericks have told rival teams that they are very much open to trades in either direction with their No. 9 pick,” Fischer wrote.<\/p>\n