DHJ Quick Take: Mavericks Bet on Upside With Sergio De Larrea Trade
Dallas moved up to No. 25 to acquire the draft rights to Spanish guard Sergio De Larrea, sending the No. 30 pick and two second-round picks to New York.
- Why did the Mavericks trade up for Sergio De Larrea? To land a higher-graded international playmaker while paying only two future second-round picks.
- What does De Larrea bring to Dallas? Positional size at lead guard, pick-and-roll feel and 40%-plus 3-point shooting in a competitive pro league.
- Will De Larrea play in the NBA next season? He projects as a draft-and-stash candidate who could remain with Valencia in the near term.
- How did the No. 30 pick end up in Phoenix? New York flipped it to the Suns for three second-rounders and cash, and Phoenix used it on Koa Peat.
- What’s next? Dallas continues building out its rebuild around new head coach Dusty May, with De Larrea’s NBA arrival timeline the open question for the front office.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks moved up in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, acquiring the draft rights to Spanish guard Sergio De Larrea in a trade with the New York Knicks.
New York selected De Larrea at No. 25, then sent his rights to Dallas. In return, the Knicks received the No. 30 pick, which the Mavericks controlled, along with two future second-round picks. New York then flipped the No. 30 selection to the Phoenix Suns for three second-round picks and cash, and Phoenix used it on Arizona forward Koa Peat. The sequence moved New York out of the first round entirely while adding three second-rounders and cash to the reigning champions’ books.
For Dallas, the move consolidated assets to climb five spots and land a prospect several boards graded as a first-round talent.
What Sergio De Larrea Brings to the Dallas Mavericks
De Larrea, 20, is a 6-foot-5 lead guard from Valladolid, Spain, who has spent his career with Valencia in Spain’s Liga ACB. He averaged 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists this past season while shooting 44.3% from the field, 40.7% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Valencia is currently competing in the Liga ACB finals.
His profile centers on size, feel and shooting. De Larrea operates as a primary ball-handler, reads pick-and-roll actions at a measured pace and has connected on better than 40% of his 3-point attempts across multiple competitions.
De Larrea projects as a draft-and-stash candidate who could remain overseas in the near term rather than join an NBA roster immediately. That timeline fits a Dallas rebuild prioritizing long-term flexibility under a new front office and coaching staff.
How the Dallas Mavericks’ Draft Board Took Shape
Dallas entered the night holding picks at No. 9, No. 30, and No. 48. At No. 9, the Mavericks selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr., reuniting the prospect with new head coach Dusty May, who coached at Michigan before taking over in Dallas.
The De Larrea trade rerouted the No. 30 pick that Dallas had acquired by way of Oklahoma City, Washington and Philadelphia. That selection ultimately landed with Phoenix, which used it on Peat, the son of former NFL offensive lineman Todd Peat and the brother of longtime NFL lineman Andrus Peat.
The addition gives Dallas a low-cost swing on a high-feel international playmaker without immediately committing a roster spot, the kind of asset-efficient move that has shaped the franchise’s draft approach during its rebuild.
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- Dallas Mavericks Select Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. At No. 9, Reuniting Him With Dusty May
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