Mavericks 2026 NBA Draft: Four Options Dallas Could Target Using The 30th Pick

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks hold the ninth, 30th, and 48th picks in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.

With the 30th selection, the Mavericks will have a handful of options to explore with a goal of finding a serviceable player who can grow alongside reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and whoever Dallas selects with the ninth pick.

Over the years, the 30th pick has been used to select a wide range of players. In 2020, Desmond Bane fell to 30. In 2011, six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler went 30th. On the other hand, in 2013, Nemanja Nedović, who played only 24 career games, came off the board with the 30th pick.

The Mavericks are short on draft capital in the near future, so they’d be smart to take advantage of their picks this year and avoid low-floor players.

Isaiah Evans, Duke

Isaiah Evans is a 6-foot-6 sophomore from Duke. In his time with the Blue Devils, Evans carved out a role as a 3-point marksman. He’s capable of shooting off the catch with plenty of experience as a movement shooter. Evans is great at sprinting around screens to get open, then catching and drilling long-range jumpers from around the arc.

It’s hard to say if Evans will be more than that at the next level, but he did flash some ability to attack closeouts and run the pick-and-roll at a low volume. Don’t expect him to be a primary ballhandler in the NBA, but his on-ball reps at Duke could prove valuable to his long-term development.

Evans also competes defensively. With a slight frame, he isn’t a stopper, but he works on that end of the floor and won’t be a liability. Not to mention, Evans played his freshman year with the Blue Devils alongside Flagg, so there is some familiarity between him and Dallas’ young star.

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

At 22, Joshua Jefferson is an older prospect worth consideration from the Mavericks. He’s coming off a career-best season at Iowa State that saw him average 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.

Jefferson’s playmaking is his standout skill at 6-foot-8, but he steadily improved across the board over his four years of college. He’s more than capable of making connective passes to keep the offense flowing as well as passing out of the high post and in dribble handoffs.

Whereas he had the ball in his hands a lot with the Cyclones, Jefferson will be prepared to take more of an off-ball role at the next level. He excelled with hustle plays like hard cuts and strong rebounding, skills that can keep him on the floor. Jefferson can also focus more energy on defense, where he was effective against other wings and forwards.

His shot leaves much to be desired, as he was largely a non-shooter in his college career. That will raise questions about his fit alongside Flagg, who had 3-point troubles of his own as a rookie. Despite this, Jefferson does enough else well to be a rock-solid role player.

Alex Karaban, UConn

UConn forward Alex Karaban is another older, lower-ceiling prospect. Born November 11, 2002, he’ll turn 24 shortly after his rookie year begins. That said, the two-time NCAA Champion plays with all the intangibles of a winner.

Karaban plays smart, drifting around the 3-point line for open looks and making the occasional backcut when the defense falls asleep. With the ball in his hands, he’s more than capable and more than willing to make the right play rather than force the issue.

With his college career on the line in the final seconds of UConn’s Elite Eight matchup with Duke, Karaban didn’t force a shot but rather swung it to freshman Braylon Mullins, who buried a deep, contested triple at the buzzer to win it. The ability to make the right play under pressure is an important trait in basketball, and Karaban has shown the tendency to do just that.

He’s an unexceptional athlete, but plays smart and hard, which will keep him from being hunted on defense. With the 30th pick, perhaps Dallas opts for Karaban’s steady production and motor.

Sergio De Larrea, Valencia (EuroLeague & Liga ACB)

Sergio De Larrea is certainly the biggest swing of the bunch. At 6-foot-6, De Larrea is a jumbo playmaking guard. The Mavericks are expected to pursue a guard with their lottery pick and De Larrea could be another nice addition to Dallas’ rotation of ball-handlers.

He plays at his own pace, using his size to make reads and find open teammates. De Larrea has also demonstrated his ability to play off the ball, using his jumper to threaten defenses even when the ball isn’t in his hands. Last season with Valencia of Liga ACB, he connected on 40.7% of his triples.

De Larrea will need to muscle up, particularly to improve his strength defensively and at-rim finishing. He uses his feel for the game to be in the right place on defense, so adding some mass should help him in that department.

There is bust potential with De Larrea. The flashes he’s shown have been very promising, but at the end of the day, they’re just flashes. There’s a good chance he’ll be used as a draft-and-stash player, with his contract with Valencia running through the 2027-28 season. Should he fulfill his contract, whichever NBA team selects De Larrea will hope for continued consistency amid an increased overseas workload.

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