Dallas Mavericks are weighing a move that would send the 9th pick to the Thunder for the 12th and 17th picks. The draft is one day away, and the choice would shift Dallas from one premium first-round slot to two lottery selections.
Marc Stein and the draft board
Marc Stein said the Mavericks and Thunder discussed “the framework of a trade revolving the 9th pick for 12 and 17.” Dallas enters the 2026 NBA Draft with the 9th, 30th, and 48th overall picks, so the decision is not about getting into the draft. It is about whether to hold one top-10 pick or spread that value across two first-round chances.
The Mavericks have shown a willingness to move up or down the board as they see fit, and this framework fits that pattern. They also need to upgrade their backcourt, which keeps the 9th pick in play as more than a simple hold-and-pick decision.
Thunder salary and Joe
The Thunder are looking to shed salary and tax, which gives the proposal a second layer. Joe is set to make more than $11 million next season, and Dallas can absorb that salary into the trade exception received after the Anthony Davis trade.
The Thunder also moved Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks on Sunday. That deal shows the larger direction around their roster math, while the Mavericks’ side of the equation centers on whether the pick swap and salary piece line up cleanly enough to finish before the draft.
Labaron Philon in the mix
The draft board also includes a possible backcourt target in Labaron Philon. He impressed against Michigan in the Sweet 16 and averaged 22.0 PPG and 5.0 APG in his sophomore season, production that puts a clear number on why he has stayed in the guard conversation.
Darius Acuff Jr. was the other top guard left on the board in the simulation, while Keaton Wagler was projected to go ahead of Philon. For Dallas, that turns the trade discussion into a timing test: keep the 9th pick and choose from the top guard group, or accept the 12th and 17th picks and widen the draft-night path.
The deal is not finished, and that is the edge of the story. With the 2026 NBA Draft one day away, Dallas is still deciding whether one pick at 9 is worth more than two swings in the lottery range.
