How Morez Johnson Jr. can bring a winning mentality to the Dallas Mavericks
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How Morez Johnson Jr. can bring a winning mentality to the Dallas Mavericks
Yahoo Sports' Draft Live crew breaks down the 9th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft as the Michigan forward is heading to the Dallas Mavericks.
Video Transcript
And Dusty May goes with someone he knows all too well.
AdvertisementAdvertisementTrusted, reliable, talk about the motor that this young man plays with.
I, I love this pick.
Yeah, I mean, when you look at him, what he did in, in, in the, in the, you know, down low was impressive.
I mean, 62% from the field, 72% at the rim.
Like KOC alluded to, defensively is where I think he makes his mark.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, when you look at what he can do, he plays so hard, and his ability, his lateral quickness is so good that he can really stay in front of guards.
When you put him on the perimeter and you switch, at 6'9", when you switch one through five, I think that he can really do a good job of making it tough on guards, and he has that, the wingspan to be able to contest jumpers.
AdvertisementAdvertisementI, I like it.
I mean, my question becomes is he skilled enough to be able to move down to the four?
Because he's not a great shooter, doesn't have really a great handle.
His game is really limited offensively.
But defensively, I think he, he can guard fours.
But can he play the four offensively?
Does he kill the spacing for Cooper Flagg and the rest of the team when he's playing the four?
Because we also gotta remember, we have Lively and Gafford- at that five spot.
So if you move Marez Johnson to the four, does it kill spacing for Cooper Flagg?
I don't think so.
Okay.
I, I think, I'm betting on Marez Johnson to, to figure it out a- as a shooter as well.
The, the improvement he experienced from his, as, as a- freshman at Illinois to his sophomore year at Michigan, he looked like a much better, much more comfortable spot-up shooter.
And so I, I'm a believer there with him.
And I think not only that, King, like, more than anything else, the dude is just a winner.
I, I- Yeah.
He's a winner.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah I had Dusty May on my podcast back in April before he was hired by the Mavericks head coach, and I talked to him about each of these Michigan prospects, and the thing that he said about Marez that stuck in my mind is he said anytime the Michigan Wolverines were having a day where the energy wasn't there on the bus, there was something off on the court, the staff would look at each other and be like, "But we got Marez, and they don't."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd, and, and I just think that, that quote sums up the Marez Johnson- Yeah experience.
He is a winner through and through, constantly makes a winning impact, and you can survive with one non-shooter on the floor, and I don't think he's gonna be a non-shooter.
What about Dusty May?
What about his longevity as a head coach in the NBA?
Do we believe in it?
Do we not?
No.
Well, this is what's crazy, is do they make this pick if he's not the head coach?
You know, think about that.
Good point.
If he doesn't have the, the experience with Marez J- Johnson, do, do they select this, this pick at Michigan?
Because, of course, Mike Schmitz, who's the new GM of, of the Dallas Mavericks, coming from the Portland Trail Blazers last year, who made a big swing in young, Hansen, when you're looking at the a- ability to go get this guy- Yeah.
May you like
Mm-hmm they're not, they're not, you know, on their tippy-toes when it comes to making this pick.
They are absolutely going all in here-
- How Morez Johnson Jr. can bring a winning mentality to the Dallas MavericksYahoo Sports' Draft Live crew breaks down the 9th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft as the Michigan forward is heading to the Dallas Mavericks.2:47Now PlayingPaused
- Will the 'Michigan Mavs' create drama in Dallas?1:57Now PlayingPaused
- Will Mavericks draft one of top Michigan prospects after hiring Dusty May?2:12Now PlayingPaused
- Dallas Mavericks hire Dusty May to be their next head coach2:53Now PlayingPaused
- Dusty May is leaving Michigan for the Dallas Mavericks. What now?1:48Now PlayingPaused
- Former Michigan standouts highlight best picks from Round 1 of the NBA Draft2:34Now PlayingPaused
- What's next for Michigan basketball following Dusty May departure?3:24Now PlayingPaused
