It was a turbulent year by all standards in Dallas, with the Mavericks turning the page on their previous era by parting ways with star big man Anthony Davis, general manager Nico Harrison, and, most recently, coach Jason Kidd. Nevertheless, the future appears bright, with reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg spearheading the franchise’s rebuild.
The Mavericks have made it clear they intend to flesh out their roster around Flagg, and with the No. 9 pick in a loaded 2026 NBA Draft, they have a prime opportunity to add another key building block. According to one NBA insider, Dallas may even be looking to trade up for a blue-chip prospect.
Mavericks ‘Interested’ in Trading Up for Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr.
With Kyrie Irving now 34 years old and coming off a torn ACL that sidelined him for the entire 2025-26 season, the veteran guard clearly doesn’t fit Dallas’ timeline, which now revolves around the 19-year-old Flagg. Whether the Mavericks trade up or not in this month’s draft, they will very likely be searching for their lead guard of the future.
According to a Monday report from ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, the Mavericks are “interested” in moving up to select Darius Acuff Jr., a dynamic scorer who exploded down the stretch of his freshman season at Arkansas.
“No player was drawing more attention down the final weeks of the college season and into the NCAA Tournament than Darius Acuff Jr., and that is because of his outstanding offensive play,” Siegel wrote. “Acuff averaged 28.4 points per game over his final 14 games of the season, including a 49-point performance in a double-overtime loss to Alabama and a 36-point performance to get Arkansas past High Point and advance to the Sweet 16.
“Acuff is a three-level scorer who plays well above his listed height, and he simply controls the flow of the game. He can change speeds and take care of the ball off screens, and outside of getting to the rim with ease, Acuff is a much better facilitator and passer than many tend to give him credit for.”
While Acuff’s defense remains a question mark, the insider noted that multiple teams are eyeing the electric John Calipari-coached guard, and with the 19-year-old expected to be off the board by the time Dallas picks at No. 9, the Mavericks could explore a trade-up scenario.
“The [Los Angeles] Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, and Sacramento Kings all have interest in Acuff, sources said, with the Kings at No. 7 overall being viewed as his floor in the draft,” Siegel reported. “Another team mentioned multiple times by league personnel with trade-up interest in Acuff is the Dallas Mavericks. Could there be a deal to be had with the Nets at No. 6 should Acuff slide past the Clippers?”
Acuff emerged as one of the most productive guards in college basketball in the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. His ability to create offense from anywhere on the floor, combined with his poise in high-pressure matchups, only strengthened his case as one of the most sought-after guard prospects in the 2026 draft class.
With Dallas reportedly among the teams pursuing Acuff, the organization appears to view him as an ideal long-term backcourt running mate for Flagg.
Whether the Mavericks ultimately trade up or stay put at No. 9, most signs point to the franchise prioritizing guard talent around its blossoming cornerstone. If Acuff is indeed their target, Dallas may be willing to make an aggressive move to secure one of the draft’s most dynamic playmakers.
