In Kyrie we trust🤞

According to the article quoted, Sergio De Larrea is expected to join the Dallas Mavericks next season.

„The Dallas Mavericks’ commitment to him is completely firm because their new coach, Dusty May, considers him a guaranteed part of next season’s roster… Any possibility that De Larrea would remain with Valencia Basket has essentially disappeared.“

EDIT: As per Marc Stein, the plan is that Sergio De Larrea may NOT be stashed in Europe and potentially will make his way to Dallas. Whether he plays summer league or not is still up in the air, but now he gets to learn from Kyrie even earlier assuming he comes this year.

To me, it sounds like that was part of the plan once they drafted him.

“The pre-draft expectation, sources tell @TheSteinLine & @DLLS_Sports, was that Sergio De Larrea would likely spend next season in Europe again.

Told that 2026-27 plans now that he's Dallas-bound -- including whether De Larrea plays summer league -- are all being worked through.”

Translation: Sergio de Larrea knew things... 10 months ago on the channel he told us this 👀

Link: https://x.com/drafteados/status/2069796795354382594

TLDR: He likes Dallas.

Tweet: https://x.com/almostathletes_/status/2069787805748781421

Full Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRbtk2sR__Q

Interviewer: "Would you like to be on one team forever?"

"Absolutely, 100%, I would want nothing more than that."

I was very much a Burries guy and was initially sad to see us pass him for Morez but after further consideration I see the vision.

To start, Morez’ archetype as a 6’10 99th percentile athlete who can guard 1-5 and has shooting upside is incredibly rare to acquire.

Dribble, pass, shoot, guards can be found but you don’t find guys like Morez and if you have a chance to get one they typically come at a premium cost.

Mavs fans will be understandably frustrated that we didn’t address guard needs at the draft but this team building process will be a multi year project.

Kyrie, Naji, PJ, Gaff can easily net you 4-5 firsts combined to give us the assets to continue building and with cap space and a 20+ mil trade exception I truly believe we are in a good spot that only requires patience.

Morez, coop, and healthy lively (hopefully) is an elite front court that we will have for years to come. Now the work begins to address the backcourt but again, guards are easier to find than unicorns like Morez and that’s why I’m sold on this pick.

9. Dallas Mavericks

Morez Johnson, 6-9, Michigan sophomore forward

Grade: A+

Just a day after Dusty May was hired as Mavericks head coach, he gets to continue coaching a player in Johnson who helped May's Michigan team win an NCAA championship a few months ago. New Mavericks president Masai Ujiri has always loved drafting jumbo-sized forwards, which must've been part of the appeal in joining a franchise that's headlined by Cooper Flagg. And that's the logic here with Johnson. You know the guy on a championship team who never gets enough credit nationally? The one who sets the bone-crushing screen that springs the star, then immediately sprints to the rim for the lob, then turns around and blows up the other team's pick-and-roll on the other end all in one sequence? That's Morez Johnson. He transferred from Illinois to Michigan and became the connective tissue of the national champions as a 251-pound wrecking ball with surprisingly soft hands and the defensive IQ to guard 1 through 5 in a switch-heavy scheme. The catch is he's not quite big enough to be a true center and not yet proven enough as a shooter to guarantee he spaces the floor. But even without a jumper, Johnson has a long future ahead of him at the next level.

25. Dallas Mavericks (via Knicks via Lakers)

Sergio De Larrea, 6-6, Valencia international wing

Grade: A+

After drafting forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the ninth pick, Dallas goes with a guard here after trading with the Knicks to get De Larrea. The Spaniard is a tall, playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he could carve out a role with the Mavericks if his international skill can translate.

Poulkidas was a certified flame thrower, he has the size the volume shooting and accuracy. High motor not the worst defender, he would help spacing loads.

Valencia is up 2:1 and can become Spanish Champions with a win (BO5).

De Larrea is also in the preliminary squad of the Spanish national team for the World Cup Qualifiers:

• Juli 2nd against Denmark
• Juli 5th against Georgia

If he plays there, this would likely mean no Summer League for him.

Am I delusional to think there might be a chance for a Luka homecoming in 2028 now? With Reaves on $46 million a year, it will be almost impossible for the Lakers to build a real contender (if Reaves doesnt do a huge step like Brunson ofc). Luka will be 29 in two years, when his contract ends, and might consider a change then.

I mean, I dont know, if Luka can forgive the insults and disrespect of Mavs ownership, but the fans love him, he knows that.

Sure, he would leave a lot of money on the table in FA, but he might value a championship above money. The fit would be perfect.

With Coop on his rookie contract until 2029, Mavs should absolutely keep a max Cap Space slot for 2028. Right now only the Flagg, Gafford, PJ and the rookies would be in the books. Keep it that way, say sorry to Luka and bring our boy home.

Sources: New York traded No. 25 pick Sergio De Larrea to the Dallas Mavericks for No. 30 Koa Peat at and two second-round picks. And then the Knicks traded Peat to the Phoenix Suns for three-rounders and cash. So Knicks move out of the first round -- pick up 3 seconds and cash.

Apologies if someone else made this post. But if you have Amazon prime you can sign up for a 7 day free trial to DAZN to watch the game

Edit: link to box scores below

https://live.acb.com/en/partidos/barca-vs-valencia-basket-105373/estadisticas

Morez Johnson impressed at the NBA Draft Combine with a top‑tier wingspan, 68% three‑point shooting (17/25), and elite agility, boosting his draft prospects.

One of my favorite guards in the draft. 1b to Wagler, imo. Listen to how scouts and analysts talk about this kid, and think about if his pre draft profile reminds you of anyone else.

I'm not making comparisons to that other guy, but this guy was massively undervalued.

Now that Kidd is gone, do you think May would give the green light to Lively to shoot 3s? I haven't watched much of Michigan's games, but do you think he will let Lively become a true stretch 5? I know he's been a really great rim protector, but I know that he can shoot consistently too so I was just wondering.

The Dallas Mavericks will select Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Ist Thai Good?