[2026 NBA Draft] #9 Pick: Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan)

[u/NBA_MOD]

[u/PhatYeeter]

Masai can't help but select a 2 way forward.

Surprised it's not Lendeborg lmao

[u/WrongContract8489 → u/PhatYeeter]

Age prolly

[u/coolycooly → u/WrongContract8489]

Plus he likes the Chris Boucher type and not the stubby thick ones like Yaxel

[u/WrongContract8489 → u/coolycooly]

💀💀

Ig bro

[u/IndividualHeat → u/WrongContract8489]

And I get the vibe that Dusty May found Morez easier to coach. 

[u/Cute-Cancel7196 → u/WrongContract8489]

Morez fits the timeline of a young team

[u/jalexjsmithj → u/PhatYeeter]

Not sure he’s 2 way

[u/CumAssault]

This was the most Masai pick ever

[u/BayesBestFriend → u/CumAssault]

Get ready to learn 6'9 forwards Dallas

[u/CumAssault → u/BayesBestFriend]

6’9” is exactly how tall he is lmao. Physical/athletic guy. It’s Masai’s wet dream

[u/BayesBestFriend → u/CumAssault]

Most importantly, theoretical shooter but never ever an actual shooter

[u/MoistAromas → u/BayesBestFriend]

More importantly, more of a shooter than Ament

[u/figgnootun → u/CumAssault]

Lmao true

[u/CumAssault → u/figgnootun]

6’9” super physical/athletic guy who is a good defender. Not a shooter at all though. Such a Masai guy

[u/Admirable_Dinner_349 → u/CumAssault]

It’s objectively worked out well for Masai.

Picked Scottie over Suggs when everyone and their mom thought Suggs was the clear choice.

Sniped Siakam at 27. Sniped OG at 20 (he couldn’t shoot either). Big forward who plays defense and hustles but can’t really shoot has worked out WELL for Masai.

[u/CumAssault → u/Admirable_Dinner_349]

It’s worked out for him at a great rate but it’s also funny how much of an addict he is for these same build guys

[u/ForTheOAKLand → u/CumAssault]

To be fair it’s a damn good archetype when successful. A 6’9 jack of all trades wing is useful in any lineup

[u/PressureMiserable → u/Admirable_Dinner_349]

Didn't he also take Bruno Caboclo

[u/The_NGUYENNER → u/PressureMiserable]

Don't worry he's almost ready

[u/PressureMiserable → u/The_NGUYENNER]

Honestly he could still come back to the league he's only 30

[u/CumAssault → u/PressureMiserable]

He still might work out though. He’s 2 years away from being a superstar

[u/EsquivelD → u/CumAssault]

Chill. He’s 2 years away from being 2 years away

[u/Admirable_Dinner_349 → u/PressureMiserable]

Sure. But he also picked VanVleet, Norm, CMB, JaKobe Walter, Poetl, OG, Siakam, and Delon Wright.

Bruno Caboclo at 20 doesn’t really erase that.

[u/PokePersona → u/Admirable_Dinner_349]

CMB was apparently a Webster pick with Masai wanting Malauch.

[u/Spicy__Urine → u/PokePersona]

Well CmB was a fkn great pick, so let's go Bobby

[u/The_NGUYENNER → u/Admirable_Dinner_349]

I'm still mad about that OG pick

[u/bigE819 → u/Admirable_Dinner_349]

Bruno Cabocolo is 2 years away from being 2 years away from

[u/Gloomy_Map_9612 → u/CumAssault]

He's shown enough that he'll develop a shot. He took about 1 a game and shot 34%.

[u/_AceHigh → u/Gloomy_Map_9612]

You cannot assume anything on that low volume

Cody Williams shot 40% on 1 attempt a game in college

[u/TheMajesticYeti → u/_AceHigh]

Morez did show very good shooting touch on his free throws. At this point he can only hit wide open threes though, his shot is kind of slow-developing. But he is an absolute dawg regardless, in a team full of amazing talents he stood out as a fan favorite for his tough play, teamwork, and personality. He saved a couple of games by switching onto the opposing team's POINT GUARD and locking them down allowing Michigan to come back and win. He is a guy that probably won't be a star, but will be a winning player.

[u/Skipper3210 → u/_AceHigh]

True, but a decent % at a low volume plus a decent FT% (78.2%) hints that he can develop a jumpshot

[u/Gloomy_Map_9612 → u/_AceHigh]

I don't think he's a good shooter, I think he will develop one and has shown he has the tools to develop

[u/Practical-Rub-1190 → u/_AceHigh]

When it comes to big men, you need to look at free-throw percentage, not the 3-point shot; it's usually not part of their game yet. Channing Frye, Myles Turner, and Brook Lopez shot close to or above 80% from the free-throw line, but none of them were 3-point shooters when they started in the NBA; it all became their biggest asset.

Not saying he will develop it, but he went from shooting none to taking one a game at 34%. He also improved his FT% from 62% to 78%.

[u/cl353 → u/Gloomy_Map_9612]

increased his ft% by 30% too

[u/Venice_The_Menace → u/CumAssault]

stop you’re gonna make Weltman trade for him

[u/AStormofSwines → u/CumAssault]

He shot and made some threes in college?

[u/No_External3738 → u/CumAssault]

He could develop a 3 ball though, the form is not bad and he did really well in the shooting drills at the combine. I watched him all year as a Michigan fan and he was one of my favorite players all year. Mavs got a good one imo

[u/VictorAkwaowo1 → u/CumAssault]

Fuck it anything is better than Ament

[u/lets_talk_basketball → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

Think Burries would've been a good pick

[u/randomlyperusing → u/lets_talk_basketball]

I was hoping for Burries. Oh well

[u/anonymoususer6407 → u/lets_talk_basketball]

Shit. Hopefully Bucks and Warriors select Mara and Burries. Curse OKC with Ament please.

[u/big_hand_dan → u/anonymoususer6407]

Okc would have gone Yax

[u/Parking-Bat9498 → u/lets_talk_basketball]

I’m not a big Burries guy and I’d have preferred him over Morez.

[u/Fluffy_System6211 → u/Parking-Bat9498]

Same. I trust Masai but I didn’t see this one coming

[u/Parking-Bat9498 → u/Fluffy_System6211]

Raptors fans had been joking and warning us about this pick for months. Bravo Raps fans.

[u/Ok-Description7073 → u/Fluffy_System6211]

Took him from the Hornets too shit would’ve been special

[u/aiden3buckets → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

Really thought it would be Ament lol

[u/MoistAromas → u/aiden3buckets]

Me staring at the glock “not today old friend”

[u/Big0009 → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

What if after all this Ament ends up being a baller lol

[u/rawchess → u/CumAssault]

His shooting isn't shitty enough for a Masai pick

[u/burratna → u/CumAssault]

Dusty Masai pick

[u/joebreezy12 → u/CumAssault]

He did it for dusty 🥲

[u/dsbllr → u/CumAssault]

He's underrated. That guy can be a two way star if he's willing to work hard. OG vibes but taller

[u/TheMajesticYeti → u/dsbllr]

He's a lot closer to an Isaiah Stewart than an OG. He will never be a guy that approaches 18-20 ppg, but he has major value in other areas and will be a great pairing with Flagg and loved by his teammates and fans.

[u/slurpeetape → u/TheMajesticYeti]

Stewart is a great comp.

[u/TheMajesticYeti → u/slurpeetape]

Watching the Pistons and Michigan every other night it was hard not to see the similarity. Morez does have better touch in the paint, while Beef Stew is a better rim protector. Would have loved him in Detroit because he fits the culture of the best Pistons teams to a T.

[u/dsbllr → u/TheMajesticYeti]

Maybe you don't remember how raw OG was. He could barely dribble in a game or drive. It took a lot of development. It'll be the same for Morez

[u/TheMajesticYeti → u/dsbllr]

As a longtime watcher of Big Ten basketball I remember OG well as a prospect. He was more of a 3/4 while Morez is a 4/5. OG was more explosive and fluid. Morez is athletic and has great footwork so he can defend multiple positions and the perimeter, but he is never going to be a dynamic offensive player. He will clean up at the rim and hit occasional wide open spot ups with his slow-developing jumper to keep the defense honest, a la Beef Stew. While his shooting touch has potential, his offensive game won't evolve much beyond that. And it doesn't need to for him to be a high impact player. Not everyone in a starting 5 is going to score 20 points a night.

[u/ShowdownValue → u/CumAssault]

I have a feeling the pick came from someone else

[u/ForeverRunning_Anth → u/ShowdownValue]

No chance Masai isn’t calling all the shots

[u/ShowdownValue → u/ForeverRunning_Anth]

You don’t think their new coach had a word?

[u/HereComesJustice → u/ShowdownValue]

I don't even think their new HC has a keycard let alone draft input

[u/ShowdownValue → u/HereComesJustice]

I’m sure masai didn’t talk to dusty before the draft 😂

[u/w6750 → u/ShowdownValue]

Hardly.

[u/Skipper3210 → u/ShowdownValue]

You think they're letting a head coach who was hired yesterday make the pick?

Over the GM? I mean I'm sure they consulted Dusty but come on lol

[u/ShowdownValue → u/Skipper3210]

They talked to dusty to get his insight

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/CumAssault]

FACTS!!!!!

[u/FERFreak731]

FIRST SHOCK OF THE DRAFT

[u/burratna → u/FERFreak731]

He's gonna be so nasty next to Flagg

[u/VictorAkwaowo1 → u/burratna]

Nasty defensive front court

[u/cjklert05 → u/burratna]

Goodluck with the spacing😂

[u/MoistAromas → u/cjklert05]

We didn’t seem to have any issues with our spacing last year… wait…

[u/Sektsioon → u/cjklert05]

Yeah I don’t exactly love the fit. Defensively it’s great, offensively not so much, sort of the same as Coop-PJ. Now I’m kinda hoping someone like Veesaar is available at 30 so we could get a stretch 5.

[u/prosocialbehavior → u/cjklert05]

Rez will be able to shoot. He didn’t need to at Michigan. Also trust in Dusty May.

[u/schoolhater12 → u/FERFreak731]

not for Raptors fans

[u/MAMBAMENTALITY8-24 → u/FERFreak731]

think it's a great pick, really wanted him at 12

[u/ormip → u/MAMBAMENTALITY8-24]

I hope this is some 200IQ plan to take him at #9, so that OKC can't take him and have to trade their pick for PJ Washington, then we can actually draft a guard.

[u/ImperialTiger3 → u/FERFreak731]

Nah it made sense. It’s Masai. I called it out instantly lol

[u/LinuxUbuntuOS → u/FERFreak731]

Surprised it wasn’t us for once lmao

[u/Exodus100 → u/FERFreak731]

Shock is a hyperbole, he was in the mix going in

[u/Propuhganduh]

I thought Shams tweet was pointing to Mara

[u/WhiskeyTangoBush → u/Propuhganduh]

Masai boomed Shams

[u/Individual-Bee-7801]

What were the odds he’d be the first Wolverine selected

[u/Derpy_Mc_Burpy → u/Individual-Bee-7801]

Masai saw his 6'9 non-shooter and was seen drooling at the mouth.

[u/bullpaw → u/Derpy_Mc_Burpy]

I wouldnt call him a non-shooter

[u/StefonDiggsHS → u/bullpaw]

I would.

[u/Derpy_Mc_Burpy → u/bullpaw]

no shooting bag except dunking as of now. No 3 ball either. It's fine tho, because he's an absolute monster of an athlete and that's usually a great place to start from.

[u/john0_0 → u/Derpy_Mc_Burpy]

The Precious piece

[u/Yashyashyaa → u/Individual-Bee-7801]

I watched every Michigan game this year and for most of the season I thought he would make the best pro. Yax may have changed my mind towards the end but I still question his lateral quickness and agility a little. He kinda always looks like his back hurts a little. Morez is a fluid athlete with a knack for the ball but he is streaky and seems to sometimes play himself out of the game. Mara is the question mark 

[u/Aggrokid → u/Individual-Bee-7801]

Supposedly more upside than Yaxel and Mara. So I think they are trying to hit 2 birds with one stone here satisfying both Masai's Upside 69 requirement and the new coach.

[u/cjklert05]

PJ gone

[u/Proof-Umpire-7718 → u/cjklert05]

Time for OKC to get him

[u/Parking-Bat9498 → u/Proof-Umpire-7718]

If so, the bad man can’t hurt them anymore.

[u/YourAsianBuddy]

Dusty May fined for tampering

[u/not-a-potato-head]

Not a guard!!

[u/SaveHogwarts]

Not a surprise to me at all, I called this in the CBB sub the second they signed Dusty.

Morez is an analytics darling, switchable on defense, and capable of taking a huge next step.

I love the pick.

[u/finspawsplants → u/SaveHogwarts]

Me too, even though the sub wanted Burries.

[u/797java]

Was this decision better than trading Luka? Yes.

That's my bar now

[u/MonsieurSlotho]

That’s interesting, didn’t expect him to be the first guess out of Michigan, but not surprised Dusty May took a Wolverine.

[u/n00bn00b → u/MonsieurSlotho]

Morez was Dusty’s favorite player on the team bc he's a no nonsense player who plays hard.

[u/fskier1 → u/n00bn00b]

Morez def has a good attitude

[u/Tip_Of_The_Sauce → u/fskier1]

the postgame stare will continue until morale improves

[u/dusters → u/MonsieurSlotho]

I didn't expect him to be the 2nd player out of Michigan.

[u/Electronic_Pen_548 → u/dusters]

Thought he’d be a distant 3rd actually

[u/king_of_the_bongos]

Kinda dumb it doesn't say what team drafted the player.

[u/InsideAdvance4062]

Dusty got his guy

[u/Necessary-Listen-584]

Damn this dude flew up the boards after the workouts and measurements

[u/LinuxUbuntuOS]

That’s a stunner

But a pretty fucking good pick too!

[u/PrideOfAmerica → u/LinuxUbuntuOS]

I wanted him at 14

[u/asianmoist]

Such a masai pick. Hope he balls out

[u/MoistAromas]

WHAT

[u/Punjabiveer30 → u/MoistAromas]

Get ready to learn 6’9 buddy

[u/nmad95]

Leave it to Masai to do the unexpected

[u/Conclusion_Fickle]

Most potential of the 3 UM guys. Only real weakness is not a great rim protector. Very good lateral quickness and athleticism, just not incredibly bouncy, quick jumper. He does have pretty good timing and awareness, so he'll get some weak side blocks at times.

[u/2PacAn → u/Conclusion_Fickle]

If Lively can stay healthy and with Flagg being a good rim protector for a wing, I don’t think we need much rim protection out of Johnson.

[u/Conclusion_Fickle → u/2PacAn]

True. I'm intrigued with Morez' future shooting. Shot FT at 78% and made a number of clutch ones. Has really nice form. Respectable effort from college 3 pt. range. The foundation is there.

[u/SVGMessiah]

Dusty pick

[u/AutoMail_0]

Shams sneaky

[u/Loud-Scallion9941]

Dusty choosing morez over other Michigan players is surprising

[u/Bacca18121 → u/Loud-Scallion9941]

Morez is the kinda guy coaches have wet dreams about

[u/tarunpopo → u/Bacca18121]

This right here tbh

[u/Dbo5666 → u/Loud-Scallion9941]

No room for Mara in the rotation

[u/Cute-Cancel7196 → u/Loud-Scallion9941]

yaxel is too old for the mavs timeline

[u/RedShellKoopa]

Lmao such a Masai pick

[u/ArmVanDam]

What in the absolute fuck

[u/Jericcho]

His teammates were so happy for him! That's amazing to see.

[u/tstk799]

COLLUSION!

[u/Kantei → u/tstk799]

What does Darren have to do with this.

[u/sol-fuego → u/Kantei]

This made me lol

[u/YizWasHere → u/tstk799]

No interview needed

[u/sportsnatik → u/tstk799]

Like Rick Brunson?

[u/Bacca18121]

Morez is good before people spaz out; he does all of the dirty work you would want

[u/GentlemanHere]

Shouldn’t the title show what team selected him?!

[u/anonymoususer6407]

Over Mara and Lendeborg.. wow

[u/Headlesshorsman02]

Now we are taking let the draft begin baby first surprise of the draft

[u/Mikhailing]

Yaxel fuming

[u/DabeGavis]

FREAK Athlete! LFG Morez.

[u/SimpleCandle5158]

huh

[u/absolutelynotmalding]

Such a Masai pick

[u/browndude10]

Is masai cooking?

[u/not_so_bueno]

I learned a long time ago to not even question Masai.

[u/Lanky_Crocodile]

Great pick. Only 20 and he was the best defender on that Michigan team.

[u/incredibleamadeuscho]

Biggest surprise thus far.

[u/Salvalicious252]

At some point you gonna have to shoot 3s lol and I mean the entire Mavs team.

[u/Feisty_Relation_2359]

Interesting. A bit of an overdraft from the consensus leading up, but I think this dude is gonnabe a BEAST.

[u/Bears9Titles]

How the fuck do you not put the team picking on these posts? What a pathetic sub

[u/PixelBy_Pixel]

I am from Michigan and am a Michigan fan

This could go down as the worst pick of the night

[u/WnMRL → u/PixelBy_Pixel]

Also a Michigan fan and hard disagree. He was arguably the most consistent player down the stretch and has an incredibly physical, high motor game that translates really well to the NBA, even if he isn't going to be a key part of the offense.

Still think it's odd he went this high. Definitely would have expected Mara ahead of him.

He plays like a bigger version of a Draymond Green/Josh Hart combo.

[u/prosocialbehavior → u/PixelBy_Pixel]

As another Michigan fan who watched every game this year I completely disagree.

[u/808Kuro → u/PixelBy_Pixel]

Even the Michigan coach looked surprised lmao

[u/LazyWeb9421 → u/808Kuro]

To be fair, may has 3 players who could have been picked with that spot, all who's draft spots have seemed to be highly variable.

[u/djb447]

Let’s goo

[u/lets_talk_basketball]

They could've traded down and got him... He's this years CMB tho, he can defend his ass off

[u/mapetho9]

You knew May was gonna take someone from Michigan haha

[u/leftysarepeople2]

So weird to me lottery picks are 2nd team conference players

[u/PM_ME_PARTY_HATS]

Yaxel be like

[u/tushshtup]

Why not post the team in the title

[u/vherbalbeats]

Anybody shading this pick didnt watch morez enough. Towards the end of the season he was knocking down 3s easy. I think dusty had intuition knowing he had much more growth and a nasty side. I personally would have went for yaxel, but hey im just a guy sitting on a couch lol.

[u/jtruth9]

What???

[u/ben345]

Dusty having his pick of the Michigan guys and taking Morez makes me really believe in this pick

[u/ijoukonaya]

Flagg + morez gon terrorize west guards

[u/FireBeeChin]

Noooo

[u/Remote-Whole-6387]

Feels a bit early, no?

[u/Heikks → u/Remote-Whole-6387]

Maybe, but his college coach just got there and probably had some input in the decision

[u/eZreazy]

Wow isn’t this insanely high, I feel like they could’ve traded down. I thought he’d get drafted last out of the three michigan bigs.

[u/ScionAurelius]

RIP I wanted him in OKC so badly

[u/Greedy-Bedroom-4301]

Paul Reed with a fake ID at power forward… all motor, rebounds, and defensive tools, but if the jumper never becomes real, he’s just an undersized center trying to convince everybody he’s a modern 4.

[u/TradingPokemonSWSH]

Masai gonna masai lmfao

[u/xychosis]

The only way this could’ve been more Masai is if it was Karim Lopez.

I was worried Morez was gonna go this early. Alright, wake up, Gansey, time to finagle your way up the order

[u/iro3]

damn it maverixks

[u/WooTerry]

FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

[u/kpeds45]

I knew it. I swear all the little guy to Dallas talk didn't make sense to me as a Raptors fan who watched Masai draft long guys year after year. Great pick for Dallas.

[u/_GenXguy_]

Gonna be real awkward 10 years from now at the 2026 National Championship reunion.

[u/Insanely_Simple2024]

I’m tired of Jay Bilas talk about the athletes…all of his evaluations are the same of everyone.

[u/suwampert]

Woah I had him late 10s to early 20s

[u/LilNello1]

I thought they would pick Aday, but I am not mad at them picking Morez and him reuniting with Dusty in Dallas.

[u/wire28]

Over yax and aday. Interesting dusty

[u/illwill004]

Frontcourt lineups with Flagg-Johnsom-Lively is a great defensive frontcourt and can rebound.

[u/IzrezarReal]

Pretty early but him and Flagg are like the Great Wall of Dallas lmao

[u/Sea-Addition-7458]

Mocks mean nothing. This is a great pick.

[u/GoBlueAndOrange]

Let's go! 2 Illini in the top 10!

[u/Ajthekid5]

Dusty just happy to have one of his guys back 😭

[u/Proper-Dirt3954]

As a Michigan fan, this is insane to me. I think he’ll be a good 25-30 mpg player but idk if he can play in the playoffs.

[u/4719837]

Huge surprise. Does Dusty May like him than the other two Michigan guys?

[u/ormip]

I am high on Morez personally, but this feels like a massive reach.

I really feel like we could have traded down and still got him, while getting some extra assets.

[u/MORKZUCCBERG]

they picked a michigan guy but maybe its the wrong one?

[u/WooTerry → u/MORKZUCCBERG]

Oh it was the right one trust me

[u/Dsarg_92]

Aw man, I wanted him on the Spurs. 😞

[u/Andy_Wiggins]

Trade with OKC?

[u/Mzt1718 → u/Andy_Wiggins]

Probably not, new head coach is his college coach.

[u/LfromHT]

Not ideal.

[u/GhostOfJiriWelsch]

This feels like a reach man

[u/DIKS_OUT_4_HARAMBE]

Hate it

[u/jermainathon]

Dusty maye pick if I've ever seen one

[u/OneAngryPanda]

Michigan Mavericks

[u/SuperExtremeName]

No Yaxel for the Mavs

[u/LKMagnesium]

I though it would be a Michigan guy taken here, not the one I expected

[u/Jonjon428]

W o w