In an unsurprising turn of events, the Dallas Mavericks kicked the tires on the Dusty May era with a familiar face. Masai Ujiri took Michigan standout Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 pick, something that probably would've been a crazy thought a year ago.
Johnson Jr. was one of the biggest risers of the pre-draft process. He thrived on the spotlight en route to a national championship, serving as the Wolverines' defensive glue guy and motivational catalyst.
The Mavericks are clearly leaning toward defense and physicality here. He's still a bit raw on the offensive end of the floor; he's a much-improved shooter and will give Coach May a multi-positional defender right out of the gate.
What are the Mavs getting with Morez Johnson Jr?
To state the obvious, Johnson's transition to the pros will be pretty seamless. He's obviously more than familiar with May's system, coaching, methods, and personality, and that should help him get a jump-start.
The Mavs already have an elite and versatile defender in Cooper Flagg, and with Johnson being undersized to play the five, he'll give this team one of the most physically intimidating and sturdiest young men entering the league this season.
While Johnson Jr. isn't necessarily going to be catching lobs as he would with Aday Mara, Flagg, and Johnson Jr. on the defensive end are going to be extremely physical. While the Mavs will have a one-two punch with Flagg and Johnson Jr., they still need to solve their weakness, perimeter shooting.
He's not much of a shooter, though he shot the ball much better than expected at the NBA Draft Combine. He's still a work in progress on offense, but he should be just fine as a rim-runner, slasher, and dunker next to Flagg. Ujiri can still dip into free agency to solve their deep-range shooting weakness.
The Michigan forward is a true enforcer and a bully on the defensive end, though he doesn't get into foul trouble that often. He can guard one through five, and while he gives up some size on defense, he makes that up with athleticism, strength, defensive IQ, and a ton of heart.
The Mavericks are open for business, so not many players will be untouchable. Daniel Gafford has been tied to trade rumors for a while now, and Dereck Lively II might also be a hot and sought-after commodity at the right price. The same can be said of P.J. Washington.
Johnson's addition gives the Mavericks some defensive versatility and leeway to at least keep an open mind about moving one of their frontcourt pieces. Also, he's a mature and hard-working young man who brings contagious energy to the floor on every single possession, and a guy who'll make sure to keep Flagg out of harm's way when opposing defenses try to rough him up a bit too much.
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