The Mavericks’ No. 9 overall pick from the 2026 NBA Draft, Morez Johnson Jr., still isn’t a full participant in team practice, a pretty wild turn for such a high draft choice. Naji Marshall himself called it out Sunday, mentioning Johnson hasn’t seen much scrimmage time at all. This isn’t just some camp curiosity either, it’s a legitimate concern for a player taken so high who should be getting all the reps he can.
Johnson’s Calf Is A Sticking Point
After Marshall’s comments, everyone wanted answers. Coach Dusty May, bless him, gave an update Monday, but he kept it pretty tight-lipped on the specifics of what’s bothering Johnson. What we do know is that Johnson missed the Mavericks’ final three Las Vegas Summer League games with left calf soreness. May’s exact words? “He’s working his way back. He’s close.” “Close” feels a bit vague for a lottery pick this deep into September. While other guys are battling for spots, Johnson was seen working on his hook shot and jump shot with development coaches at practice. He even rocked a gray jersey, just like Tobi Lawal and Dwight Powell, which usually means limited participation. You gotta wonder if being “close” is good enough for a guy who should be integrated into the team’s system right now.
De Larrea’s Grind To Greatness
On the flip side, their other first-round rookie, Sergio De Larrea, the No. 25 pick, is deep in the trenches and pushing hard. The 6-foot-6 point guard has been leaning on veteran Santi Aldama, who’s entering his sixth season and has even played on playoff teams. De Larrea calls Aldama a friend, someone he played with on the national team, and clearly values their “good chemistry.” It’s “perfect” for him to learn and share experience with a guy like that, even if Aldama himself has been limited in practice thanks to a knee injection he got at the end of the Memphis Grizzlies’ season.
De Larrea definitely flashed some serious potential in Summer League as a playmaker and a 3-point shooter. The problem was, defenses figured out how to throw smaller, stronger guards at him, and that led to some turnovers. He’s working on it, saying they are “working on playing against small guards, big guards, big centers, small centers, everything to try to find my game against these kind of players.” Adding more skills to his package is the name of the game. He’s even working with new assistant coach Willie Green after scrimmages, refining his shooting form and getting to his spots. Green was spotted gently turning De Larrea’s hips toward the basket after missed jumpers, a sign of that detailed coaching. De Larrea’s also been focusing on pick-and-rolls, pulling up against centers, and shooting off screens. Coach May wants a fast pace this season, which is perfect for De Larrea, who played for one of the fastest teams in the EuroLeague last season with Valencia. He feels the adaptation to the NBA’s faster pace has been “more or less easy.”
The Mavericks are off Tuesday, but they’ll be back on the court Wednesday. These early weeks are massive for rookies, and while one is pushing through it, the other needs to get fully healthy fast. How Johnson’s calf heals and how De Larrea continues to adjust could seriously shape their season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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