Dusty May is getting a familiar face to join him in Dallas.
The Mavericks selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick in the NBA Draft on Tuesday night. That move came just one day after the franchise hired May as their next head coach.
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May spent the last two seasons with the Wolverines, and led them to a national championship last season with Johnson. May was hired to replace longtime Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd officially on Monday.
“It’s his second day, I think he had a little bit, but not too much [to do with it],” Johnson said on ESPN. “It’s crazy, man.”
Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season. The 6-foot-9 forward was one of three Michigan standouts entering the draft after winning the national championship, along with center Aday Mara and forward Yaxel Lendeborg. Johnson beat both of his former teammates off the board.
Johnson will now get to join a Mavericks team that is going through a change to fully shake off the mess that was the post-Luka Dončić trade era. The franchise also hired new president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz before reaching a deal with May. The Mavericks went just 26-56 last season and missed the playoffs for a second straight year.
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Johnson will get to join reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg in Dallas next season. Flagg went No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft last summer, and he averaged 21 points and 6.7 rebounds per game throughout his first campaign in the league.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity man, and I’m excited to be with my coach,” Johnson said. “We won together this past season, looking forward to winning with him … when I get there.”
This post will be updated with more information shortly.
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