Morez Johnson Jr. stood at the center of it all Thursday at American Airlines Center, his family surrounding him on one side while cameras clicked from the other, as Mavericks president Masai Ujiri held up his No. 14 jersey and turned it around so the room could read the name on the back: Johnson Jr.
The 250-pound, 6-foot-9 frame that made some NBA scouts salivate filled the space quietly. Johnson, the same kid who still builds Legos in his downtime, let the moment breathe with a soft smile. He is not loud. He does not demand attention. He just shows up, does the work, and somehow ends up exactly where he belongs.
“I would say my motor is unbelievable,” Johnson said on Thursday. “Competitive. I can guard 1 through 5.”
The Chicago-area native was not among the consensus top-10 prospects heading into Tuesday’s draft. He was a part of a threesome in a Michigan frontcourt that included two players some analysts ranked ahead of him. But his former head coach at Michigan, Dusty May, helped Mavericks general manager Mike Schmitz make the tough decision on who to select at No. 9.
“What can I say, man? I am Dusty’s favorite, I guess,” Johnson said.
The quip landed with a knowing laugh in the room. May was officially named the Mavericks’ head coach on Monday. His opening press conference is scheduled for Monday, but his influence was already being felt inside the war room before he ever addressed Dallas media.
Schmitz said May’s endorsement of Johnson carried real weight.
“Dusty gave us a great rundown of several prospects in the draft he’s familiar with,” Schmitz said to a media contingent after the Mavericks draft selection. “Spoke the world of Morez. … To hear his insight on him gave us even more confidence in Morez.”
But Schmitz was careful to frame the pick as more than a coach’s recommendation. The measurements alone told a story. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds with a 7-foot-3½ wingspan, Johnson possesses a physical profile that defies easy categorization.
“You’re not supposed to move like he does at that size,” Schmitz said. “He can step out and guard point guards. Sometimes 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s. His defensive upside is incredibly high.”
After the Mavericks took Johnson at No. 9, the Golden State Warriors grabbed forward Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 11 and the Oklahoma City Thunder followed with 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara at No. 12. The three had spent the weeks leading up to the draft debating among themselves who would be picked first. In a twist that surprised even Johnson, the answer was him.
He embraced Lendeborg and Mara on the way to the podium, then hugged May.
The trio helped Michigan go 37-3 and win the NCAA championship this past season, with the Wolverines winning their six tournament games by an average margin of 19 points. Johnson started all 40 games, averaging 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while shooting 62.3 percent from the field.
What he brings to Dallas is harder to quantify than any stat line. With an 8-foot-11 standing reach, Johnson has the physical tools to guard four positions at the NBA level, which is something he did in Ann Arbor. Dallas now holds the option of deploying lineups featuring Cooper Flagg, Dereck Lively II and Johnson, which is a wall of length and switchability that would rank among the most daunting defensive trios in the league.
“I think it will be very similar to Michigan playing with Yax,” Johnson said. “Switching everything. Forcing a lot of turnovers and getting deflections.”
The offensive development remains an open question. Johnson converted just 12 of 35 3-point attempts last season, which is a meaningful step for a player who never launched one as a freshman.
“I wouldn’t put a ceiling on a 20-year-old who has that rate of improvement,” Schmitz said. “To go from a young freshman to then transferring and having this type of impact already at that age. To have that tenacious mentality on the offensive glass. Being a vertical spacer. Being able to put the ball down a little in tight spaces. Just to see that rate of improvement signals there is more growth ahead on the offensive end.”
Johnson turns 21 in January. The jersey has his name on the back, held up by the organization that believed in him when few others projected him this high. The work, he made clear, is just getting started.
