Like Morez Johnson Jr. Will he fit into the Dallas Mavericks lineup?

DALLAS — Ahead of the NBA draft, the talented trio of Michigan players who won the NCAA championship together in April were debating which of them would be the first pick. Will it be Yaxel Lendeborg, the incredible athletic forward who started in college? Or Adai Mara, the 7-foot Spanish giant with a masterful pass? Or is Chicago native Morez Johnson Jr. one of the most versatile and effective guards in college football last season? In a surprising turn of events, it was Johnson who became the Dallas Mavericks' ninth overall pick. Mavericks general manager Mike Schmidt cited Johnson's rebounding ability, defensive versatility and competitive spirit as reasons for the selection. Of course, that was in no small part due to the fact that Johnson received a high recommendation from Dusty May, his college coach, who was officially named head coach of the Mavericks just five hours before the start of the draft on Tuesday. “What can I say, I’m apparently Dusty’s favorite,” Johnson said Thursday at the American Airlines Center. Johnson averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in the 40 games he played for May at Michigan. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-3.5 reach and 250 pounds, Johnson has a unique combination of size and quickness on defense. He played power forward and center for the Wolverines, who finished the season with a 37-3 record and won their six NCAA Tournament games by an average of 19 points.“I would say my motor is incredible,” Johnson said. "Competitive. I can defend against players in any position. The Mavericks' defensive ceiling with Johnson should be scary. They will have the option to field huge lineups including Cooper Flag, Johnson and Derek Lively II, or they can use a “smaller” lineup with Flag at point guard and Johnson at center. Johnson, 20, is 11 months older than Flag and knows his game well. They competed against each other at camps and tournaments for years as elite high school prospects. Johnson believes his experience playing with Lendeborg will help him adapt to playing with Flag. “I think it’s going to be a lot like the Michigan game with Yax,” Johnson said. “We will switch to all positions. Forcing opponents to make a lot of turnovers and get deflections.

Johnson's ability to develop his shooting skills from the 3-point line could become important. He didn't make a single 3-point shot in his first season at Illinois. As a sophomore at Michigan, he showed he could shoot from beyond the arc at times, making 12 of 35 3-pointers. The Mavericks clearly believe Johnson has untapped offensive potential. “I wouldn’t put a ceiling on a 20-year-old who’s progressing at that rate,” Schmidt said. “Going from being a young freshman to being a transfer and having that impact at this age. Having that tenacious mentality on the offensive boards. Be a vertical player. Be able to dribble the ball a little in tight spaces. Just seeing this rate of progress signals that there is more growth to come offensively.” After the Mavericks' selection was announced Tuesday, Johnson hugged Lendeborg and Mahra and then hugged May before taking the podium. His Michigan teammates didn't have to wait long to hear their names called. The Golden State Warriors selected Lendeborg with the 11th overall pick, and then the Oklahoma City Thunder took Mahr with the 12th overall pick. It says a lot that the Mavericks, who just hired May, could have chosen any of the three and chose Johnson. “His defensive potential is incredibly high,” Schmidt said. “It’s a great combination to play today. We've seen him play the 4 and 5 positions at the college level. A truly modern defensive game.