Memphis and Dallas load up on frontcourt prospects from Duke and Michigan as NBA draft tilts toward the paint

The NBA draft’s first wave of selections on Tuesday night reinforced a simple theme: teams in the Southwest Division are leaning into the paint. Memphis used the third overall pick on Duke forward Cameron Boozer, while Dallas took Morez Johnson Jr. from Michigan with the ninth pick, and the Mavericks’ division rivals stacked in more big-man talent as the first round continued.

For Memphis, the Boozer selection is a high-visibility statement about role and fit. Boozer arrives from Duke as a forward whose game is built around interior scoring and rebounding traits, a profile that can translate quickly when a team wants more size and finishing power near the rim. Drafting a player at No. 3 also indicates the organization expects immediate impact rather than gradual development.

The draft also added another international frontcourt piece to the same neighborhood of the standings picture. After Boozer’s selection, Memphis later added forward Karim Lopez of Mexico in the first round, further increasing the franchise’s frontcourt depth and athletic options. The move reads as both an upside bet and a roster-building decision aimed at improving how Memphis covers the lane, especially against bigger opponents.

Dallas, meanwhile, used its top pick to select Morez Johnson Jr. at No. 9. Johnson, who played at Michigan, enters the league coming off the title-winning environment of the reigning NCAA national champions. That kind of production and experience often carries weight in the draft because it suggests a player who has handled high-leverage basketball and strong defensive responsibilities in a structured program.

Johnson’s college résumé also fits the league-wide shift toward frontcourt versatility. Even without detailing a specific role at the NBA level, teams selecting players of this mold are typically prioritizing players who can contribute inside while also helping on the perimeter when matchups demand it. Dallas’s willingness to spend its early pick on a Michigan big indicates a focus on improving paint protection and secondary scoring.

Taken together, the draft haul in the Southwest Division is notable for concentrating on “big-man” traits across multiple teams. With Memphis and Dallas adding interior-minded rookies, the division’s near-term identity could lean more toward teams that can win possessions in the half court by controlling space around the basket.

What to watch next is how quickly each prospect becomes integrated into the offensive and defensive systems the teams plan to run. The paint-heavy direction may look seamless on paper, but the real measure will be whether the rookies can stay on the floor, adjust to NBA spacing, and deliver consistent minutes against stronger, more physical opponents.

As always with draft coverage, the early takeaway should be framed as roster-building intent rather than an instant statement of outcomes. The next steps for each player will depend on training camp development, coaching fit, and how each team manages early-season matchups across a division built on interior pressure.