The Dallas Mavericks acquired the 56th overall pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2026 NBA Draft on June 25, 2026, using cash considerations to select Russian forward Vsevolod Ishchenko.
The move came after Dallas had already chosen Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal at number 48.
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According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Mavericks targeted Ishchenko, a 6-foot-8-inch perimeter shooter. General Manager Mike Schmitz traveled overseas to evaluate him personally.
Ishchenko shot 45 percent from three-point range in his recent season. However, he played in a lower-tier Russian league, raising questions about his transition to the NBA.
Financial flexibility allowed Dallas to use cash instead of future draft assets, as the team is below the second luxury tax apron.
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Projections suggest Ishchenko will either remain overseas for development or sign a two-way contract, rather than joining the active roster immediately.
MavericksGameday gave the pick a C-plus grade, citing the difficulty of late second-round picks becoming productive NBA players.
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Ishchenko's athleticism and shot-creation are concerns, but his three-point shooting offers a clear development path.
