Morez Johnson has four points in loss to Hawks

Johnson was upgraded to probable earlier in the day after playing 17 minutes on Friday night. He’ll be on a minutes restriction, though head coach Dusty May didn’t give an official cap for his workload. He should see a similar role to what he saw on Friday.

Johnson, who played 17 minutes off the bench in Friday’s win over the Pacers, was initially questionable for Saturday’s game due to right shin splints. The rookie is on track to play, giving the Mavericks another defensive option to throw at Victor Wembanyama.

The Mavericks are dealing with a lengthy injury report that has Cooper Flagg (shoulder) listed as out and Kyrie Irving (knee) listed as questionable. Role players Christie and Johnson are questionable with shin injuries. It’s looking like Dallas will certainly be shorthanded against the Spurs on Saturday.

Aldama underwent surgery in March, but reports from August indicated he would be ready for training camp. Well, opening night is here, and he still isn’t ready to go. It’s unclear how long he’ll be sidelined, though rookie Morez Johnson Jr. may be tasked with a larger role.

Aldama is still recovering from March knee surgery, and it will cost him at least the first game of the 2026-27 season. Aldama’s absence should free up more playing time for rookie Morez Johnson Jr.

While he wasn’t as prolific offensively as in his first summer league appearance, Johnson remained impactful on defense. The ninth-overall pick in last month’s draft blocked four shots and recorded two steals in what would be a dream night for fantasy managers. Johnson was whistled for seven fouls, so some strides are needed in that area. That said, he can be an impact defender for the Mavericks immediately at power forward or center.

In his summer league debut, Johnson showcased why he was the first of the three Michigan lottery picks to be selected. He did a little bit of everything and had a dominant offensive showing. He was a well-rounded producer in college, so it isn’t surprising that he was able to contribute to this extent in his first summer league appearance. If he starts, he has a chance to be one of the more impactful rookies in fantasy basketball this season.

After initially entering his name into the draft with an open mind toward returning to Michigan for another season, Johnson shot up draft boards throughout the spring. And his defensive ability is a big reason why. During his lone season in Ann Arbor, the 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward/center averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 62.3 percent from the field and 78.2 percent from the foul line. Johnson can be used at either the four or the five, with the latter role coming as part of a smaller lineup. Dallas hired Dusty May as their next head coach, and May just won a national championship with Johnson at Michigan. The two will reconnect and look to build a strong frontcourt alongside Cooper Flagg.