Brendan Haywood Talks Mavs In NBA Finals, Rockets Shopping No. 3 Draft Pick

Brendan Haywood, NBA TV analyst and champion with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, joins Next Up to preview the finals matchup between the Mavericks and Boston Celtics. "I got Dallas in six [games]," Haywood said.

Jason Kidd, who is also a NBA champion with the Mavericks and has been the organization's head coach since 2021, "has been doing a great job" with a dominant backcourt in Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. "You have two incredible wizards with the ball."

Haywood says Dončić's "game is way different than Dirk [Nowitzki]," but "the similarity is the mentality."

Haywood anticipates the Mavericks will target Celtics forward Kristaps Porziņģis. "The Celtics have scorers," but "the Mavericks have playmakers."

Haywood also comments on the Houston Rockets having the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. "This team has a bunch of young talent" and could add to it by drafting Reed Sheppard or Donovan Clingan, but the Rockets should look to trade their pick for an established player, such as Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine or Mikal Bridges.