The Dallas Mavericks have been an active part of the NBA Draft since their inception, though the draft has not been as integral a part of their team over te past ten seasons due to their playoff success.

The most famous draft moment for the Mavericks occurred in 1998, when the team famously orchestrated a three-team deal that brought Dirk Nowitzki, a draft selection from the Milwaukee Bucks, to the team in exchange for pick Robert Traylor. They also then shipped Pat Garrity (who they acquired as well from the Bucks) to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Steve Nash. The two would end up becoming All-Stars together in Dallas, though Nash ultimately left to re-join the Suns in 2004.http://www.nba.com/mavericks

In 2004, the team also made headlines for shipping Antawn Jamison to the Washington Wizards in return for the fifth overall pick and other players. The pick resulted in Devin Harris, who was ultimately included in 2008 in the Jason Kidd trade. Harris ultimately became an All-Star with the New Jersey Nets.http://www.nba.com/nets

Although the Mavericks have frequently given up first-round picks to other teams in return for talent, they selected a young guard from Guadeloupe in the 2009 draft with Rodrigue Beaubois.http://www.nbadraft.net<ref> Beaubois received support form the organization, but he received a lack of minutes in the first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.

Due to a deal in the Jason Kidd trade, Dallas does not have a first-round pick in the 2010 Draft -- instead, it will be sent directly over to the New Jersey Nets. They do own a second-round pick via the Portland Trail Blazers, which was part of the deal to move down for Beaubois in 2009.<ref>http://www.hoopsworld.com