The Dallas Mavericks have missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons and, after a 33-win campaign in 2016-2017, the bottom fell out on the way to only 24 wins in 2017-2018. The previous slippage allowed the organization to select Dennis Smith Jr. in last year’s NBA Draft but, as is the case with many point guards in their rookie voyage, he was less than efficient in his debut and the other pieces weren’t enough to buoy the Mavericks to a more competitive place.
While Smith Jr. is (easily) the best young piece on the roster, there isn’t much to grab hold of in terms of the future, particularly for skeptics of Harrison Barnes. It has to be said that Dallas does have flexibility and potential salary cap room to utilize this summer but, for now, the team’s draft picks in 2018 serve as some of the best assets that the franchise has to offer.
With that as the backdrop, here are a few players that the Mavericks could prioritize with their picks (No. 5, No. 33 and No. 54) in the upcoming draft.
- Marvin Bagley III – C/PF, Duke – There is a split with regard to Bagley, who is a tremendously productive offensive player with legitimate offensive questions. On the high side, he could be Amar’e Stoudemire and, well, his defensive concerns would be masked by high-end production. However, that isn’t a guarantee and he could slip to Dallas at No. 5 if teams aren’t sold that he can translate defensively.
- Mo Bamba – C, Texas – Bamba’s pre-draft media campaign has been something to behold. He has the largest wingspan in the history of the NBA Draft Combine (7’10) and has incredibly high upside as a result. Still, his tape wasn’t quite as effective as some other lottery-bound big man and teams will need to build in projection when evaluating him. It is very possible that Bamba is the best player available when Dallas is on the clock, though, and that makes him a popular pairing with the Mavericks.
- Bruce Brown – SG, Miami – One year ago, Brown was projected as a potential lottery pick and he had a nightmare season that was at least partially fueled by injuries. The talent remains, though, and he would be a strong pick in the early portion of the second round. The jumper is the big swing skill but Brown can actually function without it, albeit in a lesser role.
- Wendell Carter Jr. – C, Duke – The inclusion of Carter, combined with the exclusion of Michael Porter Jr., will raise some eyebrows and I’m prepared for that. Porter Jr. may very well be in play here and it is tough to argue too much against that, considering his potential ceiling on the offensive end. For me, though, Carter Jr. is a safer and better overall prospect, with nothing approaching Porter Jr.’s downside. It wouldn’t be a sexy pick in the slightest but, if the Mavericks prioritize median outcome over potential ceiling, it makes sense.
- Melvin Frazier, SF, Tulane – Frazier’s stock is all over the place and it is hard to peg who will be available at No. 33. If he is there, though, the Mavericks should pounce on a 3-and-D candidate with high-end defensive potential and freakish measurables. Frazier may not be overly polished but his potential far exceeds his notoriety right now.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. – C, Michigan State – All indications are that Jackson Jr. will be off the board before Dallas could take him but it only takes one team becoming obsessed with the aforementioned Mo Bamba (or Trae Young) to change that. Jackson Jr. is, for my money, the best defensive prospect in this class and that provides a comfortable floor as a high-end role player. The pivot point is what he can be offensively but he projects as an elite role player type that can stretch the floor, handle the ball and act as an All-Defense level player on the other end.
- De’Anthony Melton – SG/PG, USC – On my personal board, Melton would be long gone but there is buzz he could slip to round two. Adding him as a combo guard would take some pressure off Dennis Smith defensively and, simply put, Melton just knows how to play on both ends. If he had a proven jump shot, he’d be a lottery pick but there is reason to believe it will come around. If it does, this is a heist.
