Each Wednesday, we’ll be assessing how the top prospects of the 2013 NBA Draft are faring in college and overseas. Stick with us each week for assorted thoughts, including the biggest risers and fallers, the standouts, the sleepers and what we know and don’t know about the next NBA Draft class…
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After years and years of playing deep into May and June, the Dallas Mavericks find themselves in the lottery looking for talent. Over the years, Mark Cuban (owner) played fast and loose with the current roster to set himself up for stars in the future. They may get one this summer, but if not, the 2013 NBA Draft is where the rebuild begins.
Here is the NBA Draft Fast Five.
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ONE: What Do We Know About The Dallas Mavericks?
There are literally zero players on the books for the 2014-2015 season, which means that the picks this and next year need to be of value as part of the building blocks. Going into this summer, the Mavericks have Dirk Nowitzki (34 years old), Shawn Marion (34, early termination option), Vince Carter (36), O.J. Mayo (25, player option), Jared Cunningham (21) and Jae Crowder (22) on the books. That is an old core that will be all but gone after next season.
As a unit, the Mavericks played well on the offensive end last year. They were a top-eight team in terms of overall shooting and scoring, but struggled defensively. That was compounded and defined by their inability to rebound the ball. On the offensive end, they were the 27th-best rebounding team and No. 29 on the defensive end. It is hard to win games when you cannot secure the ball to end a defensive possession.
TWO: What Do They Need?
Playmaking and youth. That is simple in theory, but no question the Mavericks need to add a perimeter player that can make plays unselfishly to make Dirk’s life easier. If there is not a point guard the team is sold on in the draft, then a rebounding force in the paint has to be the No. 2 option.
THREE: Stock Rising
Remember Ricardo Ledo? He is the guard that did not play for Providence this year, but was the No. 6 overall recruit according to Rivals.com for 2012, ranked ahead of Anthony Bennett, Marcus Smart and other talents talked about in the lottery. It is easy to forget what is not right in front of you, but Ledo is one of the most talented basketball players in this class even without playing a single college game.
He has at least 21 teams already requesting workouts 10 days before the NBA Draft Combine has even taken place. With all the variables in this year’s class, Ledo could be that combustible element that explodes into the first round, or even the lottery.
FOUR: Stock Falling
Very soon we will have the official list of invites for the 2013 NBA Draft Combine. When that comes out it is an indication of which 60 prospects (minus the international players unable to attend) that NBA teams feel are the most draftable.
Those not invited are going to have to work that much harder to secure themselves a spot in the draft. Here is a little history for you. In the 2010 NBA Draft, only seven Combine invites were not drafted, 10 in 2011, and nine in 2012. Getting the invite to the Combine gives you an 83-88 percent chance of getting selected in the draft. Golden Ticket.
Keep reading to see the five guys the Mavericks should be looking to draft this summer…
FIVE: Quick Hitter
There is a difference between being injured and having a surgery to correct an issue. Nerlens Noel was injured and had repairing surgery that will sideline him until December or January. Then there are Anthony Bennett and Alex Len, who had surgery to repair their bodies, which is what players do in the offseason. All three are considered top-10 picks in this year’s draft and will not slide because of these “setbacks.”
Teams will still see them get measured at the combine and have individual interviews with them. They can invite them to town to show them the city, the facilities, and see how they fit in with the organization. All their games have been recorded and watched. This is not a setback for any of these three prospects now or going forward.
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Top 5 Fits For Dallas Right Now
1. Trey Burke: 6-1, 190 pounds – Soph., Michigan
Stats: 18.6 PPG, 6.7 APG, 1.6 SPG, 46.3 percent FG, 38.4 percent 3PT
What he lacks in size, Burke makes up with coming up big in big situations. He led his team to the national title game while proving to be a great scorer and distributor.
2. C.J. McCollum: 6-3, 180 pounds – Senior, Lehigh
Stats (12 games): 23.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 49.5 percent FG, 51.6 percent 3PT
Adding in the potential of a great shooter and scorer on the perimeter has to be enticing for the defensive-minded Mavs. Also, you cannot ignore McCollum, who has shown flashes of being a little like that other small-school point guard in Golden State…
3. Shabazz Muhammad: 6-5, 225 pounds – Fresh., UCLA
Stats: 18.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 45.9 percent FG, 43.2 percent 3PT
He is not great with the ball, but with Dirk making most of the plays through the offense, Muhammad can be the wingman they have been looking for.
4. Michael Carter-Williams: 6-6, 185 pounds – Soph., Syracuse
Stats: 11.9 PPG, 7.3 APG, 5.0 RPG, 3.7 SPG, 39.3 percent FG
Is he a point or is MCW a two? Either way he is a playmaker, which is something that the team desperately needs going forward.
5. Jamaal Franklin: 6-5, 205 pounds – Junior, San Diego State
Stats: 16.9 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 41.1 percent FG
Not the sexy pick in terms of name value, but Franklin is a guy that can do everything on the perimeter as a playmaker, scorer, passer, defender and rebounder. Perfect team player.
The search for a perimeter counterpart to Dirk has been on-going since the departure of Steve Nash and this year they have a chance to get someone in the draft. There is a slim chance that any of these players become stars, but help is help.
Who should the Mavs draft this year?
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