Dallas Mavericks: 2015 Draft Results And Grades

The Dallas Mavericks selected Justin Anderson with the 21st pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Despite the fact that they were in the market for a point guard, the Mavs decided to go with a shooting guard/small forward who can defend and shoot three-pointers very well.

Anderson is 6’6″, weighs 231 pounds and played on a Virginia team that was incredible on defense — so good that they led the nation in defensive efficiency this past season. Anderson was one of his main defensive players, which is one big element the Mavs  lacked this past season. He is a very well-rounded player and he averaged 12.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game last season.

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Besides Anderson’s defense, he is known for his three-point shooting. In 2014-15, he shot 45 percent from three-point range and was able to light the scoreboard up with ease whenever he got hot. The Mavs are already a pretty good three-point shooting team so adding a player like Anderson makes them that much more dangerous.

The Mavs are hoping he can come in and be like Jae Crowder, a tough defender who can score when he has to. Dallas has missed Crowder ever since they shipped him off to Boston as a part of the Rajon Rondo deal so it’s no surprise that they found a player in the draft similar to him. This could also be viewed as an “insurance” selection just in case Al-Farouq Aminu slips away in free agency.

Shortly after being drafted, Anderson shared a wonderful moment with his college coach. Anderson played with Virginia for three years so he had become a fixture in their lineup and rotation.

Overall, I feel like the Mavs made a smart decision drafting Justin Anderson. There were better players available at the time and players that fit the Mavs’ needs better, but Anderson is someone who can be developed into an impact role player on the team as they attempt to build around Dirk Nowitzki one last time.

The Mavs and their fans should feel excited about the future with Justin Anderson. He could be a guy that becomes a steal in the draft if he is used the right way.

Grade: B+

The Dallas Mavericks then selected Satnam Singh with the 52nd pick in the Draft. Singh is unique because he is the first Indian born player to be drafted, not to mention the fact hat he’s 7’2″ and weighs 290. Despite the fact that he most likely won’t make it to the Mavs roster, he should get plenty of playing time with the Texas Legends in Frisco.

He has a very unique story which involves being born on a wheat farm. Today, he is considered one of India’s best chances at an NBA player and his dream finally came true when the Mavs drafted him. He has been followed by the NBA for quite some time now and just recently decided to enter the NBA Draft.

He will be able to learn from the veterans on the Legends in Frisco and will most likely be pretty successful due to his size. He’s obviously good at defense but can shoot when he has to. Overall, a solid pick considering where he was taken at.

Grade: C

The Dallas Mavericks certainly had a unique draft and we never saw them make a trade. However, they ended up with two great players, one which will start off in the NBA and one that will start off in the D-League. It should be interesting to see how they fit in and how they progress in the 2015-16 season!

Next: Monta Ellis: A Look Back On His Time In Dallas

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