The Dallas Mavericks needed a lot of luck to land a top-three pick in the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery. Sadly, it didn’t happen. Mark Cuban’s team will pick ninth.
Over the past 20 years the Dallas Mavericks, built around Dirk Nowitzki, have been the model of consistency. Playoff appearances, 50-win campaigns and even a title litter their record books since the turn of the century. So it was weird to see them as participants in the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery.
But as we all know, Father Time waits for no man. Nowtizki has aged, and the Mavs’ time as a contender has come and gone. What’s worse, after closing 2016-17 with a 33-49 record (the NBA’s ninth-worst finish), they didn’t receive any help in the lottery either. Mark Cuban ended up with the ninth overall pick.
Now, it’s all about finding a player who will help lead the franchise back to contention. Presently, Draft Express has Dallas taking Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen with their selection. It’s a bit of an obvious fit — drafting a European-born big man with a silky smooth jumper to replace the one that’s reaching the twilight of his career.
But sometimes the most obvious path is also the most prudent. Markkanen can learn from Nowitzki, who likely won’t play more than another season or two, on how to excel as a big man playing on the perimeter.
The Finnish power forward finished his freshman campaign shooting 49.2 percent from the field, 42.3 percent from three and 83.5 percent from the foul stripe. He’s not just a big who can shoot it; he may be the best shooter in the entire class.
Does that mean it’s a guarantee he’ll blossom into being the next Dirk? Probably not. But he should enjoy a long career, at the very least as an excellent role player.
Dallas Mavericks
If Cuban doesn’t fall in love with Markannen’s shooting prowess, picking ninth affords him the chance to look at multiple superb options. The Mavs could choose to target Frank Ntilikina, the young point guard out of France, instead.
I know, I know. After Rodrigue Beaubois, Cuban will probably be hesitant to go with a mysterious, young, European point guard again. And you can’t really fault him for that.
But Ntilikina could be worth the risk. He’s one of best defensive point guards in the draft, and has even received lofty comparisons to George Hill and Jeremy Lin from The Ringer.
If the Mavs opt for a slightly more conventional option, they could look at Dennis Smith, too. He’s also a point guard, but because he played his college ball at NC State, in the toughest conference in America, his stats and film are more readily available.
Smith is probably the most explosive point guard in the draft outside of De’Aaron Fox. And while Seth Curry is an excellent off-ball guard and Yogi Ferrell flashed potential as a rookie this season, he may be best served coming off the bench as a sixth man. That leaves Dallas with a need at the 1-spot. Smith could very well be the guy.
Next: 2017 NBA Draft Lottery results and First Round order
Regardless, whether it’s Smith, Markannen, or maybe somebody like Florida State’s Jonathan Isaac at No. 9, Cuban and Co. will have a chance to land a player who can build a bridge into their next 20 years of contention. If they pick the right one, that is.