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Dallas Mavericks: 5 options for pick No. 9 in 2017 NBA Draft

By Josh Cornelissen

Feb 8, 2017; Tallahassee, FL, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith (4) dribbles against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Florida State won 95-71. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2017; Tallahassee, FL, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith (4) dribbles against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Florida State won 95-71. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 23, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) drives the ball past Xavier Musketeers forward Tyrique Jones (0) during the second period in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Xavier Musketeers defeated the Arizona Wildcats 73-71. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) drives the ball past Xavier Musketeers forward Tyrique Jones (0) during the second period in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Xavier Musketeers defeated the Arizona Wildcats 73-71. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Lauri Markkanen, PF/C, Arizona

If the Mavericks are looking to replace Dirk Nowitzki’s star power with the player most closely resembling Dirk Nowitzki, they have perhaps their best opportunity to do so in the 2017 NBA Draft. Lauri Markkanen, while unlikely to reach the Hall-of-Fame heights of Nowitzki’s career, offers many of the same strengths in his offensive skill-set.

It’s been a trite and lazy practice to label European big men with any shooting ability whatsoever the “next Dirk” but in Markkanen’s case it may actually be fair. The Finnish forward demonstrated during his season at Arizona that his stroke is nearly flawless, and he hit 42.3 percent of his three-pointers on 5.8 attempts per game.

Sam Vecenie of Vice Sports makes the case that Lauri Markkanen may be the best 7-foot shooter to ever enter the draft, and immediately would become the best shooter at his position other than Dirk Nowitzki. In Rick Carlisle’s system he would have space to launch, and an offensive pairing of Markkanen and Nowitzki would play any traditional big off of the floor.

The problem with Markkanen is the other side of the ball, where he may also be the worst defensive center in the draft – and certainly among bigs in lottery consideration. He doesn’t provide much length despite his 7’0″ frame, and when asked to defend in the post he offered little resistance. One key area any team will need to address is adding strength to his frame to allow him to withstand the pounding of the NBA.

Markkanen could be the perfect heir to Nowitzki in Dallas, but that’s also a lot of pressure to put on a teenager just coming into the league. Mavericks’ fans will expect him to be the player Dirk was, and that’s too much to expect even from his biggest fans. There are benefits to Markkanen developing in Dallas, but there are downsides as well. Will Mark Cuban pull the trigger if he is available at ninth?

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