Dallas Mavericks: 5 options for pick No. 33 in 2018 NBA Draft

1. Moritz Wagner, C – Michigan

From a storyline perspective, could there be a more perfect draft pick for the Dallas Mavericks than Moritz Wagner? Wagner hails from Berlin, about a five and a half hour drive from Wurzburg, the home of another tall German who has had some modicum of success putting an orange ball in a hoop 10 feet off the ground.

Wagner was a one-year-old when Dirk Nowitzki was drafted by the Mavs, and has watched from afar as he’s arguably become one of the 20 greatest players of all time. All indications are that next season will be Dirk’s last. What better way to ride off into the sunset than shepherding in young man who can take his place?

Wagner’s stock skyrocketed after exploding over the last two weekends of the NCAA Tournament. It came on the heels of a season that saw him hit 39 percent from deep on 4.1 attempts per game, leaving whether or not he can defend at the next level as the only question surrounding the junior from Michigan.

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Carlisle has some practice working a defensively imperfect big man into the lineup, having had more than ample experience with Nowitzki. If Wagner is available at No. 33, it’s hard to see Dallas passing him up.