Hoops Habit
Fansided

Dallas Mavericks: Three strategies for the 2020 draft

By Sam DiGiovanni

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 17: Luka Doncic #77, Boban Marjanovic #15 and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #9 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrate a basket against the LA Clippers during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 17, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 17: Luka Doncic #77, Boban Marjanovic #15 and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #9 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrate a basket against the LA Clippers during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 17, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Dallas Mavericks, NBA draft
Dallas Mavericks, NBA draft (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

2. Improve the defense in the NBA draft

Dallas, in spite of having a historically dominant offense, was just the seventh seed in the playoffs and fell in the first round due to their lackluster defense. No rookie can elevate Dallas’s defense to top-tier but it can certainly help a unit with good individual defenders like Kristaps Porzingis, Maxi Kleber and Delon Wright.

Florida State’s Patrick Williams provides intensity and versatility from the forward position. The 6’8″ 19-year-old is strong, ferocious, athletic and could play either forward spots. Though there is plenty of room for improvement offensively, he has shown productivity on that end. He has the makings of a productive glue guy.

Other wings with promising defensive potential are the Beys – Saddiq from Villanova and Tyler from Colorado (no relation) – Arizona’s Josh Green and Mississippi State’s Robert Woodard II. All of them, and Wiliams, have promise as shooters, though it varies with each prospect.

There’s also Leandro Bolarmo, an Argentian teenager who would add to Dallas’ collection of Europeans. The 6’7″ guard has promising playmaking chops and the defensive skills and intensity to put up a fight against any perimeter player.

Dallas could also have the choice between multiple guards who can clamp up. TCU’s Desmond Bane,  Duke’s Tre Jones and Creighton’s Ty-Shon Alexander are all quick-handed guards that provide playmaking and 3-point shooting.

Interior defense is perhaps what Dallas is best equipped for, with an elite shot swatter in Porzingis and versatile, stout defender in Kleber. Still, there are plenty of bigs with defensive upside that would be available at either of Dallas’ picks: Memphis’ Precious Achiuwa, DePaul’s Paul Reed, Michigan State’s Xavier Tillman and Washington’s Isaiah Stewart.

Home/Dallas Mavericks