2020 NBA Draft Discussion (18th and 31st pick)

[Bluelabel24]

Tankathon has him at #27 right now. 7 footer, 7'3 wingspan, but plays like a wing.

I won't even try to spell his name

holy crap... nice find there sir. Is he gonna declare next year? This is the type of prospect that gets me excited as well, great physical profile, athletic, pure shooting stroke, nice defensive instincts and passing..

[JamesConway]

Tankathon has him at #27 right now. 7 footer, 7'3 wingspan, but plays like a wing.

I won't even try to spell his name

holy crap... nice find there sir. Is he gonna declare next year? This is the type of prospect that gets me excited as well, great physical profile, athletic, pure shooting stroke, nice defensive instincts and passing..

Nothing of substance. The stepien has one big article about him and another one where they bring up his name as well as a few other euro bigs'. In both they are writing about prospects for the 2020 draft so that gives some hope.

He's so young (turns 18 in 1-2 weeks) that he could withdraw for a few more years though.

[Bluelabel24]

Tankathon has him at #27 right now. 7 footer, 7'3 wingspan, but plays like a wing.

I won't even try to spell his name

holy crap... nice find there sir. Is he gonna declare next year? This is the type of prospect that gets me excited as well, great physical profile, athletic, pure shooting stroke, nice defensive instincts and passing..

Nothing of substance. The stepien has one big article about him and another one where they bring up his name as well as a few other euro bigs'. In both they are writing about prospects for the 2020 draft so that gives some hope.

He's so young (turns 18 in 1-2 weeks) that he could withdraw for a few more years though.

yeah i just read that article where they also mentioned Amar Sylla, Aleksandar Langovic, Maxime Carene, Vinicius Da Silva and Gora Camara.
Dude is a reliable shot blocker and acts as a point center. Great passing instincts all around.
Right now hes about 190lbs, but of course with proper work outs he could add like 5-7lbs of muscle every offseason/year and he'll be a viable center in the league.

[DJ_3_Ball]

Man, Brandon Clarke 27 pts tonight 13/19 FGs 7 rebs 25 min. He's had several good performances like that for MEM this year.

Gives me a lot of hope for the Mavs 1st round pick because Clarke was widely mocked in the top 12 of last year's draft, but inexplicably slid to 21st overall last year.

Hopefully the Mavs can get lucky like that this year.

[JamesConway]

Man, Brandon Clarke 27 pts tonight 13/19 FGs 7 rebs 25 min. He's had several good performances like that for MEM this year.

Gives me a lot of hope for the Mavs 1st round pick because Clarke was widely mocked in the top 12 of last year's draft, but inexplicably slid to 21st overall last year.

Hopefully the Mavs can get lucky like that this year.

Yup. Do you have an opinion on Vernon Carey from Duke? Feels like he is one of those typical guys who might slide on draft night due to concerns about his fit in the NBA.

He seems bouncy enough to be a PnR finisher though Imo. I think we could convert him into a rollman here offensively. Add the 265+ pounds he brings to the table, postskils, motor, ability to draw fouls and we might look at a taller Julius Randle + x starter kit here. If he ever figures out the PnR I think I really like him.

If he doesn't then he's just a more athletic Motley though...

[JamesConway]

One of the few good things about Luka's absence: we will move up a few spots in the draft. I absolutely want to make the playoffs and if we can get a top 5 seed then I'll be the last one to complain, but otoh a pick closer to 16 than 25 wouldn't hurt us long-term either. Regardless of if we make the selection or move the pick. It's additional value.

[DJ_3_Ball]

Yup. Do you have an opinion on Vernon Carey from Duke? Feels like he is one of those typical guys who might slide on draft night due to concerns about his fit in the NBA...

To be honest, I have not seen one highlight of Carey. I have seen his name mocked in the 1st round of every mock draft I've seen, and you're right. He's mocked in that late teens to mid 20s range.

He wouldn't be my first thought, BUT, I will say this. I've always been a fan of the high school prospect. I remember when Kevin Garnett announced for the NBA draft in 1995. When I started hearing about the colleges that wanted him. It was everyone! It seemed like an opportunity to draft Shaq out of high school. Who wouldn't do that?

Ok. So he needs 2-3 years to sit & learn, but then you have a monster on your hands. I was similarly on board with Kobe the next year in '96, and I couldn't understand how he dropped to 13th. I didn't understand why T-Mac slid to 9th in '97, either. But, then as the fad became a trend, I started to learn that some of the guys I was in favor of coming out of high school, they just weren't worth it. The early 2000s was the nut low for drafting high schoolers' upside over college prospects who had earned it already.

That said, I still lean towards the very simple idea of drafting Kevin Garnett, a future dominant player in the NBA, as a youngster & watching him develop. It was a very logical thought process. The best high school players in the country usually become the best college players in the country, and those players usually become stars in the NBA. So, why not skip a step?

Looks like Carey Jr was the 6th ranked prospect in ESPN's Top 100 coming out of high school. He's book-ended by all of the names you see mocked in the lottery of the draft. Say the Mavs draft 23rd overall, and Carey Jr is there and anyone else say Isaiah Joe or Tyrese Haliburton are already gone, and you're gonna be reaching on a guy at that point, anyways. Yeah, count me in.

Why not reach on the guy with the highest ceiling, the guy with the highest talent (even if that talent doesn't necessarily fit in the "flow" of today's game).

That said, I'd have to look at his highlights, first.


Edit: Just watched his highlight package from the Georgetown game. I'm seeing shades of Marvin Bagley, III. minus the pogo stick hops & lightening fast quickness, but with a wider more powerful body (and less of an inclination to work outside the paint). Carey Jr is almost like a cross between Wendell Carter Jr & Marvin Bagley III, only with the stats seem to indicate is a worse jump shot.

I'm kind of a fan, but I think it's a longshot he lasts til the 20s. Duke is high a profile team, so I think he'll get plenty of buzz. But, who knows maybe, the Blue Devils get knocked out early in the tourney & Carey Jr doesn't see much shine. I definitely see what you're talking about with rim running and power play inside.
Also, looking at his stats. He's played 10 games and leads the Blue Devils in scoring 18.5 ppg and rebounding 9.2 rpg. He's been killing it so far, but then again Brandon Clarke was impressive for Gonzaga last year and he slid to 21st somehow. So, it could happen. Every scouting report I read about Carney Jr mentioned he's an incomplete player.

[DJ_3_Ball]

Like what I read from Givony on Scottie Lewis' profile. He's someone you see mocked in the early to mid 20s in most mock drafts. Not excited about him overall; although, I don't dislike him. But, if the Mavs wind up in that early to mid 20s range, I like what I read about him vs what else is likely to be available.

Strengths
- Outstanding athlete with a long wingspan that allows him to play bigger than his height. At his best in the open court using his speed, body control and explosiveness to attack the rim relentlessly. Has a terrific first step and isn't afraid of contact.
- Multipositional defender who operates with arguably the highest intensity level of any player in this class. At his best guarding point guards where he can smother opposing ball handlers at the point of attack with his length and quickness. Gets over screens, crashes the glass and dives on the floor for loose balls.
- Excellent teammate who doesn't need to score to contribute. Willing passer. Wants to do all the little things. Always talking. Embraces contact. Approaches every possession like it's the NBA playoffs. Has a high floor because of his role-player potential.

Improvement areas
- Frame hasn't changed much over the years. Might have a tougher time with the bigger, stronger players he'll be asked to guard in the NBA. Turning 20 in March.
- Plays a frenetic style that can work against him. Not as dynamic a ball handler as he needs to be, especially in the half court. Tends to settle for the first floater or pull-up jumper he can find. Decision-making can be poor. Will the game slow down for him?
- A streaky and at times reluctant shooter. Shows flashing of shot-making ability with his pull-up jumper, but has too many bad misses in spot-up situations that cause him to get hesitant.

Projected role: Versatile 3-and-D guard/wing

--Jonathan Givony

Who doesn't want a guy that can come in & give opposing ball handlers problems. An intense defender with size, length, speed & quickness. I've noticed Delon is much better working vs quicker PGs/ballhandlers than DFS is. DFS is better on wings. Lewis could fill a need for the Mavs rotation.

My favorite line in the profile, "Approaches every possession like it's the NBA playoffs..."

[DJ_3_Ball]

I'm really interested in this Isaiah Joe kid from Arkansas.

He's been slipping down the mocks in the past 2 weeks, even though he hasn't had bad games during that stretch. I see him mocked in the early to mid 2nd round now.

He plays for an Arkansas team that's not very good. They lack size with Gafford gone, they lack a playmaker (none on the team is averaging more than 2.5 apg), and they lack talent. Only one guy on the roster was a 4 star recruit in high school, Jimmy Whitt Jr, a transfer from SMU. That includes Joe who was only a 3 star recruit in high school. Most of the team is made up of 3 star recruits. Their leading scorer is a guy from DeSoto, TX who had weight issues in high school and was 0 stars. He transfered to Arkansas from a JUCO.

I bring all of that up to say, Joe gets a lot of attention on offense. I haven't watched him play, yet. But, the stats would indicate he doesn't get many open looks & yet he's shooting 3s at 34.2% on 10.4 3PA. You'd have to wonder what the guy could shoot on open looks with Luka creating prime shooting opportunities for him. He shot 41.4% on 3s last year as a freshman (8.0 3PA). That was a more talented Razorbacks team, so I'd imagine he got better looks last year.

Joe's stats indicate he's not a half bad rebounder and active in the passing lanes with 1.8 spg. He plays a lot of minutes too (37.3 mpg), so we know he's a gamer. The 80.0% on FTs & 3.6 FTA is an encouraging sign too.

Arkansas hasn't really bad anyone, yet, so their 10-1 record isn't too impressive, but when SEC play comes around, it'll be interesting to see how Joe plays. He could play himself back into the top half of the 1st round, but maybe scouts will continue to look at his weaknesses more than his strengths.

You gotta love a shooter, though, and Joe looks like he could step into a contributing role with an NBA team on day 1. Definitely a player to keep an eye on.

[DJ_3_Ball]

Just realized one of my favorite hoops Youtubers, The Dime Drop did a video on Scottie Lewis. I keep seeing Lewis mocked in the late teens/early 20s area & he's being mocked to the Mavs in a few mocks.

Watch on YouTube

Watched some more of Lewis' highlights. This kid has a reasonably high floor, because while his offensive game is a work in progress (the one thing he does very well is attack the rim), he 100% competes on the defensive end of the floor. He just has a way about him. Like he takes it personal if you score on him.

So far in college averaging 28.9 mpg 1.6 spg 1.5 bpg 1.5 fouls per game and 1.1 TOs. Oh, and 4.2 rpg too. Like I said the kid is active.

The offensive game is missing---if you just go by the stats. Shooting % is poor and low ppg all of that. But, the mechanics are there. The instincts are there. This a kid, who even though he was the 10th ranked high school player in the country last year, would be getting 7-8 min a game 20 years ago. But, now freshman play 30 min a game, but his offense hasn't developed enough to justify it yet. I get the feeling he will develop into a serviceable offensive player.

You draft Lewis and it's a case of developing a player. I don't know that the Mavs have ever been very good at that. But, I'd like to see them try with this guy. I think, he'd earn 10-12 mpg his rookie year just with his defense. If Lewis goes to a team like OKC, then he might be able to earn 20+ mpg his rookie year.

His shooting mechanics are fairly fluid and his release is quick. He can make improvements there, but he projects as an NBA shooter.

He retweeted a tweet about Mavs' assistant coach God Shammgod. He's from the New Jersey area, so a fan of his I suspect. Get this. As a high schooler he organized a charity basketball game to benefit the local homeless, 2 years in a row. Seems like a pretty high character guy too.

Honestly, I think if his last name were Ball, he'd probably be a top 5 pick. Seems like a lot of folks are focusing on what he can't do instead of what he can do, and I think that's a mistake. I'd have Lewis in my top 10 right now just for the simple fact his defense will keep him in the league & his offense is projectable.


Edit: Watching more on him. Scottie & his family were homeless for awhile. So, the charity game for homeless makes sense. The tenacity he plays with makes sense too. Hard not to like this guy.

[Teffer10]

Give me these two guys on draft night and I'll be a happy fan.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[arkuo]

Any interest in Udoka Azubuike?

Legit 6'11 with a 7'5 wingspan. Can be had with our first rounder I would think. Doesn't do anything spectacular and his perimeter game is very raw. Scores 100% of his shots in the post of off lobs. A college senior (4 years NCAA experience) and still only 20 years old, he can be our version of Clint Capela or Bam Adebayo if he just plays his role. He doesn't have to be Anthony Davis here. He simply needs to be a Clint Capela and he will get a role in this offense. He plays defense too. Something Powell cant do.

NBA Draft.net has him at #30 which is good. It means he is attainable. The Knicks got Mitchell Robinson in the 2nd round. So this might be our guy.

[DJ_3_Ball]

Any interest in Udoka Azubuike?

Legit 6'11 with a 7'5 wingspan. Can be had with our first rounder I would think. Doesn't do anything spectacular and his perimeter game is very raw. Scores 100% of his shots in the post of off lobs. A college senior (4 years NCAA experience) and still only 20 years old, he can be our version of Clint Capela or Bam Adebayo if he just plays his role. He doesn't have to be Anthony Davis here. He simply needs to be a Clint Capela and he will get a role in this offense. He plays defense too. Something Powell cant do.

NBA Draft.net has him at #30 which is good. It means he is attainable. The Knicks got Mitchell Robinson in the 2nd round. So this might be our guy.

Azubuike has been mocked in drafts for the past 3 years. I see him mocked late in the 2nd round, if at all, this year. nbadraft.net has been trash for about 3-4 years now. Sad too because they use to put out good content. They use to be one of the industry leaders & they just like gave up. Regardless, I'd take anything on nbadraft.net with a grain of salt.

I got one response for Azubuike:

FT shooting %s

'16-'17: 37.9%
'17-'18: 41.3%
'18-'19: 34.4%
'19-'20: 39.0%

Granted, this guy is not a shooter, but I mean come'on. At those %s you can't play him in the 4th quarter of a close game. He's never attempted a 3 pointer in his college career & his entire college career has come during the Steph & Golden State era. What does that tell you about his ability to shoot? Like even from 15 feet... I haven't seen a lot of Azubuike. I watched some of his games when Graham was there. I don't remember him ever shooting outside of 10 feet. He's not going to be able to dominate in the NBA with his size like he can in college. And, I just don't think he has the skills to compensate elsewhere.

Would I take a flyer on him late in the 2nd round? Sure. I definitely would be on the horn to his agent for a Summer League invite, but I can think of several players I'm more interested in with any pick inside of the first 55 overall picks in the draft than Azubuike. I mean, with a 20 year old, you're looking for upside & you just don't have that with Azubuike. He is what he is. If he improves his FT% 20 points, it's still awful. You still can't play him late in the 4th quarter. I just don't see the upside with him, unfortunately.

[Teffer10]

Any interest in Udoka Azubuike?

Legit 6'11 with a 7'5 wingspan. Can be had with our first rounder I would think. Doesn't do anything spectacular and his perimeter game is very raw. Scores 100% of his shots in the post of off lobs. A college senior (4 years NCAA experience) and still only 20 years old, he can be our version of Clint Capela or Bam Adebayo if he just plays his role. He doesn't have to be Anthony Davis here. He simply needs to be a Clint Capela and he will get a role in this offense. He plays defense too. Something Powell cant do.

NBA Draft.net has him at #30 which is good. It means he is attainable. The Knicks got Mitchell Robinson in the 2nd round. So this might be our guy.

Azubuike has been mocked in drafts for the past 3 years. I see him mocked late in the 2nd round, if at all, this year. nbadraft.net has been trash for about 3-4 years now. Sad too because they use to put out good content. They use to be one of the industry leaders & they just like gave up. Regardless, I'd take anything on nbadraft.net with a grain of salt.

I got one response for Azubuike:

FT shooting %s

'16-'17: 37.9%
'17-'18: 41.3%
'18-'19: 34.4%
'19-'20: 39.0%

Granted, this guy is not a shooter, but I mean come'on. At those %s you can't play him in the 4th quarter of a close game. He's never attempted a 3 pointer in his college career & his entire college career has come during the Steph & Golden State era. What does that tell you about his ability to shoot? Like even from 15 feet... I haven't seen a lot of Azubuike. I watched some of his games when Graham was there. I don't remember him ever shooting outside of 10 feet. He's not going to be able to dominate in the NBA with his size like he can in college. And, I just don't think he has the skills to compensate elsewhere.

Would I take a flyer on him late in the 2nd round? Sure. I definitely would be on the horn to his agent for a Summer League invite, but I can think of several players I'm more interested in with any pick inside of the first 55 overall picks in the draft than Azubuike. I mean, with a 20 year old, you're looking for upside & you just don't have that with Azubuike. He is what he is. If he improves his FT% 20 points, it's still awful. You still can't play him late in the 4th quarter. I just don't see the upside with him, unfortunately.

I don't see the Mavs drafting Dok but he'd be a cheap insurance big if we got him on the team. He is as strong as they come on the interior and pretty damn athletic but his range is literally 4ft and that is it. Right now Boban is a much better option but if the Mavs want to move on from him Dok would be a decent pick.

I wouldn't waste a late 1st rounder or GSW's pick on him though. I still think Thon Maker's cousin Makur would be a better option and fit for us as an UFA if he is available.

[J_T]

Any interest in Udoka Azubuike?

Legit 6'11 with a 7'5 wingspan. Can be had with our first rounder I would think. Doesn't do anything spectacular and his perimeter game is very raw. Scores 100% of his shots in the post of off lobs. A college senior (4 years NCAA experience) and still only 20 years old, he can be our version of Clint Capela or Bam Adebayo if he just plays his role. He doesn't have to be Anthony Davis here. He simply needs to be a Clint Capela and he will get a role in this offense. He plays defense too. Something Powell cant do.

NBA Draft.net has him at #30 which is good. It means he is attainable. The Knicks got Mitchell Robinson in the 2nd round. So this might be our guy.

Azubuike has been mocked in drafts for the past 3 years. I see him mocked late in the 2nd round, if at all, this year. nbadraft.net has been trash for about 3-4 years now. Sad too because they use to put out good content. They use to be one of the industry leaders & they just like gave up. Regardless, I'd take anything on nbadraft.net with a grain of salt.

I got one response for Azubuike:

FT shooting %s

'16-'17: 37.9%
'17-'18: 41.3%
'18-'19: 34.4%
'19-'20: 39.0%

Granted, this guy is not a shooter, but I mean come'on. At those %s you can't play him in the 4th quarter of a close game. He's never attempted a 3 pointer in his college career & his entire college career has come during the Steph & Golden State era. What does that tell you about his ability to shoot? Like even from 15 feet... I haven't seen a lot of Azubuike. I watched some of his games when Graham was there. I don't remember him ever shooting outside of 10 feet. He's not going to be able to dominate in the NBA with his size like he can in college. And, I just don't think he has the skills to compensate elsewhere.

Would I take a flyer on him late in the 2nd round? Sure. I definitely would be on the horn to his agent for a Summer League invite, but I can think of several players I'm more interested in with any pick inside of the first 55 overall picks in the draft than Azubuike. I mean, with a 20 year old, you're looking for upside & you just don't have that with Azubuike. He is what he is. If he improves his FT% 20 points, it's still awful. You still can't play him late in the 4th quarter. I just don't see the upside with him, unfortunately.

I don't see the Mavs drafting Dok but he'd be a cheap insurance big if we got him on the team. He is as strong as they come on the interior and pretty damn athletic but his range is literally 4ft and that is it. Right now Boban is a much better option but if the Mavs want to move on from him Dok would be a decent pick.

I wouldn't waste a late 1st rounder or GSW's pick on him though. I still think Thon Maker's cousin Makur would be a better option and fit for us as an UFA if he is available.

Except that the entire family are bunch of age scammers. He is probably 25 years old entering the draft.

[ImMavsMan61]

There are two guys slated to be in range of the 20th pick that I like for now:

Aaron Nesmith 6'6" SG/SF from Vanderbilt. He only played 14 games before getting hurt but he was averaging 23 ppg and shooting 52% from 3pt range. He is the kind of player that would really benefit from Luka. The way the Mavs play now with so many 3 point shots as part of their attack this is the kind of player we could really use. I have a feeling he won't be available in that range come draft day however with so many teams wanting shooters.

Precious Achiuwa 6'9" SF/PG from Memphis. Only a Freshmen but very athletic averaging 15 ppg 10 rpg along with nearly 2 block per game. We could use the defensive presence and he can receive some Luka passes for dunks. He is a good rebounder as well. His 3 pt percentage appears to be fine at 39% but I don't think he takes many so that may be misleading.

If Nesmith is gone I would be happy to get Achiuwa with the Mavs pick.

[ImMavsMan61]

I realize nobody cares much about the draft right now but since the traded deadline passed and Dallas kept the early 2nd rounder I am keeping an eye out for who might be around for our two picks in the top 31.

Despite our signing of MKG I think we should target a good wing player. I would stick with shooters and if we can find that 3 and D type player than all the better.

I still like Achiuwa and Nesmith but after looking further I love:

Jahmi'us Ramsey 6'4" 195 lbs. Highly rated defensively, 45% from 3-pt range. He is strong and looks like he could guard 3 positions. He may seem short to guard SFs but with his strength and 6'10" wingspan he would likely be up to the task. Very athletic.

Devin Vassell 6'7" 195 lbs. Also highly rated defensively, 42% from 3-pt range. He has been moving up the draft boards so may not be available with the 1st round pick. But he is another option for a 3 and D guy.

Between Achiuwa, Ramsey and Vassell I am hoping one might be there for our first pick.
I would target Nesmith or Jordan Nwora, a sharpshooter from Louisville for the 31st pick.

Looking at the draft boards I believe we can get a player or two who could fill a role and make this team better.

[DJ_3_Ball]

I still like Achiuwa...

Achiuwa could easily be gone by the time the Mavs pick in the 1st round; although, the way we're trending that pick is looking more like a mid-late teens pick than a mid 20s pick.

I wouldn't mind Achiuwa with the GSW 2nd round pick, but he almost certainly won't be there & if his draft stock does drop that far between now & June, that's a cause for concern too.

My issue with Achiuwa is you just have an athlete. Where's the basketball skill? A player like Josh Jackson, you see the athletic skill and you say WOW! imagine if he can add a jump shot and handles and passing... but the thing is those aren't skills you just pick up like you're going to the grocery store to guy ingredients for a recipe.

That's what makes a guy like Luka so special. Highly skilled players don't just grow on trees, but most people seem to think you can learn to shoot a basketball very easily. It doesn't work that way. It's a lot like a guy who isn't very athletic. He's not going to become the athlete Achiuwa is all the sudden.

I think you have to look at a guy like that and realize he's probably not going to hit his ceiling on those skill elements of the game. A good example would be Gerald Green. One of the most athletic players to ever come into the league, and it took him over a decade to truly develop skills. Not to mention, it takes time to understand offensive & defensive concepts.

Achiuwa doesn't check nearly enough boxes for me. I'll admit his potential is high, but his likelihood of never achieving it is also very high.

[ImMavsMan61]

I still like Achiuwa...

Achiuwa could easily be gone by the time the Mavs pick in the 1st round; although, the way we're trending that pick is looking more like a mid-late teens pick than a mid 20s pick.

I wouldn't mind Achiuwa with the GSW 2nd round pick, but he almost certainly won't be there & if his draft stock does drop that far between now & June, that's a cause for concern too.

My issue with Achiuwa is you just have an athlete. Where's the basketball skill? A player like Josh Jackson, you see the athletic skill and you say WOW! imagine if he can add a jump shot and handles and passing... but the thing is those aren't skills you just pick up like you're going to the grocery store to guy ingredients for a recipe.

That's what makes a guy like Luka so special. Highly skilled players don't just grow on trees, but most people seem to think you can learn to shoot a basketball very easily. It doesn't work that way. It's a lot like a guy who isn't very athletic. He's not going to become the athlete Achiuwa is all the sudden.

I think you have to look at a guy like that and realize he's probably not going to hit his ceiling on those skill elements of the game. A good example would be Gerald Green. One of the most athletic players to ever come into the league, and it took him over a decade to truly develop skills. Not to mention, it takes time to understand offensive & defensive concepts.

Achiuwa doesn't check nearly enough boxes for me. I'll admit his potential is high, but his likelihood of never achieving it is also very high.

I guess I don't see Achiuwa as all athlete with low skills. I think he is fairly skilled for a college freshman. Certainly he still needs to develop in a few areas. I think he can finish around the basket and he is defensive presence with his 7'2.5" wingspan. So I see him more as a power forward. I agree he will be long gone by our GSW pick. And I would rather find that 3 and D guy with our 1st rounder anyway if one is still on the board. Maybe it is just wishful thinking looking at this draft I believe that we can find a player or two who could actually contribute. With the ~20th and 31st picks we are unlikely to find a star but a solid contributor could be possible.

[DJ_3_Ball]

I guess I don't see Achiuwa as all athlete with low skills. I think he is fairly skilled for a college freshman. Certainly he still needs to develop in a few areas. I think he can finish around the basket and he is defensive presence with his 7'2.5" wingspan. So I see him more as a power forward. I agree he will be long gone by our GSW pick. And I would rather find that 3 and D guy with our 1st rounder anyway if one is still on the board. Maybe it is just wishful thinking looking at this draft I believe that we can find a player or two who could actually contribute. With the ~20th and 31st picks we are unlikely to find a star but a solid contributor could be possible.

I don't think it's wishful thinking at all. I think the expectation should be that we find 2 contributors out of this draft. You're right we currently have the 20th and the 31st picks in this draft.

I remember Kevin O'Connor just absolutely being in love with Brandon Clarke last year in his pre-draft podcasts. He had him ranked in his top 5. Clarke was mocked in that 10-12 range, but he slid to 21st overall. Tankathon has Vernon Carey Jr mocked to the Mavs at 20 right now. From their lips to God's ears my friend! Actually, they have Achiuwa mocked at 19.

Here's an example. I've heard some people saying they LOVE Obi Toppin. They have him in their top 3 or 5 of the draft. Tankathon has him mocked at 12 right now. What if he slides to 20 & the Mavs take him, and he plays a very productive role for this team the way Clarke is for MEM this year. It's not about Toppin or another guy, just the likelihood that there will be that contributing, potential star player, available for the Mavs when they pick in the 1st round. It's just going to depend on how well they make their selection.

Even with 31. Tankathon has Scottie Lewis mocked at 32. Cassius Stanley at 33, Cassius Winston at 34. Killian Tillie at 39. Isaiah Joe at 46, and those are just guys I'm familiar with.

Point being is good teams find contributors late in the 1st round and in the 2nd round every year; even in drafts that are so-called light. Good teams are capable of finding stars in the 2nd round. Our scouting department should be able to do some damage with these picks. They have some ammunition this year. We need to make the most of it.

I think we'll look back at that GSW 2nd round pick in 2 years and say Wow! a lot of talent was still available. Let's hope the Mavs do their homework & they take the right guy there. Not to mention, how incredibly important it would be to add a significant piece (or 2) to this team on low-cost rookie contracts. Imagine our 3rd best player next year comes from the 20th overall pick. Wow!

That's a possibility, if the Mavs scouting department does their homework.