Mavericks 2017 Draft #9

[bwgood77]

Best player available just makes too much sense in any scenario though. Is Josh Jackson better than your current SF? Absolutely. You find a way to have Jackson and Barnes on the floor together, and if it doesn't work... get a king's ransom for which ever is the robin.

Bottom line,... best available.

How do you define best available though? This is very subjective. Everyone will disagree unless you have a sure fire superstar. This draft is deep. There is no guarantee Jackson is certainly going to be better than Dennis Smith, Jr, who is on fire right now, Fultz, Ball, Ntilinka, Taytum, and others. It's still REALLY early.

And is best available best player NOW or player with highest upside? Most everyone said Oladipo was one of the best available and not Giannis back in that draft.

What if there are tiers of players. Do you go for need within a tier if you have them ranked nearly the same? In the last draft, 3-8 were all in the same tier in most people's projections so it all comes down to preference. Most ready to contribute now? Swing for fences but could bust? So many variables can be thrown into best available.

[Jinra]

Best player available just makes too much sense in any scenario though. Is Josh Jackson better than your current SF? Absolutely. You find a way to have Jackson and Barnes on the floor together, and if it doesn't work... get a king's ransom for which ever is the robin.

Bottom line,... best available.

How do you define best available though? This is very subjective. Everyone will disagree unless you have a sure fire superstar. This draft is deep. There is no guarantee Jackson is certainly going to be better than Dennis Smith, Jr, who is on fire right now, Fultz, Ball, Ntilinka, Taytum, and others. It's still REALLY early.

And is best available best player NOW or player with highest upside? Most everyone said Oladipo was one of the best available and not Giannis back in that draft.

What if there are tiers of players. Do you go for need within a tier if you have them ranked nearly the same? In the last draft, 3-8 were all in the same tier in most people's projections so it all comes down to preference. Most ready to contribute now? Swing for fences but could bust? So many variables can be thrown into best available.

Sure. I can best describe it the way Mike Fisher put it: Let your scouts do there job. It is your job to trust your scouts. If your scouts can't scout, then replace them. But you have to give them a chance to validate their jobs. They will number the players from 1-64, and whomever is in the highest position when you pick, stick to it.

Long story short, you are absolutely correct that "best available" is subjective; but, you pay professional to be subjective. Let them use their formulas and algorithms to assess all that. But follow it. If the Mavericks come in and says "So-n-so player was the best on our board when it came time for us to pick, then I am happy. At least until there is a negative track record established.

Bottom line is, don't sway for need, unless the players are ranked so closely that it doesn't matter.

Love the question and conversation!

[Jinra]

If you don't know what is on the Mavericks mind as a plan for this season,... let Dirk clear their intentions up for you.

"Obviously, I've said that we want to compete and we want to make the playoffs. If that means I'm the 10th man, so be it. We've got to try to figure out what we've got and win some games and make a run. If that's what this team needs to win some games. ...

-Dirk

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18417334/dirk-nowitzki-willing-come-bench-help-dallas-mavericks-get-track

[Dirk]

If you don't know what is on the Mavericks mind as a plan for this season,... let Dirk clear their intentions up for you.

"Obviously, I've said that we want to compete and we want to make the playoffs. If that means I'm the 10th man, so be it. We've got to try to figure out what we've got and win some games and make a run. If that's what this team needs to win some games. ...

-Dirk

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18417334/dirk-nowitzki-willing-come-bench-help-dallas-mavericks-get-track

Dirk is a player. All players should have that mentality.

We also can't expect the Mavs to come out and say, "oh, we'll tank". But history tells us that they are very real about getting the 8th spot. They crawled and fought to shave the beards a few years ago to get to .500

It's about the front office to make the moves that signal the focus on the future... which apparently they won't.

[bobsquad]

Best player available just makes too much sense in any scenario though. Is Josh Jackson better than your current SF? Absolutely. You find a way to have Jackson and Barnes on the floor together, and if it doesn't work... get a king's ransom for which ever is the robin.

Bottom line,... best available.

This is the kind of thinking that cost Sam Hinkie his job in Philadelphia. Spent the #3 and #6 picks in the previous two drafts on centers? Drafts Jahlil Okafor at #3. Look at how that organization is paying for that decision.

[Dirk]

Best player available just makes too much sense in any scenario though. Is Josh Jackson better than your current SF? Absolutely. You find a way to have Jackson and Barnes on the floor together, and if it doesn't work... get a king's ransom for which ever is the robin.

Bottom line,... best available.

This is the kind of thinking that cost Sam Hinkie his job in Philadelphia. Spent the #3 and #6 picks in the previous two drafts on centers? Drafts Jahlil Okafor at #3. Look at how that organization is paying for that decision.

Yeah, although they did have the Embiid injury uncertainty, so they must have taken that in consideration. Okafor in particular is looking more and more like a really back pick.

[Pointguard01]

Best player available just makes too much sense in any scenario though. Is Josh Jackson better than your current SF? Absolutely. You find a way to have Jackson and Barnes on the floor together, and if it doesn't work... get a king's ransom for which ever is the robin.

Bottom line,... best available.

This is the kind of thinking that cost Sam Hinkie his job in Philadelphia. Spent the #3 and #6 picks in the previous two drafts on centers? Drafts Jahlil Okafor at #3. Look at how that organization is paying for that decision.

The 2015 draft was terrible. It's easy to sit here and say Kristaps Porzingis, but besides him, there aren't many better prospects after Okafor went at #3. Emmanuel Mudiay and Devin Booker are better prospects now. it's not like there was a ton of talent in 2015. It wasn't a bad pick considering what Philly had with two injured centers, considering the draft strength.

You don't not draft a player besides of the likes of Justin Anderson or DFS; they are role players at their ceiling. Now, if you are not confident that a Josh Jackson is going to be a quality starter, then you trade down. I personally am not a fan of Jackson. If we can't get Fultz or Dennis Smith, I think there is more value in the later part of the top 10.

[Jinra]

Best player available just makes too much sense in any scenario though. Is Josh Jackson better than your current SF? Absolutely. You find a way to have Jackson and Barnes on the floor together, and if it doesn't work... get a king's ransom for which ever is the robin.

Bottom line,... best available.

This is the kind of thinking that cost Sam Hinkie his job in Philadelphia. Spent the #3 and #6 picks in the previous two drafts on centers? Drafts Jahlil Okafor at #3. Look at how that organization is paying for that decision.

You really cannot bring up Philadelphia as an example of anything other than a fetish for losing regardless of any circumstance. 76ers do not have any roster chemistry nor do they have veteran balance. The front office is dysfunctional and they run the organization like a D-League team. They make bad trades and they hold on the players they know don't want to be on their team; and then let them leave for nothing.

[Zen_Paradox]

Personally, if we land a 7-10 pick, I'd rather take a flyer on Harry Giles than anyone else. I'm high on Fultz and Ball at PG, would settle for Smith too...if that's even settling...but I have my reservations about him.

Outside of those three, Jackson, Tatum and Lauri are on my list, and from what I've seen they seem like solid bets.

Giles doesn't come without suspicion, but neither does drafting anyone outside of Fultz, Ball, or Smith.

Someone mentioned they hated PG rebuilds...but look at the top teams in every conference. Westbrook, Irving, Curry, Lowry, Thomas, Conley...every one of them plays at, or near, an all star level.

PG should be the focus, but if we can't land one of the aforementioned three...Harry Giles has the biggest appeal to me, injuries included.

[Devassa]

Personally, if we land a 7-10 pick, I'd rather take a flyer on Harry Giles than anyone else. I'm high on Fultz and Ball at PG, would settle for Smith too...if that's even settling...but I have my reservations about him.

Outside of those three, Jackson, Tatum and Lauri are on my list, and from what I've seen they seem like solid bets.

Giles doesn't come without suspicion, but neither does drafting anyone outside of Fultz, Ball, or Smith.

Someone mentioned they hated PG rebuilds...but look at the top teams in every conference. Westbrook, Irving, Curry, Lowry, Thomas, Conley...every one of them plays at, or near, an all star level.

PG should be the focus, but if we can't land one of the aforementioned three...Harry Giles has the biggest appeal to me, injuries included.

Giles is a waste of a pick that high. Does he have potential? Sure. But he also has a ton of risks. Personally, if I am Dallas and I can't draft one of Fultz, Ball, Smith, Jackson, or Monk I would look into dealing the pick

[bwgood77]

Personally, if we land a 7-10 pick, I'd rather take a flyer on Harry Giles than anyone else. I'm high on Fultz and Ball at PG, would settle for Smith too...if that's even settling...but I have my reservations about him.

Outside of those three, Jackson, Tatum and Lauri are on my list, and from what I've seen they seem like solid bets.

Giles doesn't come without suspicion, but neither does drafting anyone outside of Fultz, Ball, or Smith.

Someone mentioned they hated PG rebuilds...but look at the top teams in every conference. Westbrook, Irving, Curry, Lowry, Thomas, Conley...every one of them plays at, or near, an all star level.

PG should be the focus, but if we can't land one of the aforementioned three...Harry Giles has the biggest appeal to me, injuries included.

Do you know much about Ntilinka? Everything I read it great. Great floor vision and passing, scorer, and 7 ft wingspan.

[Jinra]

We NEED to start rooting for Portland to start running away with this 8th seed and smash the Dallas Mavericks' hopes for contention. As long as the Mavs are in single digits of the 8th spot, they will continue to be "try-hards".

They can fight, but we don't need them fighting for something.

[Zen_Paradox]

Personally, if we land a 7-10 pick, I'd rather take a flyer on Harry Giles than anyone else. I'm high on Fultz and Ball at PG, would settle for Smith too...if that's even settling...but I have my reservations about him.

Outside of those three, Jackson, Tatum and Lauri are on my list, and from what I've seen they seem like solid bets.

Giles doesn't come without suspicion, but neither does drafting anyone outside of Fultz, Ball, or Smith.

Someone mentioned they hated PG rebuilds...but look at the top teams in every conference. Westbrook, Irving, Curry, Lowry, Thomas, Conley...every one of them plays at, or near, an all star level.

PG should be the focus, but if we can't land one of the aforementioned three...Harry Giles has the biggest appeal to me, injuries included.

Do you know much about Ntilinka? Everything I read it great. Great floor vision and passing, scorer, and 7 ft wingspan.

Actually, I don't know a whole lot about him, but he's worth a look. I'm just extremely skeptical of euro-guards out of habit...lol

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[Zen_Paradox]

I'm not sold on Monk translating to much in the NBA yet, in all honesty.


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[bwgood77]

I'm not sold on Monk translating to much in the NBA yet, in all honesty.


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Me neither. As a Suns fan, I'm petrified McDonough will take another Kentucky small combo guard after drafting or trading for like 5 of them.

[Jinra]

Which is likelier: Dallas picking (and keeping) a prospect with a high (and hypothetical) lottery pick, or it using said pick to create a trade package for an established player?

Sefko: "Using the pick to create a package. That probably wouldn't happen until draft night, but if somebody wants to dump a good young player who is about to get paid a zillion dollars or an established star who is going nowhere on his current team, that's the best possible scenario to expedite this rebuild. There is no player in this draft, from what I've heard, who is going to come in and turn around the Mavericks in the first season."

http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-mavericks/mavericks/2017/01/10/mavericks-consider-trading-first-round-pick-rising-star

[bobsquad]

On other Mavs forums around the internet, I see more posters advocating to dump the pick. I'm not a fan of tanking but am I the only one hoping we actually land a blue chip prospect in the draft?

And re: Sefko: Of course no one in this draft is going to turn the team around in a year. No one in any draft does that. Is that the logic the FO is going to use when they trade a top 3 pick in a good draft for a 1 year rental of Boogie Cousins?

[Dirk]

On other Mavs forums around the internet, I see more posters advocating to dump the pick. I'm not a fan of tanking but am I the only one hoping we actually land a blue chip prospect in the draft?

And re: Sefko: Of course no one in this draft is going to turn the team around in a year. No one in any draft does that. Is that the logic the FO is going to use when they trade a top 3 pick in a good draft for a 1 year rental of Boogie Cousins?

Fans want to dump/trade the pick??? That's really strange...I dont see the Mavs having any chance at getting anyone 'really good' with it. I mean, in a trade. If somehow there was a chance that a really good player was available, you have some teams who can pay a lot more than the Mavs (thinking Celtics, Nuggets for instance).

Which is likelier: Dallas picking (and keeping) a prospect with a high (and hypothetical) lottery pick, or it using said pick to create a trade package for an established player?

Sefko: "Using the pick to create a package. That probably wouldn't happen until draft night, but if somebody wants to dump a good young player who is about to get paid a zillion dollars or an established star who is going nowhere on his current team, that's the best possible scenario to expedite this rebuild. There is no player in this draft, from what I've heard, who is going to come in and turn around the Mavericks in the first season."

http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-mavericks/mavericks/2017/01/10/mavericks-consider-trading-first-round-pick-rising-star

I'll try to reverse jynx this and say that I believe the Mavs will desperately try to trade the pick for Cousins or something. Of course, the pick alone isnt enough. It will involve more picks.

The Mavericks organization is really adamant that they are a 'winning organization' and 'are trying to make the playoffs', so it makes the most sense that they will look to make moves to get them to win more games next year.

[Devassa]

The only reason why I could see Dallas dealing the pick is to acquire a Cousins or a Butler... and the only reason to do those trades is to help Dirk retire gracefully into the night with a 50+ win season... this kind of deal would be typical because Donnie and Mark don't have a vision for the future and they haven't for a very long time

[Dirk]

The only reason why I could see Dallas dealing the pick is to acquire a Cousins or a Butler... and the only reason to do those trades is to help Dirk retire gracefully into the night with a 50+ win season... this kind of deal would be typical because Donnie and Mark don't have a vision for the future and they haven't for a very long time

I don't think it's about Dirk anymore. It's about those who are there like Carlisle/Nelson/Carlisle and seem to just want to "win". They value the playoffs so much... you'd think this is the NFL and being in the playoffs is an accomplishment and you have a shot at winning. They know nothing else other than "winning"... so they just stick with it desperately.