Darren wrote:JJP wrote:Darren wrote:
Dwight Powell with better shot-blocking, shooting and physical attributes. Averaged 1 steals and 1.8 blocks per 40 mins. Not a good rebounder, though. So was Powell in the rookie days. Skinny. I expect McDaniels to be able to stick with SF defensively. This gives coach a lot of flexibility. If McDaniels is available at 31, It's no brainer to me. But I expect McDaniels to be picked from 20-30 range.
I suspect you're right about McDaniels being gone by #31. I'm not as high on him, but almost every mock draft has him being picked in the late 1st round.
My pick would be Xavier Tillman at #31 since he's NBA-ready and can practically rotate in the second he hits the floor. His perimeter game needs work, but almost every other metric is a net+. On top of that, he can defend nearly every position. The sad part is that he may have moved into the late 1st round now and could possibly be gone by the time #31 is picked.
The problem is Tillman is only 6-8. Statistically, Tillman is great defensively. But can any team afford to play 4 on 5 offensively every game? I think Tillman likely slide to second round. If we want a pure defender, Tillman is a great fit, though. I wonder what position Tillman could play. I'd rather have Jalen Smith for sure. Smith is 6-10 with 7-1 wingspan. Could also shoot from outside. Seems to be light on feet. Smith could at least play alongside KP. Maybe Smith is skinny but that's perfectly fine. The Mavs needs a shotblocking 4 who can guard smaller player and stretch the floor from outside. Jalen Smith seems like a good fit. Doncic is strong on board. There's no problem to have Smith on the floor.
I just assumed Tillman was a PF on the Mavs team - or a small ball center at times. Michigan State doesn't play with a true center, but three forwards in the front court. It just so happens that Tillman is the best player down in the middle.
The knock on Jalen Smith is that he would get pushed around by smaller, stronger players. I don't think you could you could pair him with KP. In fact, he more or less replicates KP's game rather than compliments it. But you could certainly run him in a rotation that would spare KP's minutes, and still get 22-25 minutes per game. As for blocks, keep in mind that even though he's at least an inch shorter with shorter wingspan, Tillman had about the same number of blocks as Smith this last season.
And this is not to dismiss Smith - he may end up being a great player - but one of his weaknesses is that the ball stops moving once it hits him in the hands. He's not a good passer, and he doesn't even average 1 assist per game. Tillman averages 3 APG - more than most centers playing in the first two rounds. I'm not sure Carlisle runs the right offense for someone like Smith- especially when you already have KP.
Tillman's weakness is in his 3-point perimeter game, but every other metric is outstanding - good defense, good passer, good rebounder (averages a double-double). Tillman will not be quite the rim protector Smith would be, but he can defend wings and big men both, clean up down low, and move the ball. I suspect he would, at least, get Justin Jackson's minutes on day one. He's really a quicker, more active Paul Millsap or Derrick Favors. He's also great insurance for Powell - who may not be what he was (which was rather pedestrian to begin with).
its clear who ever they take has to be able to guard a 
at minimum. 
