2022 NBA DRAFT

[41Dirk41]

That veteran minimum guy could have changed our PO run drastically... Maybe not enough for defeat GSW but at least for make that series more competitive.

Biyombo + a starter C and we will make more noise next year.

Edit : Oh well, we prefer that Boban clown. I forgot.

[41Dirk41]

From today's radio interview with Nico:

Read on Twitter

?t=eMr5K_t1JDkGf6sHnVk3eg&s=19

OMG seems to read some Donnie's speaking

[41Dirk41]

Let's don't put too much hope on that #26 pick, it is just a mircale to draft a good player in such late pick, Jalen Brunson case just don't come out so often. The last time we have done something like that is already Josh Howard in 2003, so it in average takes 15 years to come across similar thing again.

It's not all about lucky but if you can draft or not too.

The past tell us that Donnie/Cuban can't and the few gems we took were only about lucky.
I hope Nico is a better scout.

[Mike lorenzo]

is there any chance of catching O.Dieng the kid's tools are crazy, in my eyes he has the biggest superstar potential on the board, 6'8 super long, good shooter, excellent handler for his size, good passer, scorer in the 3 levels..good shot blocker...a back court of Luka 6'7, Dieng 6'8.. I guess it would be in the 9/15 range because Europeans tend to fall a bit...

https://youtu.be/4cX3ToR29Ek


how high could we go...?

[MrGoat]

If we don't trade it I'd want Kessler if he's still available at 26, which depends on the mock. Truly full sized big who we wouldn't have to wait to fill out and the best rim protector in the draft. 9' 5" standing reach, 4.6 blocks per game with only 2.6 fouls

Me, too. Klesser would excel at least as a shot blocker and somewhat a rebounder. I can care less about the rest. I think, at least, it's a very fine trade piece to have. If Orlando somehow keeps Bamba with QO, I think offering Klesser and a first could be a done deal by deadline. At 26th, Klesser is actually good value if we were to draft a frontcourt player. Many bigs are long and athletic. But you''ve to take intangible into account. At least, you get a Dedmon in Klesser. Normally, 26th pick is out of the league in a year or two. But I think Klesser would be a rotation piece.

To excel in the Mavs system, intelligent and work ethics are a must. I think Klesser should be body frame to excel as a dirty work player. But it takes reasonable jumpshots and excellent body frame (like Stewart, Grant or R.Williams) to be a Mavs starter. I don't think athleticism is far off. And I believe Klesser is smart in switch and has been on big stage with Jabari Smith. I think these experience translate well in NBA. I am really concern about shooting, though. Everything else, it's not a red flag moving forward. I think Klesser has stronger athleticism and competitiveness than Bamba. However, let be real, if Klesser does not have these shortcoming, then there's no reason to last until the Mavs draft.

At lot of teams might not want a non-shooting big. Look at Biyombo's career, you'd understand. There's a reason an excellent shotblocker offered veteran minimum.

Funny thing is Kessler is more of a shooter than the guys some of the ones in here are wanting to pick. It's even considered a knock on Kessler that he tries to do too much on offense, but they admit if his offense develops then he would have definitely been worth a lottery pick

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/walker-kessler/

Strengths: Has excellent size for the position at 7’1”, 245 pounds. He is an elite level shot blocker and shot disruptor inside, routinely blocking 4 or more shots in a game (currently averaging 4.7 per game) … Has nimble feet for a 7 footer … Moves well, is not a statue in the paint, and has shown an ability to step out and defend in pick and roll situations while still being able to recover to his man … Despite being very aggressive looking to block shots, doesn’t pick up a lot of fouls, and does a good job of using verticality instead of swiping at the ball … Deters inside shots just by his mere presence in the paint … Does a good job of making contact with his man when shots go up before going to track down the rebound … Rebounds with two hands routinely … Good at finishing around the rim with dunks and excels at putting himself in position to be a threat in the lob game … Does a very good job in the pick and roll game offensively …

Weaknesses: Can get his center of gravity a little too high when switched onto perimeter players, allowing them to get by him more easily … Isn’t much of a jump shooter from outside, making only 21.4% of his threes on 1.5 attempts per game thus far this season … Doesn’t secure the ball very well when posting up offensively, is prone to having it knocked away, resulting in turnovers … Can sometimes try to do too much on the offensive end instead of playing to his strengths … Is a liability anytime he dribbles the basketball … Has the ball knocked out of his hands more than he probably should for a player as strong as he is … Needs to improve his ability to pass out of the post and find open teammates … Is not a good free throw shooter, could improve on his career 61.4% free throw percentage … Despite his ability to be a rim protector and shot blocker, his ability to switch on defensive assignments and stay in front of opponents when he guards the perimeter will be a challenge for him as a big and less mobile center …

Outlook: Kessler is an elite level shot blocker who should be able to translate that skill well to the next level because of his ability to play physically without fouling while still maintaining the space needed to go up and actually block the shot … He’s a good but not great rebounder who will need to take better care of the ball as he plays against stronger players down low … It’s clear he wants to expand his offensive game, but his shot doesn’t look ideal mechanically, so he will likely get most of his offense from offensive rebounds, the pick and roll game, and from having teammates create shots for him … However, despite his offensive short comings, his high level defense will give him a chance to be a contributor at the next level and carve out minutes as a shot blocker that can step out on the perimeter and defend the pick and roll action … If he is able to develop his offensive skills, he could become a steal of this draft, but even if he doesn’t, his defensive ability could be enough to sneak him into the back end of the lottery …

[LAL1947]

is there any chance of catching O.Dieng the kid's tools are crazy, in my eyes he has the biggest superstar potential on the board, 6'8 super long, good shooter, excellent handler for his size, good passer, scorer in the 3 levels..good shot blocker...a back court of Luka 6'7, Dieng 6'8.. I guess it would be in the 9/15 range because Europeans tend to fall a bit...

https://youtu.be/4cX3ToR29Ek

how high could we go...?

Most mock drafts have him going in the lottery or just outside it, so well before #26.

[Apz]

If we don't trade it I'd want Kessler if he's still available at 26, which depends on the mock. Truly full sized big who we wouldn't have to wait to fill out and the best rim protector in the draft. 9' 5" standing reach, 4.6 blocks per game with only 2.6 fouls

Me, too. Klesser would excel at least as a shot blocker and somewhat a rebounder. I can care less about the rest. I think, at least, it's a very fine trade piece to have. If Orlando somehow keeps Bamba with QO, I think offering Klesser and a first could be a done deal by deadline. At 26th, Klesser is actually good value if we were to draft a frontcourt player. Many bigs are long and athletic. But you''ve to take intangible into account. At least, you get a Dedmon in Klesser. Normally, 26th pick is out of the league in a year or two. But I think Klesser would be a rotation piece.

To excel in the Mavs system, intelligent and work ethics are a must. I think Klesser should be body frame to excel as a dirty work player. But it takes reasonable jumpshots and excellent body frame (like Stewart, Grant or R.Williams) to be a Mavs starter. I don't think athleticism is far off. And I believe Klesser is smart in switch and has been on big stage with Jabari Smith. I think these experience translate well in NBA. I am really concern about shooting, though. Everything else, it's not a red flag moving forward. I think Klesser has stronger athleticism and competitiveness than Bamba. However, let be real, if Klesser does not have these shortcoming, then there's no reason to last until the Mavs draft.

At lot of teams might not want a non-shooting big. Look at Biyombo's career, you'd understand. There's a reason an excellent shotblocker offered veteran minimum.

Funny thing is Kessler is more of a shooter than the guys some of the ones in here are wanting to pick. It's even considered a knock on Kessler that he tries to do too much on offense, but they admit if his offense develops then he would have definitely been worth a lottery pick

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/walker-kessler/

Strengths: Has excellent size for the position at 7’1”, 245 pounds. He is an elite level shot blocker and shot disruptor inside, routinely blocking 4 or more shots in a game (currently averaging 4.7 per game) … Has nimble feet for a 7 footer … Moves well, is not a statue in the paint, and has shown an ability to step out and defend in pick and roll situations while still being able to recover to his man … Despite being very aggressive looking to block shots, doesn’t pick up a lot of fouls, and does a good job of using verticality instead of swiping at the ball … Deters inside shots just by his mere presence in the paint … Does a good job of making contact with his man when shots go up before going to track down the rebound … Rebounds with two hands routinely … Good at finishing around the rim with dunks and excels at putting himself in position to be a threat in the lob game … Does a very good job in the pick and roll game offensively …

Weaknesses: Can get his center of gravity a little too high when switched onto perimeter players, allowing them to get by him more easily … Isn’t much of a jump shooter from outside, making only 21.4% of his threes on 1.5 attempts per game thus far this season … Doesn’t secure the ball very well when posting up offensively, is prone to having it knocked away, resulting in turnovers … Can sometimes try to do too much on the offensive end instead of playing to his strengths … Is a liability anytime he dribbles the basketball … Has the ball knocked out of his hands more than he probably should for a player as strong as he is … Needs to improve his ability to pass out of the post and find open teammates … Is not a good free throw shooter, could improve on his career 61.4% free throw percentage … Despite his ability to be a rim protector and shot blocker, his ability to switch on defensive assignments and stay in front of opponents when he guards the perimeter will be a challenge for him as a big and less mobile center …

Outlook: Kessler is an elite level shot blocker who should be able to translate that skill well to the next level because of his ability to play physically without fouling while still maintaining the space needed to go up and actually block the shot … He’s a good but not great rebounder who will need to take better care of the ball as he plays against stronger players down low … It’s clear he wants to expand his offensive game, but his shot doesn’t look ideal mechanically, so he will likely get most of his offense from offensive rebounds, the pick and roll game, and from having teammates create shots for him … However, despite his offensive short comings, his high level defense will give him a chance to be a contributor at the next level and carve out minutes as a shot blocker that can step out on the perimeter and defend the pick and roll action … If he is able to develop his offensive skills, he could become a steal of this draft, but even if he doesn’t, his defensive ability could be enough to sneak him into the back end of the lottery …

Dont know who wrote this, but saying that the blocks parts is a positive when I hear all the time that he chases blocks and doesnt contend enough shots cause he always go for the block is not a positive. Also the bolded, no offensive game and being a as stated someone that goes for the block every time does not make him a contributor on the next level. Unless we talk garbage time, and we already dumped moses B. I thought that we were looking in draft for players that can become contributors in the PO? Going for a giant center that got limited game is no way that.

[41Dirk41]

I never seen him but on this board he is painted like Deandra Jordan. No thanks.

[Darren]

https://thesmokingcuban.com/posts/dallas-mavericks-jaden-hardy-workout-select-2022-nba-draft

Sounds like the new front office is awful in draft. In case, the Mavs target a player like this. Why not just trade for Nesmith? I think Boston is more than willing to move on from Nesmith. With the emergence of White, Boston may target frontcourt piece instead. That's abundance of frontcourt draftees available at 26.

[Darren]

In case the Mavs wants Jaden Hardy, why not Dalen Terry instead? 6-7 size with 7-0 wingspan. Can shoot and dish a bit. Great 2.8 A/T ratio. While the stats are not brillant, it's efficient on good percentage and ready in the role expected to play for the Mavs roster. Is it much better than Hardy who hits 28% from arc? But still, Cuban better purchase a second rounder instead of spending the pick on this type of players who may or may not work out as rotation player.

[Darren]

In case the Mavs trade down for Orlando picks. I think Dalen Terry and Kenny Chandler makes sense. Then, trade some of the backcourt for a frontcourt piece. Of course, I'd consider Leonard Miller and Badji as well.

[Darren]

Watch on YouTube

It seems to me that this Terry would be better than Josh Howard.

[BeiBeau]

If we take Walker Kessler or Jalen Hardy fire Nico. Low IQ, slow foot speed, block hunters and low efficiency chuckers in the G-League doesn’t turn into playoff pieces.

[arkuo]

Jaden Hardy sucks. But I guess it gives you a peek into the mind of Nico. He's looking for a guard or a wing IMO. Our center need will be addressed via free agent signing.

What's worrying is Dallas drafting a point guard might be in preparation for an eventual Brunson S&T.

Gives you flashbacks of the time Dallas drafted Devin Harris then Steve Nash walked. Only this time they have the 26th freakin pick instead of 5th.

[BeiBeau]

It’s totally possible that Nico is just doing due diligence, but for the love of god don’t draft him.

[BeiBeau]

I do like the idea of going for a perimeter player over a big at 26. I like Terry, Laravia, Moore Jr. more then Koloko or Kamagate. I do like Jaylin Williams though.

[SOUNDCHASER]

https://www.mavs.com/draft-preview-1/

NBA Draft, June 23.

Here’s your chance to get to know the top prospects. Today, we look at the big men.



Strange as it may sound, the Mavericks have a first-round pick in the upcoming 2022 draft.

It has seemed for the past few years like all of their draft assets were sent away, mostly in the 2019 trade for Kristaps Porzingis. And they were.

But this is an even-numbered year and while last year’s pick went to the Knicks and next year’s pick (most likely) will end up in New York’s hands, the Mavericks are blessed with the 26th overall pick in this year’s first round.

It’s a crapshoot, for sure. The draft is two weeks from Thursday and it has some good talent, although when you pick that far down, there is more luck involved than if you are in the top 10 where only a few teams have the ability to sabotage your draft strategy by picking the player you thought might be there for you.

For instance, the Mavericks have an obvious need in the middle. They lacked size and rebounding, deficiencies that were exploited in the playoffs. They need a more traditional big man that can augment their small lineups that usually were quite effective.

However, as general manager Nico Harrison said when asked if he could find an impact big man in the draft or whether it would have to come via free agency: “There’s definitely (strong big men) in the draft. But when you look at our position where we’re at, we’re not in control of who we draft. There’s 25 people in front of us. And so, we’ll have our homework done. But we’re not in control. Maybe that (player) goes 24, you know? So when you’re at 26, I don’t think you control your own destiny.”

With the 26th pick, going with the best available player usually is a smart play. But if all things are equal, the Mavericks likely would lean toward a big man.

Knowing that, we’ll start our draft series with a breakdown of the top big men who will be in the draft on June 23. We’ll follow this with a look at the swingmen and point guards next week, then break down who might be available for the Mavericks when they pick.

First up, the top-10 big men:

Jabari Smith, 6-10, Auburn freshman.

It’s entirely possible that the top three picks of this draft will be big men. At least, big in the sense of today’s NBA. At a listed 220 pounds, he still qualifies as a big man these days. To get an idea of his NBA preparedness, look at his five March games at Auburn, when stakes were highest. He averaged 19 points and 10.8 rebounds in those five games. Those are numbers that would make any team happy and his game should translate well to the next level. He would make Orlando and coach Jamahl Mosley very happy. Think John Collins or Rashard Lewis, according to some mo

Chet Holmgren, 7-0, Gonzaga freshman.

He checks a lot of boxes. Even as skinny as he is, he finds way to be a big-time rebounder and with a 7-6 wingspan, he’s a phenomenal shot-blocker, or as they call it these days, rim-protector. Anybody who dominates as a freshman like he did (14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks) has the ability to step right in and contribute in a big way. If his shot can stretch out to NBA distance without slipping too much, he’s going to be a load – and a great fit in OKC.

Paolo Banchero, 6-10, Duke freshman.

The son of former NBA player Rhonda Smith-Banchero, he’s a rare combination of size and offensive skills. He’s not necessarily a standout shooter, which is what probably will keep him from going in the top two. But he was truly consistent for the Blue Devils, scoring 16 points or more in 10 of their last 11 games and also averaging 3.6 assists per game in the NCAA tournament. Too much upside to get too nitpicky about some holes in his game.

Jalen Duren, 6-11, Memphis freshman.

He’s got oodles of untapped potential and was pretty good in his one year in college, averaging 12 points and 8.1 rebounds, along with 2.1 blocks. He certainly has the physical tools to step right in at the NBA level. To show how much room he may have for improvement, he won’t turn 19 until after opening day in the 2022-23 season. One strike against him is that he doesn’t figure to ever be a long-distance shooter.

Keegan Murray, 6-8, Iowa sophomore.

Averaged better than 23 points last season, but he’s not bankrupt defensively. In fact, his length and defensive awareness are possibly even better lures for NBA talent scouts than his offensive abilities, which are considerable. He’s efficient at that end. And his 3-point shooting is more than respectable. He’s clearly below Banchero, Holmgren and Smith, but he’ll be 22 when next season starts and could be more NBA ready from a maturity standpoint than the others.

Jeremy Sochan, 6-9, Baylor freshman.

He was the Bears’ sixth man, but he still put up numbers with a high motor and a tendency to show up big when the stakes grew. In the Big 12 tournament and NCAA tournament games he played, he averaged 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, including 15 points and 11 rebounds against North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tourney.

Mark Williams, 7-2, Duke sophomore.

He should be a low-post force at both ends in the NBA. He was the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year and among the national leaders in blocks. Also has a good flair for offensive rebounds and contributing second-chance points for either himself or teammates. Made more than 72 percent of his shots as a sophomore. He’s His sister went to Duke, was the fourth overall pick in the WNBA in 2015 and is a standout in that league.

Ismael Kamagate, 7-0, France.

We’re getting into players who could be there if the Mavericks keep their 26th overall pick. The previous seven figure to be off the board by the mid-20s. Kamagate projects as a traditional low-post player. He’s not a 3-point flinger. He has NBA girth and is aggressive around the rim with good hops. He’s not a particularly strong rebounder so far in his career, and he’s going to be closing in on 22 years old when the NBA season opens. Still could take some time to blossom.

E.J. Liddell, 6-7, Ohio State junior.

At roughly 240 pounds, he’s going to be an undersized power forward, at least in terms of height. But he improved his 3-point shooting markedly during his three years in college and he’s got some Draymond Green in him in that he’s a competitive defender and also an improved ballhandler. And he was always there as he scored in double figures in the last 43 games he played for the Buckeyes.

Walker Kessler, 7-1, Auburn sophomore.

Stepped up big as a sophomore after transferring from North Carolina to the talent-laden Auburn squad. He averaged 4.6 blocks to go with 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds. He’s athletic enough that he had a pair of triple-doubles last season, the only collegian with more than one. Included was a 12-point, 12-block, 11-rebound effort against Texas A&M. His father, the late Alec Kessler, was a first-round draft pick in 1990.

Also in the mix: Jaylin Williams, Arkansas; Christian Koloko, Arizona; Dominick Barlow, Overtime Elite League; John Butler, Florida State, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Twitter: @ESefko

[SOUNDCHASER]

getting a big is a must and that big will probably be available in the 2nd round and we need 2 so the 1st should also be a big. Our picking Green was a huge mistake so do we trust them when it comes to picking wings in this range? I'd say we need another SF as well but we need to get one that is big that can play PF.

[Teffer10]

Drafting Kessler would be a bigger debacle than drafting Green.
We need a big, but we simply can't waste a 1st round pick on a guy that will never have a chance to play.
I'd rather just sign someone like Biyombo, Whiteside or McGee to fill the backup center roll.

If we want to upgrade our frontcourt, it will almost have to be via some type of trade for a player who is proven and would fit our system.

I will become ill if we draft Kessler with the 26th pick.

[BeiBeau]

Our needs this off-season are
1. Starting 5
2. Backup Wing
3. Backup 5

Unless we’re moving up to get Mark Williams any big we take at 26 is a backup or a project. So we really have freedom to take the best player available with the exception of one of the small PGs.

We can’t say that taking a wing will fail because Green hasn’t worked out yet. This is a brand new front office.

If we keep 26 I like Dalen Terry/ Jake Laravia / Wendell Moore/ Jaylin Williams. I think all 4 of those guys come in next season and instantly contribute 15 minutes a night and can play in the playoffs.