Fansided

Re-drafting the 2015 NBA Draft

By John Buhler

Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 22, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Jerian Grant (13) drives around Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Toronto Raptors won 122-95. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Jerian Grant (13) drives around Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Toronto Raptors won 122-95. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

player. 79. . Point Guard. Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Jerian Grant. 21

How many more years are the Dallas Mavericks going to be able to field a marginally competitive team around their aging superstar power forward Dirk Nowitzki? Rick Carlisle can still perform on-court miracles with his brilliant coaching tactics, but it doesn’t help having a general manager like Donnie Nelson continuing to make poor move after poor move.

Nelson tried to replace Jae Crowder who went to Boston in the disastrous Rajon Rondo deal with the Celtics with so-so small forward Justin Anderson. Though Anderson could still help Dallas out on the wing in the coming years, he’s with the Hawks in this re-draft. So where does Dallas go at No. 21?

Well, the Mavericks could look for a long-term solution at point guard, or at least get a suitable NBA backup in Jerian Grant, the senior from Notre Dame. Dallas may have had decent play at times from both Deron Williams and J.J. Barea, but if the Mavericks want to get out of the first round before Nowitzki retires, they’ll have to do better at point guard.

Not to say that Grant will ever become a better player than either Williams or Barea currently are, but going with Grant in this re-draft at least acknowledges that Dallas is deficient at the most bountiful position in the league: point guard. A rebuild is inevitable in Dallas, but possibly striking gold with Grant seems worth the gamble at No. 21.

Next: 22. Chicago Bulls

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