NBA Draft 2017: 5 targets for the Dallas Mavericks

With only one pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, No. 9, the Dallas Mavericks should be strategic with their approach.

The Dallas Mavericks have a grand total of one pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. They traded away their second round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft to the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Andrew Bogut, and Justin Anderson, for Nerlens Noel. A potential foundational piece, Noel is entering the restricted free agent market so their roster isn’t necessarily as set as it appears.

With the No. 9 pick, Dallas has a number of options, including trades. The Mavericks can also consider going the need route versus the best player available route. Dallas needs help all over with Dirk Nowitzki closing out his career and Nerlens Noel hitting restricted free agency. Also, the Mavs only have $59 million committed to 2017-18 salaries. In order of craziest to most sensical, let us explore what the Mavericks might do with their pick.

5. Look for a trade

There are plenty of teams that would love to have the no. 9 pick in this star-studded draft. There are a few obvious trade partners for the pick as well. Three options are the Orlando Magic (picks No. 6, 25, 33, and 35), the Portland Trail Blazers (picks No. 15, 20, 26), and the Brooklyn Nets (picks No. 22, 27). Realistically, the Mavericks could grab No. 25, 33, and 35 from Orlando, No. 15 and 26 from Portland, or both of the Nets picks. These options all give Dallas multiple picks to fill their multiple needs. Using the Trail Blazers as an example, the Mavericks would look to take a shooting power forward or center and a combo guard with the picks.

Looking at need, the Mavericks would more likely take a shooting big man first to learn from Nowitzki and pair with the defensive-minded Nerlens Noel. Knowing that Harrison Barnes can slot in at power forward in certain matups means that the Mavs can focus on a shooter first. Looking at projected big shooters in the No. 13-17 pick range, the Mavs could target either T.J. Leaf or Justin Patton, both solid big men who can shoot from the outside. Patton is more of a project than Leaf, but both would serve well learning behind Nowitzki.

At the combo guard position in the No. 25 range, the Mavs should target Luke Kennard or Jawun Evans. Kennard has more of a pedigree coming from Duke, and played shooting guard but also was a capable pick-and-roll creator. Evans is an undersized point guard but one of the best pick-and-roll creators in the entire draft.