2017 NBA Mock Draft: The best choice each team can make

No, no, no. We’re not trying to land the Dallas Mavericks the next Dirk Nowitzki. That’s not why Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen is headed to the franchise at No. 9. Selecting the Arizona 7-footer here would obviously generate plenty of inappropriate comparisons among the fanbase, but the big man is a nice fit in Dallas and he’s a better prospect than many are willing to give him credit for.

Markkanen’s biggest flaw is his lack of defensive acumen. Despite his size, he’s struggled to be impactful as a rim protector for the Wildcats this season, in particular. I have some confidence that Markkanen won’t be a total zero on the defensive end because of his ability to slide laterally a bit on the perimeter, but there are few centers in the league that would generate as much confidence in their ability to cover up for Markkanen’s shortcomings than Nerlens Noel. That’s what makes the 7-footer such a viable fit for the Mavericks.

It’s important to clarify Markkanen’s value as well. He is arguably the best shooting 7-foot center to ever play college basketball. Markkanen made 42.3 percent of his 3s last season and scored them in a variety of ways like coming off screens, pick-and-pops and in transition. It may take a bit of creativity to fully unlock his offensive value, but having a big man who can space the floor is immensely valuable in the modern NBA.

Learn more about Lauri Markkanen at The Step Back.