With the No. 9 pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, the Mavericks selected Dennis Smith Jr. as their point guard of the future. And after a scintillating Summer League, Mavericks fans have pinned the hopes of their franchise on him. Is he any good? No way to know. There are many examples of guys excelling in July and not doing much else. To choose one: Kris Dunn averaged 24.0 points per game as a rookie in Summer League last year, and Bulls fans aren’t exactly brimming with enthusiasm right now.
But if Smith turns out to be a star — and if the Mavericks get him in a year they fought tooth and nail for wins until the final few weeks when they finally let go of the rope — I consider this cosmic justice. My arbitrary and fickle sense of what is sporting and right is satisfied in a team that tries to land a marquee free agent every summer, and if not, at least overpays the Wes Matthews and Dwight Powells of the world. In my universe, this is who should win the talent lottery. Not a team that rests healthy players in a bid to lose. (*CASTS EVIL EYE AT PHOENIX*)
So if Smith does indeed turn out to be the next franchise player, how will Dallas stack up against the other lottery teams that tanked? Are they now better positioned for a return to prominence? And who else on their roster is a building block for the future?
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To help answer these questions and to agree that the Mavericks have good karma, Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) joins the newest episode of Fastbreak Breakfast. Nick is a contributor at MavsMoneyball.com and the host of Locked on Mavericks.
ALSO COVERED:
- 2016-17 seemed like a forgettable Dallas season. What did I miss?
- How will the backcourt rotation work with Smith, Seth Curry, Yogi Ferrell and J.J. Barea all clamoring for minutes?
- Will Matthews, Powell or Harrison Barnes find themselves on the trade block this season?
- Oh no! Is Nerlens Noel really going to “bet on himself?”
- What is the optimal result for the Mavericks this upcoming season?
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