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2018 NBA Draft: 5 best fits for Luka Doncic

By Brandon Jefferson

Real Madrid Luka Doncic during Liga Endesa Finals match (1st game) between Real Madrid and Kirolbet Baskonia at Wizink Center in Madrid, Spain. June 13, 2018. (Photo by COOLMedia/Peter Sabok/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Real Madrid Luka Doncic during Liga Endesa Finals match (1st game) between Real Madrid and Kirolbet Baskonia at Wizink Center in Madrid, Spain. June 13, 2018. (Photo by COOLMedia/Peter Sabok/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – MAY 15: Assistant Vice President of Basketball Ops, Michael Finley represents the Dallas Mavericks during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 15: Assistant Vice President of Basketball Ops, Michael Finley represents the Dallas Mavericks during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Dallas Mavericks (No. 5 overall)

The last time the Dallas Mavericks selected an international prospect early in the NBA Draft he turned out to be the franchise’s greatest player in Dirk Nowitzki. It’s now 20 years since the Mavericks acquired Nowitzki in a draft-night trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and it would be life coming full circle if Doncic is the selection at fifth overall on Thursday night. The now 40-year-old Nowitzki would be a perfect mentor for Doncic on how to adjust and sustain all-star caliber play for the duration of his career.

Outside of the poetic justice that this selection would amount to, the Mavericks have spent far longer than they would like to admit watching the playoffs as opposed to being participants in them. Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle are going to do their damnedest to ensure that Dallas is a team that could make a run to the playoffs as early as next year. Dallas has Second-Team All-Rookie member, Dennis Smith Jr., a good stretch four in Harrison Barnes, and max salary cap room to offer this summer. Add in a ready-made talent like Doncic and someone like DeMarcus Cousins in free agency and that team could realistically challenge for a playoff spot in the Western Conference next season.

However, Smith Jr. is at his best with the ball in his hands and while Doncic can operate effectively off-the-ball his preference is to run the show offensively. Over time, it is likely that two talented players like the above-mentioned duo would figure out a way to make it work in the long run. Yet, every person involved with Dallas was crowning Smith Jr. as the face of the franchise following his selection last year.

Finding a proper fit isn’t always the best route to go when drafting and if Dallas were to go with the best player available route then that would mean taking Doncic if he were left on the board at five. Getting as much talent as possible back in Dallas is step one into making the Mavericks a name to respect in the West once again.

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