Mavericks Not Afraid to Make Big Moves
The move with the biggest impact on the Mavericks future may have been one that didn't even include Dallas
Without a doubt, the Dallas Mavericks have had one of the biggest summers so far in the CSL. Coming into the draft armed with picks #2 and #51, and a couple of other trade assets, they managed to leverage that into the 5th overall pick, the 44th overall pick, two future firsts, two future 2nds, the reigning 6th man of the year, the previous 6th man of the year, and a solid young big man. Sounds like a heck of an offseason right? Let's take a closer look.The move with the biggest impact on the Mavericks future may have been one that didn't even include Dallas
What They Lost
#2 Pick (Andrew Wiggins)
The Mavericks had a chance to pick one of the two "franchise players" in this draft, as stated by most of the media, and passed up on it to acquire three valuable first round picks. What are they missing out on by electing not to take Wiggins? Many around the league have compared him to Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, perhaps the greatest second banana ever, and certainly one of the best wing defenders in the history of the league. If Wiggins reaches his potential, he certainly has a chance of reaching that ceiling. However, Dallas wasn't as high on his offensive game as many around the league were, and elected to pass on a player who could become nothing more than a defensive specialist (his floor). Wiggins could certainly become a superstar though, and Dallas will certainly be monitoring his progress closely to see whether or not they made a phenomenal mistake.
Deron Williams
The Mavericks took on troubled guard Deron Williams in the mid-season trade that saw them ship out the struggling Kyle Lowry and franchise star Dirk Nowitzki, and he performed well enough in Dallas, posting an 18 point, 5 assist per game average for the season. However, he has a huge contract (two years left totaling 43M) and was not part of the future plans for Dallas, so moving him was always the plan.
Mitch McGary
McGary was also acquired in the Deron Williams trade, and losing him hurt a lot more than losing Williams did. McGary is a young, promising big man, and while he shot poorly this year (38.9% overall), he shows potential on both ends of the court. He's lauded mostly for his defensive and rebounding skills, which the Mavericks look for in a big man. Losing McGary may be another mistake, but it was a chance Dallas was willing to take.
2016 Magic, Pelicans and Grizzlies 2nd Round Pick
If this past season was any indication, these picks will be in the mid 30s (except for the Grizzlies, who were one of the best teams in the league) which means good value here. However, Orlando acquired Paul George this offseason which instantly makes them at the very least a playoff-bound team, and New Orleans still has the most devastating big man in the game. Expect both of these picks to be mid 40s at the earliest. Memphis's pick should remain late in the draft.
What They Gained
#5 Pick (Nik Stauskas)
If Wiggins floor is a defensive specialist with a broken offensive game, then Stauskas floor is a phenomenal shooter with absolutely no defense. Looking into his workouts and his scouting reports, Stauskas projects to be a great wing scorer with the ability to hit shots both inside the arc and outside of it. His jumpshot is his main weapon, as he doesn't look like an elite finisher around the rim. He'll never be a great defender, but if he works hard he could at least be an average one and not hurt the team on that end. He also looks like he'll be a decent playmaker, and certainly someone who can be trusted to handle the ball on occasion. Stauskas looks a lot like a prime Jason Terry type, which is a great player to be compared to.
Lance Stephenson
Lance was the 6th Man of the Year this year and played a pivotal role in the Pistons run to the Finals. He is very efficient on offense as he displays good shooting touch from everywhere on the court, and he plays excellent defense as well. Stephenson is a great two-way player who will be receiving a full starting role and 30+ mpg in Dallas.
Nikola Pekovic
Pekovic won the 6th Man of the Year award last year, meaning the Mavericks now have the last two winners of the award. Pekovic is a solid offensive big man, scoring 16 ppg last year on 48% shooting. He's also a good rebounder, nearly averaging a double double, and his defense is surprisingly solid (0.8 PA/SF). He has a large contract, but for the production in a starting center, it's worth it.
Jeff Withey
Withey isn't anything special, just a defensive big man who will get some good minutes off the bench. His defensive skills were on display last season, as he held opponents to a mere 0.7 PA/SF, and pulled down 4 rebounds in 14 minutes of play (roughly 10 per 36).
Future 1st/2nd Round Picks
The Mavericks acquired the 2016 Philadelphia 76ers 1st and Oklahoma City Thunder 2nd, as well as the 2017 OKC 1st and the Washington Wizards 2nd. This gives them two first round picks and two second round picks in next year's draft, and four first round pics and two second round picks in the 2017 draft. That's 10 picks total in the next two drafts! The Thunder made big rebuilding moves this year, trading away Kevin Durant for next to nothing, meaning that the three Thunder picks that Dallas owns should be very valuable (unprotected 2017 1st and both of their 2nds). The 76ers are a very young team that is definitely in it's growing period (they finished 22-60 this past season), and while they have a lot of talent, there's no guarantee it will all come together this year. At worst the pick will be in the teens, if the 76ers manage to snag one of the last playoff spots.
All in all, the Mavericks feel like they gained a ton of assets since they started wheeling and dealing around the All-Star Break. With a core moving forward that includes Reggie Jackson at point, Nik Stauskas and Lance Stephenson on the wings, and 6 first round draft picks coming up, they feel confident in their ability to build a winning team. Stay tuned, because the Dallas Mavericks very well could be your 2018 CSL Champions.
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