Can the Mavs find their guy in the 2nd Round?

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Can the Mavs find their guy in the 2nd Round?

A two-day stint of wheeling and dealing brought the Dallas Mavericks rookie sensation Rodrigue Beaubois in last year's NBA Draft. Now, with the Mavericks completely out of the first round, is the organization content with staying pat in search of a second-round steal?

No one knew for certain what the Mavericks had up their sleeves when they moved down just a day before the 2009 Draft, sending the 22nd selection to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for the No. 24 spot, the 56th pick and the worst of Portland's second-round picks this year.

"(The trade) will give us added flexibility for the future," president of basketball operations and GM Donnie Nelson said after making the deal.

The Mavs certainly had a plan.

After selecting center B.J. Mullens with the 24th selection, Dallas acquired Beaubois from the Oklahoma City Thunder, once the I-35 rival picked the French point guard on behalf of the Mavericks with the No. 25 pick. The transaction also brought back a future second-round pick Dallas' way, but it was Beaubois who was on the Mavs' radar the whole time. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle broke down the team's thinking:

"We had targeted Beaubois as the guy that we wanted. He is a player that has dynamic athleticism. He has an unbelievable wingspan. He's a 6-2 guy with a 6-10 wingspan and high energy. And with the season being as long as it is, guys that can provide energy are really important."


The former French League product brought his coach's forecast to fruition, appearing in 56 regular-season games and starting 16 times en route to averaging 7.1 points and 1.0 assists. Beaubois also showed glimpses of greatness, including his 40-point explosion against Golden State on March 27, setting a career-high and justifying the moves that the Mavericks' front office made to bring in the young guard.

"(Beaubois) is going to be a guy that is going to be an important player for this franchise," Carlisle said.

A year after acquiring one budding star, the Mavericks prepare to look for yet another diamond in the rough. However, as things currently stand, 49 selections will pass by before the Mavericks even get the opportunity to call up their next gem.

With just the 50th pick, after sending the 57th spot to Indiana, the Mavs will be looking to add young, untapped talent into the fold. But scouting unheralded players in the second round is a science.

"There are certain things that everybody is looking for -- strength, athleticism, length, shooting ability, the ability to drive the ball. We're going to be looking for all those elements that would enhance our core group," Carlisle said.

Past history also says that if a chance to move up presents itself, the Mavs will take full advantage of the opportunity.

"Anything we can do to improve the team -- to improve the elements to enhance our entire situation -- we're going to do it," Carlisle said.

For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.