Mavericks Mock Draft #2

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Mock Draft #2 (06/10/10)

In just two weeks the newest member of the Dallas Mavericks' family will hear his name called with the 50th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. The Inside Report gives you a sneak peak at whose name you may hear.

Last week, the "Mavericks Mock Draft" series narrowed in on two big men that the Mavs might be eyeing. Thanks to two of the most-trusted mock draft sites on the internet, DraftExpress.com and Hoopsworld.com, we learned the names of Derrick Caracter and Dwayne Collins. But it's Caracter's name that is resurfacing a week later.

After Hoopsworld had the Mavericks taking Collins -- a 6-8, 243-pound power forward out of Miami -- they've seemed to have joined DraftExpress on Caracter's bandwagon a week later.

Caracter, a forward-center combination who split his collegiate career at Louisville and UTEP, is a wide body with a finesse post game. At 6-foot-9, 275 pounds, the junior showed plenty of growth in his three years at the college level.

Despite missing 16 games in 2006-07 due to off-the-court issues, Caracter showed promise as a freshman at Louisville when he averaged 8.1 points and 3.9 rebounds while playing 13.3 minutes a game. By his junior campaign, after transferring to UTEP, he had lived up to his potential.

With 2009-10 marks of 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds, Caracter earned Second Team All-Conference USA and NABC First Team All-District honors. His 56.7 shooting percentage was second-best in the conference and ranked 16th nationally.

But are those impressive numbers enough to bring Caracter to Big D? Here's what Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle says the team looks for when evaluating talent:

"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."


That may mean that the Mavs go in a completely different direction. That's exactly what NBADraft.net has the team doing, saying that small forward Darington Hobson out of New Mexico could be Dallas' selection.

Measuring out at 6-7, 210 pounds, Hobson is the prototype for a three man at the NBA level. The left-hander utilized his versatility to average 15.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals a game during his junior year. The do-everything Houston native also knocked down 36.1 percent from behind the 3-point arch.

After transferring from the College of Eastern Utah, Hobson picked up Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year honors in his only season with the Lobos. The Associated Press also named the swingman to the Third Team All-American squad, after notably becoming the first player in New Mexico school history to score 500 points, grab 300 rebounds and dish out 150 assists in a season.

Despite joining Ohio State's Evan Turner -- the projected No. 2 or No. 3 pick on most draft boards -- as the only players in Div. I to average more than 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists a game, Hobson is expected to fall to the second round. If he falls far enough, the Mavs may just be waiting to scoop him up.

"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.

The "Mavericks Mock Draft" series continues every Thursday leading up to the NBA Draft on June 24. 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.

Putting the 'D' in Big D

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Putting the 'D' in Big D

As the last two teams standing duke it out in the NBA Finals, it's easy to see why defense is what wins championships. Though the Dallas Mavericks made strides in that department this season, if they are to take a title trip next year, then their ticket will be defense.

The Mavericks came into the 2009-10 campaign with a defense-first mentality. Despite struggles offensively, the renewed focus on defense seemed to lead to much success in the early stage of the season, leading forward Dirk Nowitzki to say this:

"I'm actually surprised by our defense. Overall, the consistency defensively has been pretty impressive. That was our goal coming into the season, to be a better defensive team -- compete harder and hold teams in the low 40s (shooting percentage). We did that a bunch of times, so that's actually been impressive.

"As our offense gets better, we don't want to take steps back defensively. We want to keep our defensive intensity at the same level and just get better offensively. We don't want to trade defense for offense."

But trading defense for offense is exactly what the Mavericks did through the ladder part of the season.

By season's end, the Mavericks proved to be just a middle-of-the-pack defensive team. Ranking 15th in the league in points allowed, surrendering 99.28 points per game, the Mavericks often traded baskets with their opposition -- something that would catch up with the 11th-best scoring team in the league (102.0 ppg) when it mattered most.

With the Dallas offense not at its best, the Mavericks' defense was unable to withstand the potent attack of the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs -- losing in six games to their Southwest Division rivals. San Antonio's 46 percent shooting against the Dallas defense in the series proved to be the difference, as the Mavs connected on just 43 percent at the other end.

Still, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle feels that his squad can be a top-tier defensive unit, after seeing glimpses of how well the team can execute when protecting its own basket.

"The improvements in our team this year have been more about better things we're doing at the defensive end, and we have to stick with that," Carlisle said. "Shot-making can come and go, but your defense can hold you in games and give you a chance to win if you're not making it."

Now, as the Mavericks scout potential prospects before selecting someone with the 50th overall pick in the Draft on June 24, the front office is eyeing a player that can do more than just shoot the ball through the bottom of the net. The next Mav will be asked to do much more than just score.

"Whoever is on the floor has got to give us great effort and they have to bring to the table what they do -- if it's a shooter or driver or whatever. But everyone on the floor has got to give us defense," 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.