Mavericks Mock Draft -- Final Edition (06/23/10)
While NBA mock drafts across the internet debate over which player the Dallas Mavericks may select with the 50th pick on Thursday night, the organization's front office is confident that the right player will fall its way.Though the entire first round and 19 more selections will pass by before the Mavericks appear on the draft board, president of basketball operations and GM Donnie Nelson says that the team has a plan in place to bring in a difference-maker.
"The deeper you get in the draft, the more risk," Nelson said. "This draft, I think, is deep enough that we're gonna get what we want...At 50, we're not really working in an area of strength, but this is a draft of opportunity."
And according to DraftExpress.com, NBADraft.net and Hoopsworld.com, the Mavericks will have the opportunity to draft a big man. Fittingly, none of the three sites are in agreement as to which big body will hear his name called when the Mavericks' selection comes up in the second round.
DraftExpress sees the Dallas front office opting for Nemanja Bjelica, a versatile 6-10 swingman out of Serbia.
Bjelica is capable of playing three positions, ranging from point guard to small forward -- often using his tall stature and 210-pound frame to his advantage against smaller defenders in the European ranks. Most often compared to Toronto Raptors star Hedo Turkoglu -- for his ability to operate with the ball in pick-and-roll settings -- Bjelica is projected as a natural three man, though he also saw time as a power forward with his Red Star and Crvena zvezda squads in the EUROCUP and ADRIATIC leagues during the 2009-10 campaigns. Suiting up for 20 games with the Crvena zvezda team, Bjelica averaged 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, while also collecting 2.4 steals in his 25.1 minutes of play.
Meanwhile, Hoopsworld doesn't see the Mavs testing the international waters. Instead, the basketball-driven site has the ball club from Big D going after Miami's senior standout Dwayne Collins.
Like Bjelica, Collins is a 22-year-old big man, though his game and his journey to the NBA is quite different. Despite measuring out at 6-foot-8, 232 pounds of all heart and muscle, Collins spent his collegiate career playing the power forward and center positions.
Thanks to a wingspan said to be in the 7'3" range, Collins is able to match up against bigger and taller players on the defensive end. He has also shown a nice offensive assault, often playing with his back to the basket en route to connecting on 60.4 percent from the field -- averaging 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in 29 games played during the 2009-10 season.
But does his ability to bang in the paint make Collins the Mavs' man at pick No. 50?
NBADraft doesn't think so, pairing Dallas with Sudan native and three-year forward for DePaul, Nyal "Mac" Koshwal.
Koshwal was a valuable contributor in all three of his college seasons, scoring in double figures and increasing both his scoring average and rebounding numbers each year. Before exiting the amateur ranks as a junior, the 6-9, 250-pounder averaged a double-double -- scoring 16.1 points and grabbing 10.1 rebounds in 34.9 minutes a game.
Noted for his strength, soft hands and the ability to create a shot in the painted area while facing the basket, Koshwal could be a valuable plug-in at the post positions.
But Nelson and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban haven't confessed that they are leaning in any directions.
"We've got 1,000 different scenarios, none of which will probably happen," Nelson said, keeping the team's cards close to the chest.
The two also haven't dismissed making a deal to move up into the first round, working the phones vigorously with other front office execs in search of the best deal available.
"We're all (all 30 teams) talking to each other," Nelson said.
For all of your coverage of the NBA Draft and the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
Posts
