The 2013 NBA Draft is tonight and, as we all know, the Dallas Mavericks haven't had the best of drafts in recent years. Let's face it...they haven't drafted anyone good since drafting Dirk Nowitzki in 1998. I know the Mavs drafted Josh Howard in 2003 and he was good for a while, but even he faded and was traded. So who are the Mavericks going to take in this year's draft...a draft considered by some to be very weak?
It's been rumored that the Mavericks are trying to free up cap room to make a run at Dwight Howard of the LA Lakers and Chris Paul of the LA Clippers. Personally...that is a dream that Mark Cuban can dream but a reality he won't see. So what are they going to do? The Bleacher Report is predicting that the Mavs will take Sergay Karasev, a 6'7 small forward from Russia. Now from all the scouting reports on Karasev I've read, he is a pretty good player that just needs to mature a little bit. He was the leading scorer in Russia's top league last year, but he hasn't faced competition like he will in the NBA. According to the Bleacher Report, the Mavs may draft Karasev and keep him overseas. There are thoughts too that they may trade the pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are said to want Karasev for their second round pick. My thoughts on this...if you are going to trade the pick away, why not trade up to get a player who can help you now? If you can't or won't do that, then draft Karasev and keep him overseas. The last thing you want to happen is trade the pick away for pretty much nothing and then watch him turn into an All-Star for another team.
With that all said, I'm still not sure what the Mavs are thinking by drafting yet another foreign player when there are players in this draft that would and could help this club right now. The two biggest needs on this team right now are guard and center. I understand if they get Howard and Paul, those needs are filled. But let's be serious. It won't happen (if it does, I'll be the first one to say I was wrong and Let's Go Mavs). So who in the draft could the Mavs get to help them. The top gaurd in the draft to me is Ben McLemore out of Kansas. I know it's a long shot for the Mavs to get this guy, but here's what I'm thinking. If Cleveland is already wanting Karasev and they have been rumored to wanting to trade for Shawn Marion, send a packaged deal that includes Marion and the 13th pick to Cleveland for their number 1 pick and use it to draft McLemore. I know it's out there and it won't ever happen, but that's what I'd like to at least hear that Mark Cuban tried to do. Another name out there in the draft that I think the Mavs could use is Steven Adams, 7'0 255 lbs. center from Pittsburg. This guy is big, strong, and scouts say his strengths are good jumper, good passer, and great rebounder. Sounds similar to Tyson Chandler. This guy might actually still be there at 13, even though some predictions have him going 11th or 12th. But if the Mavs can either trade up a couple spots to get him or if by a miracle he is still on the boards when they are on the clock, the Mavs need to get this kid to help down low in the paint.
Dirk isn't getting any younger and he needs help. I would love nothing more than to see Dwight Howard and Chris Paul in a Mavericks uniform next season, but if you look and see that the chances of that happening are not good, then the next best thing is to draft wise tonight. Don't go after another foriegn player that may or may not make it. Go for someone who is ready to play now...aka McLemore or Adams. If I hear David Stern announce one of those names when he announces Dallas' pick tonight, I'll be a happy man and I think Mavs fans will be happy too.
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