FanPost

2009 Draft

So the Mavericks season ended.  I'm sad, but not depressed.  The last two years have been terrible.  From getting killed by New Orleans to the most miserable series ever, Golden State.  This year, the Mavs simply got beat by a better team.  Face it, Denver is better than Dallas.  It hurts to admit it, but it is true.  They play better defense, they have better scorers, and more depth.  They are more aggressive and better in transition.  And all these things, and more, contributed to ending the Mavs season.  While I am sad, I do love the offseason.  The trades, the draft, the free agent signings, and all the rumors keep me excited all summer long.  Here is my preview of what the Mavericks need to accomplish this offseason.

 

Goal Number 1:  The Front Office needs to wake up and do their job.

The reason the Mavericks have a top 5 NBA player in Nowitzki and can't win a championship is because the front office keeps making terrible decisions in the offseason.  The most recent and obvious being the impatient trade of Devin Harris for Jason Kidd.  You don't think Devin's 20 points a night and suffocating defense would have made a major impact on the Denver series?  Kidd was a turnover machine against Denver, and we have the front office to thank for it.  I'm not sure which direction the front office will take, either staying cheap and waiting for the free agent class of 2010 in an attempt to sign LBJ, Wade, or Bosh, or try to make a couple big moves to win a championship next season.  While watching the final game against Denver, my friend and I kept discussing how great the Billups trade was for the Nuggets.  There's no way that the Nuggets get this far with Iverson running the point.  Then we paused and both said, "why don't the Mavericks ever make a move that works like that?"  If the Mavericks are going to improve through trade, they better make sure it's going to work.  Because another Harris for Kidd would be disastrous.

Goal Number 2:  Have a good Draft!

The Mavericks have had terrible drafts over the past few seasons!  I can't stand watching the NBA Draft because I know the Mavericks will always do something stupid.  They either draft some European player I have never heard of and never see again, or they pass up on a good player and draft a complete bust.  Need an example to remind how dumb they have been, here is one.  Do you know who NIck Fazekas is?  You probably don't, because he didn't accomplish anything.  Dallas drafted him over Glen 'Big Baby' Davis who is currently a major contributor on the Celtics filling in for Garnett.  Other recent busts include the following: Shan Foster,Renaidas Seibutis, Maurice Ager, J.R. Pinnock, Vassilis Spanoulis, and so much more!  I believe a major reason that Dallas has not experienced a Championship Parade is because of the inability of the front office to scout and draft (Josh Howard being an exception but that was back in 2003).  How can that list of terrible draft picks not make you angry as a Mavericks fan?  I hope 2009 is different, and this is what I think they should do.

The Mavericks obviously have many holes to fill.  I hope Cuban can get Kidd to resign for a 1 year discount contract.  Than I would like to see the Mavs draft a PG that can learn under Kidd for a year than take over.  Dallas needs a young PG that can play defense and penetrate the paint.  Look who the successful PG's in the NBA are, Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Tony Parker, Derron Williams, Devin Harris, and Derrick Rose to name a few.  They all have one thing in common, quickness.  Dallas needs to draft a quick PG, and there are plenty available.  It's doubtful that Ricky Rubio, Stephon Curry, or Brandon Jennings will fall to the Mavs, but there are other starting caliber PG's available that Dallas could pick.  Patrick Mills(St. Mary's), Ty Lawson (UNC). AJ Price (UCONN), and Toney Douglas (FSU) just to name a few.  In this years draft there is a total of 19 PG's available, most of which can be immediate contributors.  If the Mavericks do not come away with a PG, I'm going to be furious.

If for some reason the Mavs don't go the PG route, I think either a big down-low force that can provide a defensive presence in the paint, or a scoring SG should be drafted.  Personally, I would like to see the Mavs draft a SG who's main ability is scoring, if a PG is not taken.  (I'm still mad that Mark Cuban didn't make a move for Ben Gordon when Chicago was trying to trade him.)  There are players like Sam Young (PITT), Marcus Thornton (LSU), and Tyreke Evans (Memphis) who may be available.

Nbadraft.net projects that the Mavericks will draft DeJuan Blair.  Apparently, they believe the Mavs will go the third route of big down-low presence rather than SG or PG.  I wouldn't be too upset with DeJuan Blair, I think he can be an immediate contributor, but I still would rather see a new quick PG in Dallas next season.

Reader submitted. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of our editorial staff.