Mavs 2007 Draft

J.J. here to take a quick look at some guys the Mavs should focus on as well as the perfect realistic draft for them. I'll break it down by position.

First, PG. Mavs don't have a real need but in the NBA you can never have enough talented PG's. 3 guys catch my eye that I think the Mavs have a shot at. In order they are, Taurean Green from Florida, Jared Jordan from Marist, and Aaron Brooks from Oregon. Previously, we had Taurean falling to the Mavs at the 50th or 60th pick but after a very impressive workout, he is a probable first rounder. I'm not as high on Jordan as some others but he does have real talent. Great ball handeling skills and a ton of speed. He is just very unpolished and I don't want the Mavs to spend their first pick on him, which is what they would have to do to get him. That leavs us with Brooks, who's name scares me off a little. All jokes aside, the kid would be a great fit here. He has speed to burn, and is a pure scorer. Think of a less refined Devin Harris. Being able to throw out Harris and then Brooks would wear any team out. A great boost off the bench. Most drafts have him going anywhere from 55 to undrafted, my hope being the later, because he would be a steal for free. The Mavs, depending on their first 2 picks could justify taking him with pick 60.

Next, the PF. Also not a huge need, but a decent scorerer or defender off the bench behind the big German would be nice. 5 guys I like that the Mavs have some possible shot at are in order, Glen Davis, Josh McRoberts, Nick Fazekas, Ali Traore, and Stephane Lasme. It is hard to project who goes where in this crazy deep draft. Some have Davis as high as #17 to the Nets. My gut tells me he goes somewhere between picks 28 and 32, just ahead of the Mavs. If he is there though, they have to grab him. He is the most NBA ready PF in the draft, and would be a steal. McRoberts and Fazekas are also guys I think go just before the Mavs pick but again if they are there, they are great value guys. That leaves Traore, a Frenchman who would stay in France a year or two refineing his game. When he gets done, think of a simular version of the Cavs Varejao. Not bad for the 60th pick if they can land him there. Stephane Lasme; who I know Lincoln would love to have here just to get wasted and scream at for haveing a girls name, is an intreguing player. He should be there right at pick 60, possibly undrafted. While he is nothing to write home about offensively, he is a top 3 shotblocker in this draft and is crazy athletic. I would love to have this guy on the Mavs.

SF is a position locked up by the great Josh Howard, but athletic 3's are what make champions. The 7 guys I like are, Jared Dudley, Marcus Williams, Alando Tucker, Demetris Nichols, Dominic McGuire, Sun Yue, and Reyshawn Terry. While Dudley is very good, the Mavs only chance at him is with pick 34, and there are more pressing needs. Williams won't slip to pick 50, but if he does they have to take him. The Big 10 player of the year and runner up to Kevin Durant for POY, Alando Tucker, would also be a steal at pick 50. Pretty sure he doesn't fall that far though, plus he isn't the shooter the Mavs need. Nichols has everything I like in a 3. Athletic, tall and rangy, and is the best shooting SF in the whole draft. Mavs steal him at 50 and look out. A combo of him and J-Ho is scary. Both shoot the trey very well. That leavs McGuire, Yue, and Terry. One of these guys will go undrafted because of the depth of this draft. My money is on McGuire and I sure hope the Mavs scoop him up then. He is a poor man's Kirilenko, enough said.

Finally, SG. This is the position the Mavs need to improve on. A big, physical shooter, who can also defend is a must. Enter Arron Affalo, perhaps the best fit on the Mavs out of the whole draft minus the top 2 guys. He has a great mid-range game, is working on the trey and isn't afraid to D-up anyone. A dream for the Mavs at pick 34. The Mavs could also take a SG at pick 50, especially D.J. Strawberry. I love his combo ability and the fact that he is a shutdown defender. Tuff not to take, but if they go with a SG with pick 34, and have Ager from last year they can't justify it. 2 guys I didn't mention that I would love at pick 34 if they make it are Morris Almond and Daequan Cook. Neither make it in my opinion, they are too good. One last guy I think might go undrafted is J.R. Reynolds from Virginia, and if he does he has to be the Mavs #1 undrafted priority. He can shoot from anywhere, is super athletic, and is also a tweener that can help out at both gaurd spots. A real great fit for the Mavs.

Here is the best realistic draft for the Mavs. With pick 34 they take Affalo. With pick 50, they take Nichols, and with pick 60, they take Lasme. The 2 undrafted guys they should focus on are Reynolds and Brooks. The lineup would look like this.

PG's. Harris, Terry, Barrea.
SG's. Affalo (r), Stackhouse, Ager.
SF's. J-Ho, Nichols (r), Buckner.
PF's. Dirk, Lasme (r), Pops.
C's. Diop, Damp, Mbenga.

Guys they wouldn't have spaces for on the 15-man roster; Brooks, Reynolds, and Deavon George.

If they make the Abdur-Rahim trade which is Buckner, George, Barrea, and a 2nd rounder next year for Abdur-Rahim, the lineup would look like this.

PG's. Harris, Terry, Brooks(r).
SG's. Affalo(r), Ager, Reynolds(r).
SF's. J-Ho, Stackhouse, Nichols(r).
PF's. Dirk, Abdur-Rahim, Lasme(r).
C's. Diop, Damp, Mbenga.

Pops wouldn't be on the 15-man roster, but could possibly crack it with continued development. A very athletic young lineup that has what it takes to win it all would be what was left. And yes, there would be 6 rookies, but 4 would be third stringers, with Nichols and Lasme getting the bulk of the time on the 12-man active roster.