Dallas Mavericks 2017 NBA Draft Big Board 3.0

“Ball moves slightly, by a very thin lead, ahead of Fultz on my board for a couple of reasons. One reason is the rise of Seth Curry at shooting guard. If Curry continues to grow into a good player, is it worth taking Ball over Fultz because of the fit next to Curry?

Curry has cemented his spot as the two guard in the starting unit and is a smaller framed shooting guard. Ball would be the ball handling point that is big enough to guard the bigger guards in the league that Curry can’t.

Ball is a different type of player, but is one of the best playmaking point guards we have witnessed come out of college. He stands at 6’6″ and has a game similar to a young Jason Kidd. Almost every draft board across the league will have Fultz and Ball as the top two names.” (From Draft Board 2.0).

“Overall draft board, Fultz still sits at the top, but if Curry continues to blossom, Ball might be the better fit. For the past couple of months, I have had Fultz as a clear top pick, but over the past couple of weeks, I believe it is more of a 1A to 1B type of situation.

Fultz is regarded by many to be the top overall pick in the draft no matter the team. He is arguably one of the two potential superstars in this draft as he is the complete package…as a freshman. He would be one of the two players the Mavericks would select if they did land the first overall pick in the draft.” (From Draft Big Board 2.0)

*Fultz sat at the top of our Mavs Draft Big Board 1.0, but has taken a backseat to Ball over the last two editions. Unfortunately, a late season injury and the fact that his college career is officially over due to Washington not making the tournament, he can’t improve his stock (if you can) until this summer.

This spot has had Dennis Smith Jr. in it for the first two editions but the talent of Jackson can’t be passed over at this point in the draft no matter the need. Although some off the court issues have to come to light as of late, he should be able to put them behind them come tourney time.

Talent is talent, and if the Mavericks have the third overall pick in the draft with Josh Jackson still on the board, it will be hard for them to pass him up. The 19 year old is having a great year at Kansas where he has drawn comparisons to Gordon Hayward and Andre Iguodala. He could step into the Finney-Smith role next to Harrison Barnes in the small ball lineup going forward.

The point guard spot will be a focal point in the draft of the Mavericks as they look to find a possible long-term answer. Smith has been considered a lock for a top 5 pick in the draft on most draft boards and remains there in this edition.

The concerning factor for Smith Jr. was his N.C. State team this season. Armed with talent around him, Smith Jr. and the Wolfpack lost nine out of ten games at the end of their regular season. Like Fultz, his college career is likely over already with an early exit from the ACC Tournament.

Markkanen is a player that has been rising up the draft boards as the seven-foot sniper proves his overall game. He could be an ideal stretch five in the NBA or play alongside a center and stretch the floor as a four.

The Arizona big man has done nothing but improve his game and stock over the past month. He recently led his team over Lonzo Ball and UCLA in the PAC-12 Tournament where he put in over 27 points in a complete game.

Markkanen would come in and learn from Nowitzki in his first year in the league as a seven foot outside shooter.

Next: 6-10