Dallas Mavericks Tourney Watch: Edrice “Bam” Adebayo

With the Dallas Mavericks looking at a mid-first round pick, selecting a prospect playing in the NCAA Tournament like Edrice “Bam” Adebayo could be a possibility.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve completed your bracket and checked it twice already. That’s right, March Madness is upon us! Will you be rooting for your alma mater or are you a casual fan salivating for big upsets?

As for the Mavericks, this is an opportune time to get an in-depth look at some potential draft picks. Please allow me to draw your attention to my must-watch player, Bam Adebayo.

Edrice Bam Adebayo

Freshman
F/C #3 (Kentucky Wildcats)
6’10”, 260 pounds
13.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 0.7 steals

What To Like

His motor never stops. That’s what I love most about Adebayo. He’s extremely powerful on both ends of the court. Raw athleticism allows him to go from blocking a shot to rocking the rim with ease. Add to that a bevy of back-to-the-basket post moves with the ability to hit the mid-range jumper – are you in love yet?.

Throw him in the pick-and-roll and he’ll reward you, more times than none. All that productivity and versatility while shooting 61 percent from the field is impressive, to say the least.

Did I mention that Bam can guard multiple positions? That’s right, guards won’t be blowing by him with ease. His footwork on the defensive end is impeccable.

Concerns

Lower your expectations – of this portion of the article that is. Coming up with a lengthy list of concerns would require way more nitpicking than necessary. With Bam, there’s not much you can ask him to add to his game. All we can hope for is polish and finesse. The skill, talent and intangibles are all there.

The only minor cause for concern would be the 64 percent free-throw percentage. While not terrible for a big man, there’s room for improvement.

Based on his success in the mid-range, it’s not farfetched to believe he can increase his percentage at the charity stripe to at least 70 percent. If that happens, he becomes a well-rounded player capable of averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

Fit In Dallas

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Adebayo’s bulky frame, athleticism, defensive prowess and ability to play above the rim are comparable to the likes of Dwight Howard. Although premature, it’s well within reason to envision Adebayo becoming the enforcer on defense and above average contributor on offense Howard is known for.

Considering his shooting ability, pairing him with Nerlens Noel would create more scoring opportunities and a nightmare for opposing offenses. Accepting that Dirk Nowitzki will be gone soon is a tough pill to swallow. A young, defensive-minded front court duo could help ease the pain.

Adding Adebayo to the roster this summer would be a smart move for the Mavericks. His talents are sorely needed and sure to make him a fan favorite.

You can catch Bam in action on Friday (9:40 pm EST) as #2 Kentucky takes on #15 Northern Kentucky in a first round meeting.

Next: Dallas Mavericks Tourney Watch: Jonathan Isaac

Being placed in the South Region will give Bam and Kentucky the opportunity to prove how they stack up against powerhouse competition such as #1 North Carolina, #3 UCLA, and #10 Wichita State.