Dallas Mavericks Tourney Watch: Harry Giles

The Dallas Mavericks look like they will inevitably be getting a lottery pick in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft. With one of the most stacked draft classes in recent history, we take a look at Duke forward, Harry Giles.

The Dallas Mavericks are one of the most perplexing teams in the NBA right now. After streaks of playing great against excellent opponents, we fall apart and get beat by the Phoenix Suns or trampled on by the Toronto Raptors before turning around and beating up on one of the hottest teams in the league in Washington.

Through all of this, Mavs fans have continually wondered where Dallas is going to fall in the draft. With our first pick protected through number 18, there is really no question that the Mavs will get a first round pick. However, most people are looking at the 7-14 range for the Mavericks in this year’s draft.

This range keeps the Mavericks out of the running for the Markelle Fultz’s and Lonzo Ball’s of the draft, but does give us some great options still in a very deep draft class. As you may have already seen, there are a few draft prospects for the Mavericks that are playing in the tournament who we have gone over their strengths and weaknesses.

This time, we are going to talk about Harry Giles. A Freshman for Duke University, Giles can be seen today playing against the 15-seed Troy University at 6:20 CT. Here is some information to be aware of about Giles.

Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Harry Giles (1) reacts during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Info

Harry Giles is one of the most polarizing players in this draft class and happens to have a wide range when it comes to projected draft selection. At 6’11” and 18 years old, the Duke forward is a dangerous player. Originally from North Carolina, Giles had offers from great teams like Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Kentucky.

Giles decided to play for Coach K in the Duke system that has produced so many great players. This was a great signing for Duke as they added an athletic forward to their roster. Did I mention that Giles also just happened to be the number 1 ranked player on the ESPN Top 11 recruiting list?

Obviously if the Mavs are looking at potentially landing Giles, he has not produced as expected in his first season with Duke. Giles had some unfortunate luck during his time before the start of his college career, as he has needed three different knee surgeries over the past 4 years. This setback has definitely slowed Giles down, but that does not mean he is incapable of finding his way back.

Giles has since recovered from the knee surgeries and is starting to show some of the life that scouts were so excited about before.

Strengths

As the number 1 recruit in NCAA basketball, there is not a lot that this kid can’t do. A supremely athletic forward at 6’11”, Giles is capable of handling the ball and finding his way to the rim before one of his explosive dunks.

Explosivity is a big thing for Giles, who joins a long line of NBA players to attend Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for high school. Really, the best tool that Harry Giles has in his arsenal is NBA ready size and speed. He is tall, not too skinny, quick with his feet, and gets great elevation.

The tools listed above also help Giles have impressive rebounding abilities. His body control and understanding of basketball help in that aspect as well, giving him the opportunity to become a well above average rebounder in the league for years to come.

His skill set definitely opens up the opportunity to become an elite defender in the NBA as well. Leaping ability, long arms, quick feet, and already being nearly 7-feet tall are some ways that Giles is ready to become a great defender in the league.

Finishing above the rim is a big one with Giles. This is definitely his best offensive skill and the one he is most comfortable with, as he basically lives above the rim with a 7’3″ wingspan and a 9’1″ standing reach.

Weaknesses

Obviously health is the major concern for a player like Harry Giles. After having three knee surgeries in a short amount of time, it is about worrisome for any NBA team to take a risk on a player like that. Too many high picks in the NBA draft have fallen into the draft bust category for no more reason than an injury plagued career.

Giles is showing some of his explosion again so things are looking good on that front for him. The next big thing to me is lack of offensive skills. It is not that he is an unskilled offensive player, but in the NBA, if you can’t shoot outside of the key, you are quickly becoming obsolete across the league.

Giles really doesn’t push his shooting outside of the 15-foot mark, which would make him a center in the NBA as it currently stands. He has room to grow and the ability to do it, but for now, Giles offensive skills would be a project in the league.

Lastly, the Duke forward/center could just be a little more consistent. If that wasn’t clear from his days in high school, it certainly is from his time in college. Giles has struggled finding his place in the Duke rotation at times, which is out of the ordinary for a player who was once considered the obvious #1 overall choice in the NBA Draft. If he can gain that consistency, he will do well in the league.

Feb 9, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) and head coach Rick Carlisle react during the game against the Utah Jazz at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Fit in Dallas

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As of right now, the Dallas Mavericks would love to see Giles fit into a more complete Tyson Chandler type player. His size certainly fits this role better than Noel currently, while his quickness and explosive play are very Chandler-esque. This would be a unique fit for Dallas, but if they wanted to go a more high-post, low-post with Nerlens Noel and Giles, the defense would definitely not be an issue.

Although he would be a high first round pick, I expect that Rick Carlisle would choose to develop Giles as opposed to throwing him right in. There are some players in the draft who are more NBA ready, but maybe none that have the ceiling that Giles does. Give him a year or two to learn under Carlisle, Dirk Nowitzki, etc. and he could be a great player of the future.

Although I do not expect the Mavericks to take a player like Harry Giles in the draft, there is no doubt that Dallas would do so if he is the best available on the board. The NBA is quickly growing away from more traditional centers and Giles could really thrive in the current NBA center role for the Mavs.

Next: Dallas Mavericks Tourney Watch: Miles Bridges

Only time will tell what the Dallas Mavericks decide to do with their draft pick, but with a chance to take a look at some of the best options in the March Madness tournament right now, it is fun to explore the players available.