Dallas Mavericks: Unlike Smith, Expect 2018 NBA Draft Pick to Come Off Bench

Dennis Smith Jr. was considered a starter on day one, but the Dallas Mavericks’ pick in the first round of 2018 NBA Draft might take a different route.

It was inside the American Airlines Center last June that news came across the televisions that the Dallas Mavericks selected Dennis Smith Jr. with the 9th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

A short time after, it was time for Rick Carlisle to address the media to talk about the pick and how excited they were that Smith Jr. had fallen to them. One thing he made clear pretty quick was that Smith Jr. would come in and compete in training camp, but they planned for him to be the starting point guard on opening night.

It was a surprise to some, but the hole in the lineup was there and Dallas didn’t want to wait for Smith Jr. to take the helm.

But the 2018 NBA Draft pick will probably take a different route.

With how the current standings sit, Dallas looks to be selecting somewhere inside the top seven on draft night. For most teams in the top seven, the pick should come in and start on opening night, but the Mavs might have different plans.

First off, let’s look at the likely prospects in the top seven.

DeAndre Ayton, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Mohamed Bamba are all starting fives at the next level. Dallas will need to land in the top two on lottery night to land Ayton, but if they did, you have to assume they will try to make it work in the starting lineup.

The big factor is the probability that Dirk Nowitzki comes back for his 21st season.

As long as Nowitzki comes back, he will be the starting five next season.

I could see Dallas starting him and Ayton together, but for Jackson Jr. and Bamba, I believe they will come off the bench in the sixth man type of role and learn the position for when Nowitzki retires. We even saw Dallas do this with Nerlens Noel last summer when he came back on the qualifying offer, but they elected to move Nowitzki to center instead.

What if Dallas lands a wing prospect like Luka Doncic or Mikal Bridges. Doncic, I believe, is the only prospect in this draft that I believe would start for sure on day one for the Dallas Mavericks. But you will have to get lucky on lottery night with a top two pick.

Mikal Bridges is a different story.

Wesley Matthews will most likely pick up his player option and be the starting shooting guard next season. They recently moved Harrison Barnes back to the three and both sides seem to be loving the transition back to his natural position.

So that makes Smith Jr., Matthews, and Barnes virtual locks to be in the starting lineup next season. Obviously, if Nowitzki comes back, he will be too.

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This means Bridges will come off the bench and be the long-term Matthews replacement on the wing.

Then comes the fours in the draft such as Marvin Bagley III and Michael Porter Jr.

Both of these guys could theoretically step into that Dwight Powell starting four spot, but that isn’t a guarantee. Powell will be back and Dallas might like him in that spot as they ease in a new rookie to the system. Especially someone like Porter Jr. coming off an injury-plagued season, it might take more time for him to be a starting four in the league.

There are also free agent options at the four.

If Dallas chases restricted free agents such as Jabari Parker, Julius Randle, or Aaron Gordon, they will all be starting fours after the contracts they get. In that case, Porter Jr. or Bagley III would come off the bench.

Also, consider the fit alongside of Nowitzki if he returns. Someone like Porter Jr. might be difficult to pair alongside Nowitzki due to his lack of interior defense and rebounding. Bagley III could be a different story.

Next: Nerlens Noel's Career is Just Getting Started

To sum it up, just because it will most likely be a top seven pick and Smith Jr. started last year doesn’t meant the new rookie will get the same treatment. In fact, I believe there is a very good chance the pick starts the year coming off the bench.

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