Dallas Mavericks: The Best Player at Each Position in Draft

The Dallas Mavericks may not have some of these options when it comes time for them to draft, but it is important to see who is available at each position that Dallas could capitalize on in the 2018 NBA Draft.

The Dallas Mavericks do not have a need at every position. They have one of the most promising young point guards in the NBA and a small forward who can hold his own on both ends of the court.

Although that still leaves three positions that could see some improvement, that does not mean that they are inept at all three spots. Yogi Ferrell, Seth Curry, and Wesley Matthews have all played the shooting guard position well, and Dwight Powell is becoming a serviceable backup power forward.

Dirk Nowitzki is currently playing the starting center role for Dallas, but with his career coming to a close in the near future, it is time to find a more suitable starting big for the NBA as it currently stands.

The player positions are not necessarily what they played in college, but this will likely be their position at the next level. Here are the top players at each position.

Point Guard-Luka Doncic

Although it is hard to determine exactly which position to classify Doncic as, it is no surprise that he should be considered tha best player at that position. With his skill set passing the ball and running the offense, it seems like point guard is the most likely fit for Luka, at least on the offensive end.

Doncic already looks like possibly the  most polished player to come from the European leagues and he is only 19 years old. Most European stars have to settle into the league for many years before they can even become relevant overseas. Luka was relevant at age 16.

There are not very many players that come to the league as polished as Luka Doncic already is. Even fewer make it before they have even turned 20. Doncic may not be the best player in the draft, but there is no doubt that he deserves to be in the conversation.

Honorable mention: Collin Sexton, Trae Young

Shooting Guard-Mikal Bridges

The best two-way player in this year’s draft class, Bridges has become a favorite in a lot of circles. Although his offensive game definitely has some room for improvement, it is easy to see why Mikal Bridges has been constantly moving up on draft boards throughout the year.

I am not as high on Bridges as some others around me, but I do see the talent and the draw to him. The main reason he has taken the spot as best two-guard available is simply lack of superior talent at the position. That doesn’t mean he is not a great player with a chance to be excellent in the league, it just means there aren’t many great players behind him.

If the Mavs were in the market for a shooting guard, I would be just fine with them taking Bridges with the 5th or 6th pick. However, seeing as guards are about the only position that Dallas has a surplus of, there is no reason the Mavs need to consider Bridges as a main draft focus.

Honorable mention: Lonnie Walker, Gary Trent Jr.

Small Forward-Michael Porter Jr.

This will come as a surprise to most, but I believe Miles Bridges is much closer to Michael Porter Jr. than the general fan base. That said, Porter gets the edge simply for potential purposes.

Michael Porter Jr. is an impressive player when healthy. He is coming off a very difficult injury and questions of his ability to come back at 100% are very much up in the air at this point, but there is no doubt that he could be a special player.

I really like MPJ’s fit with Dallas and think that if he gets medically cleared, he should move up the board for Dallas a few spots. Since his health is currently not a guarantee, he is probably not worthy of a top 5 pick from the Mavs.

Honorable mention: Miles Bridges, Kevin Knox

Power Forward-Marvin Bagley

One of my favorite players in the draft (and one of the favorites to go high in the draft) is Marvin Bagley III. Bagley has shown what he can do on the glass and what he can do on the offensive side of the ball. Those two things are incredibly important for the future of the Mavericks.

Obviously the worry with Bagley is on the defensive side of the ball. He has not shown the defensive ability that you would hope for from someone with his size and quickness, but that does not mean he is an incapable defender. Even still, people are going to want to see more potential there.

Bagley is not a good fit next to Dirk, who also struggles on the defensive end. Even though that is a bit of worry, there are no better offensive players in the draft aside from maybe DeAndre Ayton. If we are drafting with the future in mind, then passing on Bagley because of his fit for one year would be a mistake.

Honorable mention: Jaren Jackson Jr., Robert Williams

Center-DeAndre Ayton

The best player in the draft has been argued by many,but none of those arguments have taken place without DeAndre Ayton’s name being mentioned. This is not because people are blinded by one thing or another. It is because he fully belongs in the conversation.

Ayton is one of the biggest players in the field. He moves well, controls his size, and can finish around the rim or outside the three-point line. His defense has holes but not nearly comparable to those of Bagley’s. He is getting better everyday and he is only 19 going on 40.

Ayton legitimately looks like a man among boys on the court. There were some consistency issues that he went through at Arizona, but I don’t think anyone has major concerns with the type of player that Ayton will become. He is built to be a great player.

Honorable mention: Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr.

Next: Three Prospects Getting Slept On in Mock Drafts

The draft is still a few months away but, as we get closer, I expect it to become even more obvious that these are the best players available at their respective positions. Now the Mavs just need to choose wisely.