NBA Draft Roundtable: Who is the Best Fit for Dallas in the Draft?

Just to clarify, the only player that was really outside of consideration in this was DeAndre Ayton, because there is not a mock draft you can find that has him dropping lower than #2. Every other player near the top has been rumored to be falling by someone. Who is the best fit for the Dallas Mavericks?

It has been very openly understood that the Dallas Mavericks biggest hole on the team is under the rim. With the failed experiment that was Nerlens Noel likely coming to an end before next year, the Mavs will be in search of a rim runner at some point this summer. Just because it is their biggest need and there are multiple options does not mean that this is who they will draft though.

The staff here decided on who they believe is the best fit for the Dallas Mavericks, based on who may be available with the 5th pick. Here is who everyone selected.

Mohamed Bamba

“As of right now, Bamba has leapfrogged MPJ as my second favorite prospect in the draft class. Ironically (and fingers crossed it stays this way), he’s also quite likely to still be on the board at #5. Dallas is a seamless fit in terms of team culture and positional need.” –Paul Wang

Michael Porter Jr.

“Porter is a big risk, but the potential here is ridiculous. At 6”10, Porter has the potential to add to the league’s growing trend of bigger forwards instead of centers. Porter has elite scoring ability and has the potential to be an equally impactful defender. Even with Harrison Barnes at the position, the Mavs shouldn’t hesitate to take the player with the most potential.” –Evan Siegel

Luka Doncic

“I have been an avid fan of Doncic as a prospect for over two years. I believe he has a transcendent feel for the game and am willing to bet on his shot and athleticism translating enough for him to be a potential star. It is unlikely the Slovenian falls to #5 but recent reports seem to have him slipping out of the top 3 so anything is possible.” –Sean Bush

Michael Porter Jr.

“The best player for Mavs at #5: The popular projected choice for the Dallas Mavericks latest lottery pick is Texas center, Mohammed Bamba. Regarding team needs, drafting a center would be an excellent choice (and safest) for a Mavericks team, seeing Noel is more than likely to move on after his disappointing time in Dallas.

However, an elite wing is the type of player that moves the needle in today’s NBA.  Bringing me to Missouri forward Michael Porter Jr. His game is versatile enough to make a mark in the NBA in more ways than one, unlike Bamba. Porter Jr’s Injury history is the biggest red flag waving over his draft stock. With that said, I think the Mavs should go after a wing to officially move Barnes to the four.

It’s not that centers aren’t relevant in today’s NBA, it’s more so the case of front offices being able to fill that void in more convenient ways. Although,it doesn’t look great when elite bigs like Gobert are an afterthought in postseason play. Porter Jr is for sure a gamble in terms of injury history, but Kyrie Irving also had problems with health his short year at Duke.” –Lance Roberson

Mohamed Bamba

“I really want to pick Michael Porter Jr. again for this one but to keep things interesting I’ll pick the MFFL favorite Mohamed Bamba. Bamba is an athletic freak who impacts the game effortlessly with his limitless defensive potential and developing shot. As the NBA transitions, the next era of professional basketball will be dominated by unicorns like AD, Porzingis and perhaps Mo Bamba.”  –Zach Windell

Michael Porter Jr.

“After selecting Dennis Smith Jr. in last year’s draft, it’s clear that the Dallas Mavericks organization won’t let injury concerns deter them from getting their guy. Michael Porter Jr. is still the most gifted and versatile offensive player in this draft class. Pairing him with an already dynamic Smith Jr. is to great an opportunity to pass up.” –Emmanuel Dixon

Mohamed Bamba

“I’m tired of answering this question, because I can’t decide who’s the best pick for the Mavericks. My answer changes almost daily. I think Mo Bamba could be special, especially in Rick Carlisle’s system, but I could also see him being a one dimensional shot blocker who gets played off the floor by small ball teams. Michael Porter Jr. is intriguing, but what if his back injury is chronic? Mikal Bridges might be a special 3-and-D wing, a position in high demand right now. I just can’t narrow it down. So today…give me Bamba. But that could change overnight.” –Ben Zajdel

Jaren Jackson Jr.

“The Mavericks are in need of a big man, and Jaren Jackson Jr. would be the perfect fit for the Mavericks at 5. The 6’11 forward/center, who possesses a 7-foot-4 wingspan, is your prototypical modern big man.

Not only can he protect the rim thanks to his impressive length and cat-like instincts, but ‘JJJ’ can also stretch the floor, hitting 39.6 percent 3-pointers on 96 attempts at Michigan State. He may have a funky looking shooting motion, but it’s hard to argue the results. Oh, and another nice bonus, Jackson turns just 19 in September, making him one of the youngest prospects in the 2018 class.” –Robby Lewis

Luka Doncic

“It is interesting that my pick for the best fit for Dallas is the same guy that most people believe is the worst fit among the top players in the draft, but I really think that Luka and Dennis Smith Jr. would work well together. That paired with the fact that Doncic is the best player in the draft, in my opinion, makes this an easy pick for me and I hope that the rumors are true that he is actually falling in the draft.” –Kohl Rast

Next: Which Dallas Mavericks Could Be Traded?

The best fit for the Dallas Mavericks is up in the air, but with how the team looked last year, any of these guys would undoubtedly help. It will be very interesting to see which direction the Mavs choose to take on June 21st.