NBA Draft Roundtable: Late First Round Steal

If the Dallas Mavericks wanted to put together a package to gain an additional draft pick in the late 2nd round, it would have to be for a player that they really believe in. Here are some of the players that are low on many draft boards that the staff here views as steals.

The first round of the draft usually has a lot of talent at the top, with many lottery picks turning into solid NBA players. The draft also has someone who falls further than they should’ve almost every year. It is the weird anomaly of the league that someone will not be impressive on paper but will show up on day 1 and become a star.

Last year, that player was Kyle Kuzma, who was selected with the 27th overall pick. The year before that, Malcolm Brogdon dropped all the way into the 2nd round with the 36th overall pick. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year award. In 2015, Josh Richardson went from the 40th pick to a starter in Miami, and Devin Booker fell all the way to 13 despite now being possibly the best player from the class.

Who will be the late first round steal of this draft class? Should the Mavs be interested in moving up for any of these guys? The staff makes their picks.

Jevon Carter

“Even with an underwhelming combine, Carter is an interesting prospect. Weighing in at 250 pounds, Carter is a bulky defender who provides a solid scoring punch at the same time. Teams often make too much of combine performances, and Carter’s so-so showing shouldn’t discourage the Mavs.” –Evan Siegel

Elie Okobo

“Okobo is another overseas prospect I have grown fond of. He is a 6-2 PG who has had a breakout season in the French Pro A League. Okobo recently exploded for 44 points (in absurd number in this league) while shooting 8/11 from three point range. Point guard isn’t a huge need for the Mavericks at the moment but the team should not be afraid to select best player available at this stage in their rebuild.” –Sean Bush

Donte DiVincenzo

“An unoriginal/boring pick but the Villanova hero has put on an impressive showing at the combine. Should Donte be snatched up in the mid-20s, he could be 2018s version of the Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma in terms of immediate impact and a polished, NBA ready skillset.” –Paul Wang

Melvin Frazier

“The NBA is currently obsessed with length and shooting on the wing. For this reason, Melvin Frazier from Tulane could end up being one of the steals of this draft. Frazier as a prospect has the upside to guard three positions on the floor and spread the defense with the three. NBA team’s can never have enough guards with 7ft wingspans.” –Zach Windell

Mitchell Robinson

“Mitchell Robinson has yet to prove much about his game past the high school level. That adds a level of uncertainty to his stock. Without certainty, expectations can’t possibly be high. That’s exactly what will make Robinson the biggest surprise in this year’s draft. You can’t teach height or defensive acumen. Robinson has those two covered.” –Emmanuel Dixon

Robert Williams

“If Robert Williams of Texas A&M slips into the twenties, that’s a huge steal. I keep saying he’s Draymond 2.0, or Draymond Lite. However you want to put it, he’s got the length and athleticism to succeed as a small ball center. If he falls into the right situation, he’ll excel in the NBA.” –Ben Zajdel

Jacob Evans

“Every NBA team is looking for shooting and defense, which is precisely what Jacob Evans from Cincinnati brings to the table. The former Bearcat is the ideal combo-guard in today’s NBA. At 6-foot-5, 200 pounds with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, Evans can shoot from deep and defend positions 1-3. The Mavericks need wings & Evans would fit the bill in the late first round.” –Robby Lewis

Chandler Hutchison

“I’ve stayed pretty consistent on this one, but I really think Hutchison is going to excel in the NBA. People have projected him as a long wing with 3-D potential, but I think his offensive game is going to translate much more than just a long range shooter. I believe he will turn into an impact player and a regular starter for whichever team gets him. I hope the Mavs can find a way to be that team.” –Kohl Rast

Next: NBA Draft Roundtable: Who Will Be the Bust of the Lottery?

The late picks are always taken by the teams that are already playoff teams, so if Dallas wanted to make a trade with one of them, it would probably be doable. Would you make a trade into the late first for one of these guys?