NBA Draft Roundtable: 2nd Round Value Pick

The Dallas Mavericks own two second-round picks in the 2018 NBA Draft and, even though there is no guarantee with 2nd rounders, there is a lot of solid talent that will be around when the Mavs are making their selections. Who should Dallas take?

There will always be value in the 2nd round of the NBA Draft, but only a few lucky teams are usually able to find it. Although every player drafted to the NBA is an incredibly good basketball player (especially Satnam Singh), not all of them pan out in the big leagues. In fact, most of them don’t.

Historically, the Dallas Mavericks have viewed the 2nd round of the draft as more of a trading piece than actual players that could benefit the team. Most Mavs fans hope that changes this year, as there is definitely value to be had from this class. Maybe Dallas will find their Dennis Rodman, Paul Millsap, Draymond Green, or Marc Gasol this year.

Here are the staff picks for the best 2nd round pick likely to be available for the Mavericks.

Donte DiVincenzo

“You can’t have too many scorers, and the Mavs had far too few a year ago. While the Villanova phenom got a ton of attention merely for one game in the championship against Michigan, the Mavs should take a look given their struggles to score.” –Evan Siegel

Kevin Hervey

“Hervey is a local product out of University of Texas Arlington and fits the profile of a guy who could step in immediately and help out the team. He’s a 6-9 forward with a great outside shot and above average rebounding ability at the SF position. Hervey is one of the older prospects (21) but his scoring ability and versatility at his size could help the Mavericks at a position of need.” –Sean Bush

Shake Milton

“To obtain the best value possible in the second round, the Mavericks should look at any and every player that falls out of the first round. Without knowing who dropped, I will go with the 6’6 combo guard from SMU, Shake Milton. There are several wings with great length and defensive potential that could be had in the early second, but I believe Milton also has the playmaking skills and shooting ability to succeed right away in Rick Carlisle’s system.” –Zach Windell

Brandon McCoy

“Brandon McCoy is a player you won’t hear too much about, but maybe you should. In one season at UNLV, McCoy put together 16.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. His 7-foot-1 250 pound frame is quite impressive as well. If rumors are true, and the Mavs successfully land one of the top bigs in free agency, McCoy can serve as a great backup.” –Emmanuel Dixon

Jalen Brunson

“I’ve christened Jalen Brunson the new Professor. I don’t think he was tutored by Andre Miller, but I think Brunson could do a pretty good impersonation. He’s going to be a solid point guard in the NBA for the next fifteen years. The guy is gritty, tough, and smart. He’s the perfect backup point guard for your playoff team. Hopefully the Mavericks will pick him up to play behind Smith.” –Ben Zajdel

Jarred Vanderbilt

“At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Jarred Vanderbilt would be an intriguing wing prospect for the Mavericks. Yes, he can’t shoot which is a severe problem, but his rebounding and toughness cannot be denied. Vanderbilt would undoubtedly help the Mavericks never-ending rebounding issues from day one.  He averaged a jaw-dropping 18.5 rebounds per-40 minutes with Kentucky.” –Robby Lewis

Kostas Antetokounmpo

“I tend to side with the Mavs a little more when it comes to 2nd round picks. I don’t think they are as valuable as some people, so I prefer taking someone with a high upside over a proven player. That player this year is none other than the Assassin from Athens (I will make this nickname stick), Kostas Antetokounmpo.

Little Giannis had a rough freshman year at Dayton, finding himself on the bench more than on the court. Although he did not prove much in college, his combine scrimmage was good and he was able to show some of the athleticism people want to see in him. If he can turn into anything like his older brother, he will be a major steal in the 2nd round.” –Kohl Rast

Next: NBA Draft Roundtable: Late First Round Steal?

There will be plenty of talent around after the first round of the draft is complete, but only a handful of players are likely to be successful. No matter what the case, the Mavs should definitely make a pick in the 2nd round and any of these guys will raise the chances of making that pick a success.