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The Smoking Cuban

Dallas Mavericks: Three moves we still wish were April Fool’s jokes

By Kohl Rast

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 21: Head Coach Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 21, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 21: Head Coach Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 21, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks Shane Larkin Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Drafting Shane Larkin instead of Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2013

This is one of the worst misses in Dallas Mavericks history and it is less about Giannis Antetokounmpo than it is about the Mavs front office. To get a full understanding of what this move meant at the time vs. what it means now, we have to look back at everything that happened in that 2013 NBA Draft.

Going into the 2013 draft, the Mavericks had the 13th overall pick. This draft class was viewed as fairly week overall with the Cleveland Cavaliers making one of the biggest draft busts in league history when they selected Anthony Bennett first overall. Bennett played in only 151 career games and was viewed as a surprise pick even on the day of the draft.

The entire draft class consisted of only two NBA All-Stars (Victor Oladipo and Giannis Antetokounmpo) and one player who has not been an All-Star but has made an All-NBA team (Rudy Gobert). Michael Carter-Williams won the Rookie of the Year award but has done very little since that year.

So the Mavs go in with the 13th overall pick. Giannis Antetokounmpo is taken 15th overall for reference. The Mavs elected to trade away the 13th pick for the 16th pick (Lucas Nogueira).There is a chance that perhaps the Mavericks thought Giannis would still be there at 16, but the biggest issue with this whole situation is that Donnie Nelson pushed for the Mavs to take the Greek Freak with the 13th pick.

Mark Cuban denied the pick and traded it instead, something he has vocally regretted in the years since, obviously. To make matters worse, the Mavs ended up trading the 13th pick (Kelly Olynyk) and then the 16th pick (Nogueira), Mike Muscala and Jared Cunningham for the 18th pick (Shane Larkin) and Ricky Ledo.

In other words, this is one of the worst moves the Dallas Mavericks have ever made.

Next: Goodbye, Steve Nash