Dallas Mavericks: Kyle Guy could be this year’s Jalen Brunson

The Dallas Mavericks had one of the big draft steals in the 2018 NBA Draft when they got Jalen Brunson with the 33rd overall pick. Could Kyle Guy be a similar draft steal this year?

When the Dallas Mavericks made their first pick of the second round, they couldn’t believe that Jalen Brunson was still on the board. After one of the most impressive collegiate careers we have ever seen, including being a two-time NCAA Champion and the 2018 National College Player of the Year, he was passed on 32 times in the draft.

When the Mavs were on the clock, I’m sure it seemed like a no brainer for the team. Even though they had a number of guards already, it is hard to find a player that understands the game and winning at the highest level better than Brunson (and Luka Doncic for that matter) did.

This was even more evident during the season when Brunson became a key part of the Mavs rotation and even started in 38 games. Brunson averaged 9.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game in just under 22 minutes of action, giving him a real shot at landing in the NBA All-Rookie 2nd team. He didn’t make it, but he did have a case.

Brunson really was a great piece added to this team and he did so under the radar of so many scouts who felt he didn’t have what it took to compete in the NBA as well as the 32 players selected ahead of him. There is one player that strikes me as getting similar treatment from this year’s draft class and his name is Kyle Guy.

Now, obviously I am a big Kyle Guy fan as this is the third or fourth time I have mentioned him as a potential Mavs target. I will continue to stand by that, but that is not the point of this piece. This is about seeing the similarities between Guy and Brunson.

Guy was the NCAA Final Four MVP thanks to his incredible play in the big tournament. He led the best team in the nation to the title, just like Brunson did with Villanova. He is a pretty small guard that does everything pretty well, including defense, shooting, attacking and passing the ball. Guy’s resume was not quite as immaculate as Brunson’s, but he also played a year less in college.

On the other side of things, Guy was maybe the best clutch shooter in the NCAA tournament. Any big moment for Virginia was accompanied by the ball in Guy’s hands and he delivered time and time again. Brunson was more reliable overall, but Guy brings a different element in late game situations.

The part about this comparison that really sticks out to me is that both players have been criminally overlooked by scouts. Guy has been an amazing shooter and overall player for the past two years and even showed that he is ready for the biggest stage this year. Brunson did the exact same thing in Villanova. And yet, both will be 2nd round picks.

I would love to see the Dallas Mavericks draft Kyle Guy, but I think it is more important to recognize that whoever does end up getting Guy is getting a player that is ready to make an impact.