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Dallas Mavericks: The 3 best draft day trades in franchise history

By Kohl Rast

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 23: Devin Harris #34 of the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks look on during a game against the Golden State Warriors on March 22, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 23: Devin Harris #34 of the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks look on during a game against the Golden State Warriors on March 22, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – MARCH 23: Devin Harris #34 of the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks look on during a game against the Golden State Warriors on March 22, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – MARCH 23: Devin Harris #34 of the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks look on during a game against the Golden State Warriors on March 22, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Dallas Mavericks have made several draft day trades throughout the franchise history, but three trades in particular stick out over the rest. Here is how they rank.

The Dallas Mavericks franchise began in the year 1980 as an expansion team. In the very first draft for the franchise, the team selected Kiki Vandeweghe, who outright refused to play for the team.

I don’t want to get into the details of how the Mavs went on to play in the Western Conference Finals just a few years later and eventually won a championship, unlike Vandeweghe. Instead, I will focus on the fact that the Mavs did not make a draft day trade that day, instead expecting Kiki to give up on his hold out and come play for the team.

That never happened and the Mavs missed a chance to make a move on one of the biggest days of the year in the NBA. Dallas has since made sure to capitalize on those moments as frequently as possible. Although that opportunity did not really come together until the 1990’s, Dallas has put together some really great trades since then.

Dallas has made three particularly smart deals on draft day in the past 20 years. The details of the trades will likely astound some who are not fully aware of what kind of highway robbery the Mavs have pulled off in the past.

With the 2019 NBA Draft coming up this evening, the Dallas Mavericks could have yet another opportunity to move around in the draft and get their guy. It is looking like it’s going to be a wild day full of big moves and trades and the Mavericks could easily find themselves involved in one.

Here are the three biggest draft day trades in Dallas Mavericks franchise history.

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