Dallas Mavericks select Luke Kennard in 2017 NBA Redraft

The Dallas Mavericks switched it up in the 2017 NBA Redraft by taking Luke Kennard out of Duke. Find out why he is an improved fit in Dallas.

The Dallas Mavericks were just starting their rebuild in 2017. It was the first year of missing out on the playoffs since 2013 and just the second time since 2000. Dirk Nowitzki was slowing down, and the Mavs needed to tear it down.

The Mavericks had the ninth overall pick in 2017. They wanted a point guard and primary playmaker. There were five names at the top. The Mavs were hoping one fell. Ultimately, they selected Dennis Smith Jr. He was only in Dallas for a season and a half before being dealt in the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

Would the Dallas Mavericks take Smith Jr. if they had a second chance now? FanSided decided to do a 2017 NBA Redraft. It is being rolled out this month. Fans can see all the picks so far here.

Mavs take Kennard

The Mavericks pivoted to Luke Kennard out of Duke. He was actually the 12th pick by the Pistons. Kennard may not seem like the perfect fit. The Mavs do not have Luka Doncic yet. They need a ball-handler.

Not so fast, though. Kennard is better than advertised in this area. The Pistons needed playmaking this season, so he took over a bit. Kennard averaged 4.1 assists and just 1.5 turnovers per game. It is a small 28 game because he dealt with a knee injury, but the 23-year-old is a capable secondary creator.

Kennard is also a fantastic floor spacer. He connected on 40.2 percent over his 647 career 3-point attempts. Kennard averaged 15.8 points per game this season too. The former Blue Devils wing is capable of filling that Tim Hardaway Jr. role.

Taking him in 2017 does not stop the Mavericks from getting Luka. Drafting Kennard likely means they have a poor record the following season and have a high pick to draft or trade for Doncic.

It is always fun and interesting to go back and examine draft classes. The Mavericks made a bit of a mistake in 2017, but it has all worked out. They now have an exciting young core that should have them in the playoffs for the next decade-plus. Stay tuned to see if the Mavs can make that championship push in the near future.