Dallas Mavericks: Theo Maledon 2020 NBA Draft profile

2020 NBA Draft: How does Theo Maledon fit on the Dallas Mavericks?

The Dallas Mavericks’ biggest needs are defense and players who compliment Luka and KP. Maledon’s weight may make him a liability on the defensive end and that would disincentivize Dallas from drafting him. Additionally, Maledon does not shoot the 3-pointers consistently or present a massive scoring threat off the ball.

While he may develop these skills in the future, it would be difficult to justify drafting Maledon in the first round given his current skill set.

The Mavericks also need a playmaker off the bench to help out Doncic and give him rests during games. While Maledon’s passing ability will be good enough to lead a bench unit, Jalen Brunson still brings more to the table. The Mavs will be more likely to use their picks on 3-and-D wings or players with the ability to make a more immediate impact.

Maledon may end up being a good NBA player, but with the Mavericks’ goals and needs in mind, taking him does not make the most sense. Sometimes drafting strictly based on need can be a mistake, but Maledon’s talent is not impressive enough to justify overlooking the fit.

The Dallas Mavericks’ best two players are 25 and younger, but the team is already thinking about competing for a championship. Using the 18th or 31st pick on Maledon does not make the sense. He is likely to fall between 25 and 35 in the 2020 NBA Draft, but do not count on the Mavs selecting him.