Dallas Mavericks 2020 NBA Draft prospect profile: Tyler Bey

Dallas Mavericks 2020 NBA Draft prospect profile: Tyler Bey

The Dallas Mavericks have needed help on the wing for a long time. Tim Hardaway Jr. is coming off an excellent first full season in Dallas after being acquired in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. The Mavs may have a nice thing going with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. They still have reason to be excited about Antonious Cleveland, but witnessed Dorian Finney-Smith being overmatched in the playoffs against the Clippers.

Enter Tyler Bey. It is unknown if he will be available when the Mavs pick, but they do some maneuvering if they are sold on him.

At 6’7, the 22-year-old out of Colorado would give the Mavericks the length on the wing they need and so often lacked when going to their bench last year. As valuable as Seth Curry is to this team, he simply can’t be asked to be a consistent defender with his rather unimposing frame.

Dallas Mavericks draft profile on Tyler Bey

Bey is not the world’s most gifted offensive player. He only made 18 3-pointers throughout his three-year college career and has a bit of an awkward shooting form, but Mavs coach Rick Carlisle has proven time and again that he can make some of the league’s worst shooters at least a serviceable outside threat.

Bey doesn’t have too strong a handle either. He can’t yet be relied on to create his own shot and has to be hidden on offense consistently.

Bey has somewhat of a repertoire in the post but doesn’t get too many opportunities to show it. His offensive game is comparable to Kidd Gilchrist’s, which is hardly exciting. The Mavericks have so much offense to go around that having a couple of projects at the end of their bench is not too concerning. Bey’s true impact will come on the defensive end.

Bey has tremendous lateral quickness, which is crucial to being an adequate defender in this NBA. His foot speed allows him to switch onto big men, and he is one of the more versatile defenders in the Pac-12.

The 6’7 forward has tremendous leaping ability as well, which can help secure a defensive stop with a critical rebound. Essentially, he’s very similar to the initial returns on investment the Mavericks received from Justin Anderson when they drafted him in the first round in 2015.

Maverick fans might be underwhelmed by the team hanging on to their draft pick after weeks of swirling rumors, but adding a defensive stopper and premium athlete like Bey is far from a bad thing. Having extra depth in the frontcourt will also be useful in the event Kristaps Porzingis misses more time than already expected.

The Dallas Mavericks have plenty of options at number 18, but Tyler Bey might be the savviest move for a team inching closer to a championship core.