Mavericks' dream Cooper Flagg co-star target is just crazy enough to work

With the NBA Draft around the corner and just one regular-season game remaining on the Dallas Mavericks' schedule, all focus has shifted to players the team may be targeting in the draft. While there are many great prospects, Darius Acuff Jr. continues to be a name fans are buzzing about, even with his major defensive concerns.

While many fans are turned off by the fact that Acuff Jr. struggled on defense at the collegiate level, Dallas has the defensive squad, headed by Cooper Flagg, to make him look like an above-average defender. This all hinges on the health of the Mavericks heading into a long regular season, but with Flagg, Dereck Lively II, and Max Christie or Naji Marshall at the other wing spot, Dallas' defense will be able to cover up Acuff Jr.'s defensive concerns.

Mavericks can hide Darius Acuff Jr.'s biggest flaw

With Kentucky and Arkansas, John Calipari has built a career on developing talented guards who dominate in the NBA. Acuff Jr. is Calipari's latest product, and Dallas would be out of their mind to pass up on the potential star.

At the University of Arkansas, Acuff Jr. dazzled as a freshman, averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game while shooting a 48.4 percent clip from the field. Acuff Jr. can score in bunches, and that was evident through the Razorbacks' SEC Championship run and March Madness; however, one thing remains a constant concern for Acuff Jr., and that's his defense.

Acuff Jr.'s size at 6-foot-3 and his inability to stay in front of ball handlers are the only reasons he isn't being talked about as a top-three pick, but even so, if he is in the Mavericks' draft range, the team should snag him. With a back line of Flagg, Lively II, and one of Christie, Marshall, or P.J. Washington, Dallas can build a scary defensive lineup while still having the offensive punch Acuff Jr. creates.

The Mavericks desperately need players who can draw double teams. With a healthy Kyrie Irving, Acuff Jr., and a year-two Flagg, Dallas may have just enough offensive firepower to become a middle-of-the-pack squad. Defense shouldn't be a quality the Mavericks look over, but with the names Dallas can put on the floor each night when healthy, there shouldn't be any concerns about Acuff Jr.'s fit on either side of the ball.

Mavericks crave what Acuff Jr. brings

Even if the Mavericks are greatly concerned about Acuff Jr.'s lack of awareness on the defensive end, he might be the best all-around offensive product in this year's draft. At his floor, Acuff Jr. can still dictate double-teams and force the defense to react to his shifty moves, while being able to shoot the ball at a lights-out clip from anywhere on the floor.

With the Mavericks still needing shooting around Flagg, Acuff Jr. may be the perfect draft-night target, especially surrounded by a healthy starting unit. With the Mavericks currently projected to land the sixth pick, Acuff Jr. can go from anywhere in the range of four to ten, which is why he may be the perfect target for the Mavericks to land.