Mavericks' embarrassing guard defense has a sleeper answer at the NBA Combine

The Dallas Mavericks need more point-of-attack defense badly if they want to build a contender around Cooper Flagg, and Houston's Emanuel Sharp is proving that he would be an excellent low-risk, high-reward option for them through his performance at the NBA Combine. He may not be the biggest name or the most physically daunting, but he does all of the little things and is a relentless worker.

The former Houston Cougar finished with a team-high 17 points to go along with two steals and a block in his first scrimmage at the combine on Wednesday, all while posting a +17 plus-minus in Team Carpenter's win over Team Adams. His 3-and-D mindset was on full display for scouts, executives, and media in attendance, and the way he played in this game is exactly what the Mavericks are missing.

The Mavericks had no answer for guards last season

Last season, Dallas didn't have anyone who could defend guards at an elite level. Opposing star guards would destroy the Mavericks, and they didn't have a bona fide backcourt defensive stopper.

Jamal Murray had 53 against them. Darius Garland and James Harden dropped 41. Anthony Edwards and Stephon Castle poured in 40. The worst part? Dallas lost all of these games.

A team that was supposed to be built on defense was embarrassingly getting torched by the league's elite guards, and they provided little to no resistance. The Mavericks preached "defense wins championships" all offseason long, and they turned around and went 26-56.

This has to change heading into next season, especially with Kyrie Irving returning to the floor, and Sharp would be an excellent solution for a team looking for answers.

On Wednesday, he played hard-nosed defense, showed off his deep range from beyond the arc by draining three 3-pointers, and played with toughness throughout. He's a straight-up winner, just like Flagg, and would give the Mavericks what they need most. They were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA and had a below-average defense. Sharp is an expert in both of those areas.

On top of Sharp's evident 3-and-D specialty, he brings great character. Dallas has made it clear that culture is extremely important to them as they enter this new era, and Sharp puts his team first, all while doing whatever it takes to get a win.

Those are priceless qualities for someone who will likely fall to the second round.

Dallas could explore drafting him with the No. 46 overall pick, and if they take him, they already have an ideal roster spot waiting for him. The Mavericks still have an open two-way spot, and this seems like the most practical role for someone like Sharp.

Dallas already has a great system in place to maximize his potential

He could be active for up to 50 games for the Mavericks while spending time with the Texas Legends as well, and Dallas easing him into a full-time role would be massive for him. They've done an incredible job of turning two-way players into rotation guys, and this is obviously a goal of someone like Sharp. All of these players want to sign guaranteed contracts, and with the Mavericks' track record of developing young players, Sharp would have a great chance to do this.

He just averaged 15.5 points and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 37.2 percent from three on high volume as a senior at Houston, and he looks like an NBA role player at the very least. Standing at 6-foot-2.75 barefoot and weighing 208 pounds, he has the exact stocky build Dallas is lacking at the point of attack. His effort is the cherry on top.

Former Houston teammate Milos Uzan called him the "best perimeter defender in the country" during an interview yesterday, and the fact that he played four years under Kelvin Sampson makes the opportunity for the Mavericks to draft him even more promising. Sampson continuously produces some of the toughest backcourt defenders in the draft, and the culture that he has built there is one of a kind.

He would be a special player in Dallas, and with Jason Kidd's coaching, he'd be in a great position to turn into a defensive-minded monster who can make open shots. Shooting and defense are premiums in today's NBA, and the Mavericks would be drafting a proven winner and an A+ locker room guy if they take Sharp.

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