Mavericks' interest in combine star presents dangerous draft trade scenario

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Dallas Mavericks have interest in Cameron Carr. He is projected to go in the top 20 of this year's draft, but could go even higher after an impressive NBA Combine in Chicago. Despite Carr's incredible combine and natural potential fit on the Mavs at shooting guard next to Kyrie Irving, with where Dallas stands with the ninth pick, it may make the most sense to trade down for him rather than selecting him outright at nine.

The risks that come with drafting Cameron Carr

Even if Dallas trades down to select Carr while acquiring additional assets, this move comes with some serious risks. The Mavericks need to find a star to pair with Cooper Flagg, and with Carr set to turn 22 years old about a month into his rookie season, he doesn't carry the same upside as some of the other players who are poised to go in the top 20. He's definitely going to be on the older side of players who will be selected in the first round, and Dallas should look to get younger around Flagg.

His first two seasons in college were also underwhelming, as he only played 18 games combined for the Tennessee Volunteers and left the team in the middle of his sophomore season. He averaged just 2.3 points per game as a Volunteer. Carr was a non-factor before joining the Bears, and his late rise is a serious concern for a team entering a new era.

The Mavericks need another star badly, and even with Carr's impressive combine, his ceiling isn't as high as it needs to be.

Carr lit it up at the NBA Draft Combine

Carr was one of the biggest risers at the combine, posting a 38-inch standing vertical and 42.5-inch maximum vertical leap after recording a massive 7-foot-0.75 wingspan the day prior. His length and leaping ability caught the eyes of NBA personnel early, but his impressive combine didn't stop there.

The former Baylor Bear elected to participate in a scrimmage, unlike most other players projected to be selected in the first round, and he quickly proved that he's much more than a good leaper. He put up 30 points while shooting 6-12 from three in this scrimmage, and he was clearly the best player in the scrimmage.

Carr's rise was impossible to ignore for someone with boots on the ground at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago all week, but Dallas' interest in him could come with complications. Drafting him at nine and passing on someone like Brayden Burries, Mikel Brown Jr., or Kingston Flemings could cause a major uproar among the fan base. Mavs fans want the team to draft a point guard, and selecting a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who has limited upside may not go down well among MFFLs.

Why Carr isn't a dream pick for Dallas

This makes a trade-down much more logical, but as previously mentioned, even this scenario is risky. The Mavericks have to make serious strides if they want to be a contender in the West, and while Carr looks like he'll be a good NBA starter, the star potential is limited.

Trading back to select a player with limited star upside and passing up on some of the best point guards in the draft would be a potential nightmare after seeing how bad the Mavericks looked without Irving in the backcourt last season. Still, Dallas' reported interest in Carr, combined with Masai Ujiri's tendency to draft lengthy wings, makes him a potential prospect that could be a Maverick this time next month.

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