Mavericks predicted to draft 7-foot-3 beast who fills a longtime hole

The Dallas Mavericks have needed a center who can stretch the floor and knock down threes for years, and CBS Sports' Adam Finkelstein predicted that the Mavericks are going to address this need in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. With Dallas' second pick in the first round, the 30th pick they acquired as part of the Anthony Davis trade, he has the Mavericks selecting Luigi Suigo.

Standing at 7-foot-3 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Suigo has some of the best size in the draft along with Michigan's Aday Mara. He's a beast on both ends of the floor, and the Mavericks' defensive identity would heighten even more if they bring in this stout rim protector.

Suigo projects to be a respectable 3-point shooter at 7-foot-3

The 19-year-old Italian big man averaged 8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game for Mega while shooting 56.4 percent from the field last season. He is a good finisher around the bucket and screen-setter, but what makes him such an interesting target for Dallas is his ability to stretch the floor.

While he shot 26.7 percent from three last season in the ABA, there is plenty of reason to believe that he can grow into a reliable shooter at the NBA level. His release looks effortless, and he's shooting these shots with confidence. Having the confidence to let threes fly is half the battle for shooters, and he doesn't show reluctance to shoot open threes.

Suigo can help his team in pick-and-pop scenarios, as well as when he's open on the perimeter for catch-and-shoot opportunities. His shooting mechanics are fluid enough for Dallas to take a swing on him.

His free-throw shooting numbers also give a reason for optimism, as he shot 76.2 percent from the charity stripe last season. He only missed five free throws in 16 games, and his soft touch should give Mavericks fans faith that he could develop into a floor spacer one day. Dallas needs one of these big men desperately as they look to build around Cooper Flagg, as they were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA last season.

Even before Maxi Kleber left as part of the Luka Doncic trade, the Mavs have struggled to find a long-term stretch big who can stay healthy and provide consistency. Marvin Bagley III was a breath of fresh air for the 22 games he played in Dallas last season, as he made 0.7 threes per game, but he's set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer. While he fit like a glove in Dallas, he's not necessarily on Flagg's timeline and may want to sign with a contender.

Suigo would be a great change of pace compared to Lively II and Gafford

Dallas may need to look elsewhere for a big man to back up Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, especially since Bagley III is due for a pay raise, and Suigo would be an incredible value pick to cap off the first round.

Gafford and Lively II are both strictly rim rollers who have combined for three total 3-point attempts over 531 regular-season games — not a good sign from the team's two-headed monster inside. Defenses can play drop coverage more often than not when either of those bigs is on the floor, and neither player is a threat in the pick-and-pop.

Fans have been hopeful that Lively II would expand his game beyond the arc, but this may be more of a pipe dream than a reality. He is a 57.9-percent free-throw shooter for his career, which could be a harmful indication that he won't ever be a stretch big. Suigo, on the other hand, would help bring a different feel to the Mavs' offense off the bench.

He would command the attention of the defense when he catches the ball outside, forcing defenders to at least respect his jumper. This would pull the opponent's rim protector away from the paint, allowing cleaner driving lanes for Cooper Flagg and company when Gafford and Lively II are on the bench.

Drafting a 7-foot-3 teenage big man who has a completely different playstyle from Dallas' other two big men would be an excellent move by Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz in their first NBA Draft for the Mavs, and Suigo would be a great addition to a roster that needs some shaking up.

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