Mavericks NBA Draft: 3 late targets to help Luka Doncic if Mavs trade back

2. Dariq Whitehead

Once again, the two skills that will always be needed alongside Luka Doncic are defense and three-point shooting. Any rookie that the Dallas Mavericks draft should be adept at one (or both) of those talents.

Just like Kris Murray, Dariq Whitehead would bring both of those to the table, just at a slightly different position than the Iowa product. Instead, Whitehead is a 6-foot-6 wing out of Duke.

Dallas also needs help at the wing, so adding a player like Whitehead would be extremely beneficial, as he would also help them on both sides of the ball.

In his one season with the Blue Devils, Whitehead showed some elite shooting potential, nailing 42.9% of his three-point shots on 3.5 attempts per contest. This included 45.3% of his spot-up threes, per The Ringer’s draft guide.

Whitehead’s athleticism helps him on the defensive side of the ball, as does his 6-foot-10 wingspan. This allows him to be a menace in passing lanes, affecting the game well off the ball.

After spending just one year in college, Whitehead will be 19 years old for the entirety of his first season in the league, so there’s a chance the Mavericks look to add a more seasoned rookie.

However, if they believe in him as a shooter and defender, Whitehead is the exact type of player who could help Doncic and the Mavericks.