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

The NBA Draft is just a few days away, and the Dallas Mavericks have some very important decisions left in front of them, especially if they want to trade their selection.

Dallas has the 10th pick in this year’s draft, but reports have indicated that they plan on trading the pick in an attempt to add more win-now talent to the roster.

That’s a great plan, as the Mavericks cannot have a repeat of this past season when they missed the Play-In Tournament entirely. However, that’s not all the rumor mill has been saying.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Mavericks hope to trade their first-round pick for veteran help while also staying in the first round of this year’s draft.

He stated that they plan on contacting teams in the middle of the first round (but late firsts could be in play as well) in an attempt to move the 10th pick and a large contract.

The idea of Davis Bertans and 10 for John Collins and 15 came up as a potential plan, so trades of that nature could be on the table for the Mavericks come draft night.

If that’s the case, then the Mavericks will still be looking to add a rookie at the draft. Just not one in the top 10, which is a big part of the appeal.

However, in a draft as deep as this one, Dallas should still be able to add some solid talent to the roster late in the first round, and if they find a rookie who can complement Luka Doncic’s skillset, it would be perfect.

With that in mind, here are five late targets who could help Doncic the Mavericks should consider if they trade back in this year’s draft.

3. Kris Murray

Luka Doncic is one of the best superstars in the NBA, but in order for him to be at his best, he needs certain types of players around him. Two skillsets he will always need by his side are three-point shooting and defense.

Iowa product Kris Murray would bring both of those skills to the table, helping the Dallas Mavericks a ton on both sides of the ball with his all-around game.

The twin of Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, Kris does almost all of the same things as his brother, yet he’s projected to be selected in the mid-to-late first round rather than in the top five of the draft.

At 6-foot-8, Murray would give the Mavericks a ton of help at the forward position, which they desperately need at the moment, as they don’t have a ton of depth at the three or four.

In fact, if Murray adapted to the NBA level quickly enough, he could be a solid starting option for Jason Kidd as the season progresses.

While he didn’t shoot the three-ball super well in college, a lot of that had to do with the difficult shots he was forced to take as the Hawkeyes’ top option. In Dallas, all he would have to do is defend and hit his threes.

He’ll be 23 years old by the time the season begins, so some teams may be hesitant to draft him, but for the Mavericks, that sort of experience is exactly what they should be looking for in a rookie, especially one who can help elevate Doncic’s game on both ends of the court.

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.

1. James Nnaji

The aforementioned three-point shooting isn’t something that James Nnaji would bring to the table, but defensively and in other areas of offense, he would thrive alongside Luka Doncic.

At 6-foot-10 and with an insane 7-foot-7 wingspan, Nnaji could potentially provide Doncic with one of the best lob targets he’s ever gotten the chance to play with at the NBA level.

He’s still just 18 years old and didn’t play a ton of minutes for FC Barcelona, where he played this past year, so he’s still a prospect, but the mold of the perfect player is there.

Nnaji is gigantic, and considering Dallas’ center woes, the exact sort of player they need to take a chance on in this year’s draft. If he can develop into the player he appears to be, he’ll be the perfect center to pair with Doncic.

Defensively, Nnaji projects to be a great shot-blocker who will constantly alter shots on the inside. The Mavericks’ defense was rough this past year, but Nnaji looks like the type of player Jason Kidd would love to get his hands on.

Offensively, he has a ton of potential to be a great pick-n-roll player, and he would easily be able to catch lobs from both Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Add in his solid rebounding, and Nnaji seems great.

Right now, Nnaji is projected to be drafted toward the end of the first round or in the very early second, which would be right in Dallas’ potential range should they trade back.

With his defense and lob-threat potential, Nnaji is the perfect big man prospect to put next to Doncic.