Dallas Mavericks reveal unique plan for newest draft pick

With the NBA Draft concluding Thursday night after two days, the Dallas Mavericks surprised many when they traded up in the second round to select French forward Melvin Ajinca.

Ajinca offers more depth at the wing position with his 6-foot-8 frame and the ability to play lockdown defense at just 20 years old.

Not only does Ajinca add depth at a position of need for Dallas, but the Mavericks add yet another young prospect to a team that keeps getting younger and younger.

Dallas Mavericks could draft and stash Melvin Ajinca

While Ajinca is a welcomed prospect in Dallas, his time on the court has become a huge talking point among fans. By making this trade to move up in the draft, Dallas knew Ajinca would need time to develop, which is why he may not see the floor during his rookie season in Dallas.

It's unclear whether Ajinca will spend time in the G League with the Texas Legends or if Dallas will choose to draft and stash the young French product. If Dallas chooses to draft and stash Ajinca, this will mean he gets to spend time overseas refining his game. This is something Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison hinted at a possibility of happening when asked what Dallas' plans are with Ajinca.

"The beauty of him being a European player, we have a lot of optionality, and I think both things are on the table. We don’t have a lot of roster spots available…We can kind of figure it out as we go," Harrison said when asked about the possibility of Ajinca continuing to play overseas.

In one season with Saint-Quentin BB who plays at France's top level of pro play, Ajinca Averaged 9.3 points per game while shooting 30.7 percent from behind the arc. Ajinca is known as a 3-and-D wing whose game is very defensive-oriented. On offense, Ajinca struggled from three while shooting a very high volume of shots at 5.3 attempts from behind the arc a game, this will be something Ajinca and the Mavs need to work on if Ajinca wishes to see an NBA court his rookie season.

With Ajinca needing to develop his game before he can clock real minutes at the NBA level, the Mavericks will need to decide on what to do with Ajinca after the NBA's Summer League concludes on July 19. Ajinca will be a prospect Mavs fans keep a close eye on during the four guaranteed games Dallas will play in Las Vegas. Should Ajinca surprise many, he may convince Harrison and the Mavericks' scouting department to spend time in the G League rather than overseas.

If Ajinca pans out and develops his game overseas or with the Legends, he will add serious depth to a Dallas team that is very rich in wings if they can re-sign Derrick Jones Jr. The beauty of adding a player like Ajinca to a squad like Dallas is that the French product has zero pressure to develop into a win-now player for the Mavs.

For more updates on Melvin Ajinca and the Dallas Mavericks' latest off-season moves, stay plugged in as we will have you covered.