22 Stars the Dallas Mavericks missed drafting by a single pick

11. Charles Oakley

The Dallas Mavericks missing on a couple of key players during the 1980s was a common occurrence, and although Detlef Schrempf had a productive NBA career, the Mavs were a pick away from drafting one of the most recognizable big men of that era.

Dallas drafted Schrempf with the No. 8 overall pick, but they could have taken Charles Oakley out of Virginia Union University, as he was selected with the No. 9 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his draft rights were traded to the Chicago Bulls. Having Oakley as part of Dallas' core could have helped them tremendously in this era, and he took the league by storm almost immediately.

During Oakley's rookie year, he averaged 9.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the field. He started his career off strong, and his most well-known days in the league came as a member of the New York Knicks.

Oakley played 10 seasons for the Knicks, and he was a fan favorite while he was there. He was known for his rebounding, toughness, and defense, and Knicks fans loved his style of play. Oakley was never afraid to stand up for his teammates, and he helped shape the identity of the Knicks during the years he played there.

Oakley retired in 2004, and he ended up with one All-Star Game appearance and two All-Defense Team appearances.