10 Under-the-radar players for Dallas Mavericks to target in 2024 NBA Draft

3. Jalen Bridges (Baylor)

If the Mavericks wish to make a selection right in their backyard with the 58th pick in this year’s NBA Draft, then Baylor wing Jalen Bridges wouldn’t be a bad choice whatsoever. Bridges has solid size at 6-foot-8 and 213 pounds, and while he could serve to put on a little more muscle at the next level, he has good foot speed and was a very stout defender in one-on-one situations in college.

Bridges shot the 3-pointer at a 41 percent clip in his senior season at Baylor as well, proving that he is one of the best catch-and-shoot shooters in this class. Bridges is fairly dynamic when attacking closeouts off the catch as well, and has a good feel for making timely cuts within the flow of the offense. Bridges is a decent athlete, but he’s not elite by any means, something that hinders his dynamism when driving to the paint.

He’s a solid pull-up shooter with a decent bag at the rim, and he rebounds pretty well for a wing despite his athletic limitations.

Bridges is a purebred 3-and-D wing who hits on all the little intangibles, but he’s a limited ball handler in the halfcourt and lacks enough skill and athleticism to be relied upon for offensive creation in one-on-one scenarios. At 23-years-old, Bridges is one of the older prospects in this draft class, but if he can fill out his frame and develop athletically in an NBA program, there might be some untapped potential within his game.