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

Heading into the 2024 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks aren't looking to hit a home run with their 58th pick considering how hard it is to find talent at the tail end of the draft.

However, the Mavericks have proven over the last few years that their front office has the ability to take the draft seriously and use it as a proficient avenue for improvement, so it appears that Dallas' days of taking the draft for granted are over after trading into the draft in two consecutive seasons.

The Mavericks have more pressing concerns this offseason than a draft class that has been labeled as weak by most analysts, especially since Dallas only has the last pick in the draft to their name at the moment. This isn't to say that the Mavericks won't be addressing more serious matters at the draft though, as they could very well make a huge trade over the new two-day draft process beginning on Wednesday, June 26 considering the rumors surrounding Tim Hardaway Jr.

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

Even if Dallas doesn't do something franchise-altering in the next few days, there is still a clear opportunity for them to improve within the margins, as there have been many valuable second round draft picks in the NBA in recent years. Dallas could find a player in the second round that pushes them over the championship hump as crazy as it sounds, even if that is far more of a shot in the dark than a first round selection would be.

The Mavericks will be intentional on improving in all facets this offseason as they have over the last handful of seasons since President of Basketball Operations Nico Harrison arrived to Dallas in the summer of 2021, so we must do our due diligence with this draft class since Dallas has a pick, even if the Mavericks end up trading it.

With that being said, here are 10 under-the-radar players for the Mavericks to target in the 2024 NBA Draft.

11. Honorable Mention: Teafale Lenard Jr. (Texas Legends)

Teafale Laenard Jr. is an intriguing prospect to monitor for the Dallas Mavericks in this year's NBA Draft, as Lenard Jr. played for Dallas' G-League affiliate team in the Texas Legends this past season. Lenard Jr. is a wiry 6-foot-8 prospect with insane athleticism from the wing position, but he lacks some of the essential intangibles to play at the NBA level right now.

Lenard Jr. is only 175 pounds, and will need to add strength to be able to drive and defend against NBA caliber players, but he looked like he improved in this aspect marginally in the G-League compared to his time at Middle Tennessee State. Lenard Jr. only shot 31.6 percent on 3-pointers for the Legends this past season, but he has a fluid shooting motion and is a player to keep tabs on in this draft for the Mavericks since he was a part of their farm system.

10. Oso Ighodaro (Marquette)

While the Dallas Mavericks don't particularly need a center in the draft for once, Oso Ighodaro is a name worth mentioning for the Mavericks with their 58th slated pick in this year's draft. Ighodaro is a springy center with an NBA-ready body at 6-foot-11 and 235 pounds, equipped with a solid push-shot and good defensive attributes as well.

Ighodaro was running mates with Dallas forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper for a few seasons at Marquette, so he would theoretically have an easy transition coming to Dallas if the Mavericks selected him in this year's draft. Ighodaro still has quite a bit of things to polish in his game though, as any prospect selecting in Dallas' range likely will to his credit.

Ighodaro is a solid rim protector with good hands who can defend well in space for his size, but he can be very indecisive offensively with the ball in his hands at times, and doesn't have elite-level timing and awareness in the pick-and-roll. He also isn't a floor spacing big, as he never made a 3-ball in his collegiate career.

Ighodaro may be one of the only bigs in the draft that has flashed creation ability and decent passing, something that Dallas would covet when you consider his ties to Prosper, but he's certainly not the best player in Dallas' range or at a position of need.

Ighodaro has been mocked to Dallas before, and would be a third big.

9. Tristen Newton (UConn)

If the Mavericks are looking for a bonafide three-level scorer and playmaker at this stage of the draft, then Tristen Newton may be Dallas' best bet if he's available once the last pick rolls around. Newton spearheaded the University of Connecticut's offensive attack as their primary ball handler, as he developed a terrific two-man game with fellow teammate and expected 2024 NBA Draft selection Donovan Clingan in their time together.

Newton only shot 32.1 percent from outside in his senior season at UConn, but the 6-foot-5 guard has proven shooting mechanics that project well at the next level if he can speed up his release some, and part of the reason Newton's shooting efficiency may have dipped off in his senior season can be attributed to him taking a more substantial role offensively for the Huskies.

Newton averaged 15.1 points and 6.2 assists for the Huskies in his senior season, as he showcased an extremely high IQ on the offensive end with his ability to read defenses and get to his spots in the mid-range. Newton has a plus-size wingspan and defends well for a guard, but he's not an elite-level athlete and could certainly benefit by adding some more functional strength, so he isn't as polished of a prospect as one could hope for when you take into consideration that he's already 23-years-old.

However, Newton's touch inside the paint and ability to will himself to his spots can't be underrated, and adding more quickness and ball-handling ability to his game could certainly help him stick at the NBA level. With as good of a playmaker and catch-and-shoot shooter as Newton is, think of a mix of a less efficient Brandin Podziemski and Delon Wright when looking for NBA player comparisons for Newton.

8. Pelle Larsson (Arizona)

Pelle Larsson would be a sneaky good pickup for the Dallas Mavericks if he falls to them with the 58th pick in this year’s NBA Draft. At 6-foot-6, Larsson is an elite shooter with very good relocation instincts. Larsson shot 42.6 percent from 3-point range in his senior season at the University of Arizona, as he proved he could shoot a highly efficient percentage on 3-pointers, despite a diverse shot diet that featured many contested 3-point attempts.

Larsson is decent defender, as he occasionally struggles in one-on-one scenarios due to his lack of foot-speed, but is a solid recovery agent with his jumping ability, his all-out effort, and timely off-ball defense. Larsson isn’t someone that you are comfortable with running your offense at the NBA level, but he has a quick first step offensively and can blow by defenders routinely when attacking off of closeouts. He’s also a fairly strong finisher in the paint, and he isn’t afraid to take a pull-up two in the right scenario.

Larsson has a good feel for the game as well from a facilitating standpoint, as he averaged 3.7 assists per game from the wing position in his senior year. Larsson doesn’t project to be as dynamic of a shot creator or playmaker at the NBA level, but he’s by no means a one dimensional player either. Larsson would be a great pick for the Mavs at the last pick in the draft, as he’s a polished sniper and has some defensive upside, despite already being 23-years-old.

7. Jaylen Wells (Washington State)

Jaylen Wells is a really interesting prospect that may or may not see his name called once the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft ends on Thursday evening. Wells is an extremely efficient 3-point shooter, as he cashed in on 41.7 percent of his attempts for Washington State last season, but he’s relatively limited outside of his elite catch-and-shoot game.

At 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, Wells is quick and a decent athlete but lacks coordination and direction on his dribble-drives and could definitely work on becoming a stronger finisher. His athletic tools make him a decent recovery defender, but he’ll need to add strength to become a premiere 3-and-D wing. Wells has decent touch on his floater, but overall he lacks an in-between game and will likely be a limited shot creator at the next level.

However, there aren’t many versatile 3-and-D wings at this stage in the draft, so Wells may be the play at the 58th pick for the Mavericks if they want a surefire catch-and-shoot sniper with defensive upside.

Wells plays with a swagger to his game, showing that he’s one of the more confident prospects in this draft, especially since he spent the last three seasons in college. Wells would give Dallas reliability from outside if he panned out as a prospect, but the other limitations on his game could very well derail him from carving out an NBA career.

6. Melvin Ajinca (Saint Quentin; France)

Melvin Ajinca may not be the top French prospect in this draft class, but he’d be an interesting find for this Mavericks team if he fell to them with the last pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Ajinca profiles as a 3-and-D wing, but he strays a little further from that label then some may hope for.

Ajinca has been a streaky 3-point shooter throughout his career, as he shot 39.4 percent from beyond the arc for Saint Quentin in the 2022-23 season, but only 31 percent this past season. Ajinca has an NBA-ready body at 6-foot-8 and 215 pounds, and he maintains a solid frame whilst still having really good length.

This has been extremely advantageous for Ajinca as an on and off-ball defender, as his strength and athleticism help him guard 2-4 at a high clip. He does occasionally struggle with quicker guards though, and doesn’t have so much athleticism at his size that he can consistently guard big-men.

Ajinca has proven that he can use his length and athleticism to get to the rim and finish through contact, and he’ll occasionally take a pull-up jumper off of attacking  a closeout, but he settled for 3-pointers far too often for Saint Quentin last season and will need to improve his shot selection.

Ajinca’s athleticism makes him a great cog in transition as well, and he still has quite a bit of room to grow at only 20-years-old. Ajinca is far from the most polished prospect in this draft, but Dallas wouldn’t mind taking a chance on him if he fell into their lap at pick 58.

5. Ajay Mitchell (UC Santa Barbara)

Ajay Mitchell is a score-first guard out of the University of California Santa Barbara, as the 22-year-old Belgium native averaged 20 points and 4 assists per game for the Gauchos last season. Mitchell is a fierce downhill attacker, and he has extremely good footwork and finesse within the painted area.

Mitchell uses his length at 6-foot-5 well as an on-ball defender and as a finisher on offense, but the combo guard lacks enough athleticism to be considered elite in either of those categories. Mitchell struggled as an off-ball defender last season at times, and his lack of speed and verticality hurt his ability to create space to make plays as well.

However, Mitchell is one of the more tried and true three-level scorers in this draft class, and if his career-best 50.4/39.3/85.8 shooting splits carry over from Bug West competition to the NBA, he could carve himself out a very nice professional career. Mitchell shot the ball from beyond-the-arc last season, but there are questions about his 3-point consistency heading into the NBA, as his junior season at UCSB was far and away his best shooting season of his collegiate career.

Mitchell may be one of the safest bets if Dallas is looking to add another bucket-getter into their lineup, as he has a Jalen Brunson-esque ability to play off two feet with his left hand, but his limitations defensively aren’t ideal for his size and the competition level he played against in the Big West doesn’t compare to the NBA whatsoever.

4. Cam Spencer (UConn)

Cam Spencer is one of the more savvy and experienced guards in this draft, as the 24-year-old guard is coming off of his fifth season of college basketball, having just won a national championship with the UConn Huskies. Spencer is a 3-point sniper, perhaps one of the best shooters in the 2024 draft class that features a lot of solid shooters.

Spencer can shoot off of dribble-hand-off sets as well as on the move which makes him one of the more dynamic shooters in this draft class, and he has good instincts as a pick-and-roll ball handler.

However, Spencer isn’t a dynamic scorer by any stretch of the imagination, as he struggles to create good looks and facilitate at a high clip when challenged by lengthier and quicker defenders. He also isn’t the best on-ball defender, though he does play with a solid competitive edge to him and doesn’t give up on plays.

At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Spencer plays like and is built similarly to JJ Redick, but whether he carves out a career of similar nature to Redick’s career will largely hinge on if he can be a consistent enough shooter to override the deficiencies in the other aspects of his game. Spencer could serve to give the Mavericks some much needed shooting assurance if they selected him, but he’s possibly even a worser athlete than the likes of Redick was, so it remains to be seen if his offense can keep him on an NBA court.

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.

2. Trentyn Flowers (Adelaide 36ers; NBL)

Trentyn Flowers may be one of the biggest wildcards in this draft class, but with the 58th pick in this year’s draft, the Dallas Mavericks could definitely afford to take a chance on the 19-year-old from the NBL’s Adelaide 36ers. Flowers averaged just 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game for the 36ers last season, but he had a fairly minimal role for the squad as he played in only 18 games and averaged just under 13 minutes per game.

Flowers is a tantalizing athlete at 6-foot-8 and 205 pounds, as he posted a 42-inch max vertical jump at the NBA combine this past May. This was evident on the court with the 36ers last season as well, as Flowers routinely played above the rim on both ends. While Flowers has a fairly average wingspan, his athleticism and strength compensate on defense for what he lacks length wise, but he will need to show more consistent effort at the NBA level.

Flowers’ ability to get downhill led to some solid playmaking opportunities with the 36ers last season, but he still has a ways to go in terms of developing his passing and court vision. While on relatively low volume, Flowers shot 42.1 percent from outside for the 36ers last season and showcased a very comfortable shooting stroke.

Flowers’ intangibles should translate well to the NBA, and there aren’t many 6-foot-8 wings with ball handling ability available toward the second round, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Dallas took a chance on him if he slips to the end of the draft. Flowers is by no means a player who projects to certainly pan out, but if he makes a few adjustments within his game, he could become one of the more versatile. wings in the league in the coming years.

1. Bronny James (USC)

While it almost seems like a done deal that the Los Angeles Lakers will be selecting Bronny James with the 55th overall pick in the year’s NBA Draft if he falls to them, the Dallas Mavericks would love the opportunity to bring LeBron James’ eldest son to Dallas if he fell to the last pick in the draft.

The rumors of LeBron James coming to the Dallas Mavericks to team up with former teammate Kyrie Irving and superstar Luka Doncic would be running rampant if Bronny James somehow fell to Dallas in the draft, though we must reiterate that seems highly unlikely. Beyond talking about his father, Bronny James is a very interesting prospect.

He suffered cardiac arrest last summer which led to him missing a decent chunk of the season for USC last year, as the 6-foot-2 and 210 pound guard averaged a mere 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 25 contests with the Trojans last season. James has an NBA-ready body and showcased an impressive 40.5-inch max vertical at the NBA Combine last month, but his inconsistencies in college beg the question of if he’s ready to play at the highest level or not yet.

James shot the ball poorly at USC, despite looking to have improved as a spot-up shooter at the combine, as the freshman had shooting splits of 36.6/26.7/67.6 in his lone collegiate season. James has the strength, athleticism, and wingspan to be really good defender at the guard position, but he needs to play with a little more consistent tenacity to be considered an elite defender.

He’s a good finisher in transition, but hasn’t shown the comfortability that you’d hope for in terms of being able to run and offense and consistently make plays off-the-dribble in a half-court setting. James shows a lot of promise as a prospect when you take into consideration how elite of a prospect he was in high school, and his circumstances were far from ideal in his freshman season at USC, but he would have a lot to prove to become a consistent part of Dallas’ rotation if the Mavericks selected him in the draft, though the ancillary benefits of drafting him are obvious.

For more on the Dallas Mavericks during the 2024 NBA Draft, stay tuned as we will have you covered.