The reconstruction has begun. And for the first time in a decade, I think the Mavs actually drafted a player who will see regular playing time and provide positives to help them reach the playoffs.
Dallas has holes entering a fascinating summer. They’ll take free-agent swings at big men DeAndre Jordan and LaMarcus Aldridge. But the most pressing need is in the backcourt, where it must replace Rajon Rondo and Monta Ellis.
That process began last night in the NBA Draft as the Mavs used their 21st overall pick on versatile Virginia guard Justin Anderson. At 6-foot-6, 230 pounds and with elite athleticism and a consistent 3-pointer, the Mavs envision him as better version of Jae Crowder, who they drafted in 2012 but sent to the Celtics in the Rondo trade. Anderson’s quickness and strength allowed him to defend guards on the perimeter and also forwards in the paint, heading a Cavaliers’ team that for the past two years was the stingiest defense in college basketball.
The Mavs thought they had the firepower to compete in the West last season, but with the departures of Crowder and Shawn Marion they sorely missed a defensive stopper against the Rockets in their first-round playoff loss. Combine Anderson with the emerging Al-Farouq Aminu, and the Mavs believe they have athletic, defensive wing players that can interchange between the shooting guard/small forward positions.
Anderson, of course, doesn’t solve all the problems. They’ll enter free agency next week extremely thin at point guard, with J.J. Barea and Devin Harris the only experienced players.
But first things first. Dallas needed to add a quality player in the draft and they succeeded. Something it hasn’t done in a long time. Too long.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
