With Chandler Parsons cut from the U.S. team, there are no current Mavs playing in the FIBA World Cup in Spain.
But there might be a future one.
I watched the United States' 59-point slaughter of Finland on Saturday night and remembered that Dallas has dibs on the Fins’ best player, point guard Petteri Koponen. At 6 foot 5 inches and with solid ball-handling, shooting and creative penetrations, the 26-year-old Koponen looks to me to be NBA-ready right now.
But, at the earliest, looks like the Mavs will have to wait until the 2016 season.
Dallas acquired Koponen in the 2011 draft in a trade with Portland, but no longer has an immediate need for a point guard after summer moves that left them with Devin Harris, Gal Mekel, Jameer Nelson and Raymond Felton.
Koponen will likely play out his current contract with BC Khimki in Russia and re-visit his Mavs’ future a year from now.
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 currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
