The Dallas Mavericks waited more than four hours to make a selection in the 2016 NBA Draft. When they did pick, they went big.
The Mavs selected seven-foot center A.J. Hammons out of Purdue with the 46th pick.
"His overall skill set, body type, length, it all projects well to the NBA and to our team in particular," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "We really felt Hammons was a first round talent without question because of his skill."
Dallas wasn't alone in that assessment. Hammons was widely considered to be a first-round pick based on his ability, but questions about his work ethic made him available to Dallas when it was on the clock midway through the second round.
"Over the last few years he's trimmed down a lot which tells me he has been motivated," Carlisle said. "He fits a void we have on our roster, which is a big guy that can score on the block and that can consistently shoot from mid-range."
Hammons averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in his senior season at Purdue.
