The Mavs overachieved to make the playoffs in 2016. To make similar noise they’ll now have to do the same in the NBA Draft.
It won’t be easy.
Because thanks to the disastrous trade for Rajon Rondo, Dallas won’t have a first-round pick in the June draft.
Barring a trade, their lone pick will come in the second round, 46th overall. The Celtics, meanwhile, will draft 16th overall with Dallas’ former pick.
Boston also owns the third pick (acquired from the Nets) after last night’s Draft Lottery, with the Lakers No. 2 and the Sixers having the first overall choice. The Celtics, also sitting at No. 23 (their own pick), 31 (acquired from the Sixers), 35 (acquired from the Timberwolves) and 45 (acquired from the Grizzlies) could pick six times before Dallas is on the clock. They have a whopping eight picks in the draft.
With Dirk Nowitzki in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career and the free-agent status of Chandler Parsons and Deron Williams unknown, what the Mavs need is an influx of youth. But because of Rondo, there isn’t a good likelihood of it happening.
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.
