Justin Harper: Flush It's damn-near impossible to pile any criticism on the Dallas Mavericks after winning the world championship. It's a hall pass. You can skip any time you want. You can goof up and knock up the principal's daughter. Doesn't matter. You've got a pass.
The Mavericks are there. No matter what they do in free agency or the draft, they can point to the ring and nobody can say a word.
Although this is extremely gratifying, I, for one, do not believe the Mavericks should spend the next decade looking at their ring fingers and hanging on for dear life to June 2011, much like the Dallas Stars did after 1999 or after the Dallas Cowboys after 1995. Now, more than ever, is the right time to get better. If nothing else, younger.
However, as much as I'm convinced that Jason Kidd is great and Dirk Nowitzki otherworldly, I don't think the Mavericks are much good at evaluating and developing young talent. It doesn't help that they get shitty draft picks every year. But other teams (see: San Antonio Spurs) seem to make it work.
With the NBA Draft a mere day away, we might as well consider it another opportunity for Donnie Nelson to take a wild flier on some unathletic white guy from overseas. Once taken, they'll stay in Europe or Turkey or wherever to "develop" and "hone" his game. And we'll never see them again. Adieu, Shan Foster, adieu.
Here are some mocks. Be prepared for vowels.
Yahoo! Sports
26. Davis Bertans
6-10 - 210 - Latvia
Pure shooter. Some say the Spurs are going to take him at No. 29. He's as white as he is Latvian.
Sports Illustrated
26. Justin Harper
6-9 - 228 - Richmond
Considered undersized with the need for bulk to be a power forward. In that case, he seems like a Brandon Bass starter kit. Seems to have more touch from the perimeter. Still, with these first two mocks, we are seeing a definite trend -- the Mavs are happy with their guard and center situation. It's depth at power forward and small forward that need addressing. I don't mind this strategy. Just needs to be blacker.
Hoops Hype
26. Nikola Mirotic
6-10 - 210 - Montenegro
The dude is signed to Real Madrid through 2015. Won't see the NBA until then. This mock has the Mavericks passing Duke's Kyle Singler. Although I abhor white guys, skipping someone has polished as Singler would be a mistake for a quality franchise. Singler helps you right now.
NECN
26. Davis Bertans
Again, has the Mavericks passing on both Singler and Harper.
The Hoop Doctors
26. Nolan Smith
6-4 - 190 - Duke
An unlikely selection considering the Mavericks will have Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, Joe John Barea, Roddy Beaubois and (potentially) Dom Jones vying for minutes at the guard position. How many undersized shooting point guards does a team need?
