As things stand, the Dallas Mavericks currently hold the 26th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Trades can always happen, however. Dallas often has hit-or-miss drafts, but there’s always potential in a first-round pick. The Mavericks made it to the Western Conference Finals this season, so clearly they’re on the brink of true championship contention. Every addition from here going forward will be very important.
Three Targets for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2022 NBA Draft
Recent Mavericks Draft History
Dallas did not add anyone during the 2021 NBA Draft. In 2020, they added Josh Green, Tyrell Terry, and Tyler Bey. Terry and Bey are no longer with the team, essentially making them draft pick misses. Green remains on the team, and still holds potential, but overall he’s been a bit disappointing as an 18th overall pick. A number of players drafted after Green have succeeded very quickly. With that being said, Green is still on the roster so there’s hope that he develops into a regular rotational piece. The jury is still out on him.
The Mavericks did not add anyone in the 2019 NBA Draft. That’s fine, because the team had an absolutely stellar 2018 NBA Draft. The first addition, of course, was Luka Doncic. Not much has to be said here – Doncic is a generational talent and already one of the top players in the entire league. He will lead the Mavericks for years to come and is the primary reason they’re ready for championship contention. Jalen Brunson joined in the second round. He exploded onto the scene this season as a legitimate secondary star. He hits free agency this summer, however, so it’s crucial that Dallas holds onto him.
The Three 2022 Targets
The majority of “star players” will not be available once the Mavericks are making their pick, of course. With that being said, there will be talent.
The first name to watch will be Nikola Jovic. The European youngster holds several tools on offense that will immediately translate into the NBA. Dallas is an offensive powerhouse, allowing Jovic to fit in with ease on day one. Dallas, of course, is also full of European talent so perhaps that will allow Jovic to skip any major learning curves. The Mavericks have to hope that Jovic slides a few picks, however.
Jaden Hardy out of the G-League Ignite is another name to watch. He had lottery potential, but slipped after starting out poorly with the Ignite. He improved rather quickly, however. Hardy is a true offensive weapon, meaning the potential to thrive alongside Doncic is there. Hardy isn’t quite boom-or-bust, but he certainly has “potential steal” written all over him.
Finally, another player the Mavericks can hope to draft is EJ Liddell out of Ohio State. First off, the playoffs showed that Dallas needs to add some size to their rotation. Although Liddell isn’t the biggest forward in terms of stature, he plays well beyond his size. He’s very talented on both ends of the floor, and also holds great leadership qualities. Liddell looks to be a Brunson type of player, as in a later draft pick that blossoms later in his NBA career.
