The NBA draft is almost here, and the Dallas Mavericks hold the No. 9 overall pick. With a deep class of guards and some intriguing big men, here's a look at who might be available and what the experts are saying.
The Top 4 Are Set
According to most mock drafts, the first four picks will be:
- AJ Dybantsa (BYU)
- Darryn Peterson (Kansas)
- Cam Boozer (Duke)
- Caleb Wilson (North Carolina)
These players are virtually locked in for Washington, Utah, Memphis, and Chicago.
The Next Tier: Guards Galore
After the top four, the next five players are all guards:
- Keaton Wagler (Illinois)
- Darius Acuff (Arkansas)
- Kingston Flemings (Houston)
- Mikel Brown (Louisville)
- Brayden Burries (Arizona)
All but Wagler are point guards, which fits the Mavericks' need for a young playmaker to develop behind Kyrie Irving.
Big Men in the Mix?
Two big men occasionally appear in mock drafts around No. 9:
- Nate Ament (Tennessee)
- Aday Mara (Michigan)
What the Mavericks Look For
General Manager Mike Schmitz emphasizes versatility and competitiveness:
"Being multiple and having different ways to win is something you’re seeing. Having competitive wiring and being smart decision-makers and having that type of competitiveness on both ends of the floor."
Mock Draft Roundup: Who's Predicted at No. 9?
Here's a summary of who various outlets project the Mavericks to select:
- NBADRAFTROOM.COM: Kingston Flemings
- ESPN: Brayden Burries
- CBSSports.com: Brayden Burries
- SBNation: Brayden Burries
- NBADraft.net: Kingston Flemings
- Tankathon.com: Brayden Burries
- The Ringer: Keaton Wagler
- The Athletic: Brayden Burries
- USAToday: Kingston Flemings
Brayden Burries appears most frequently, but Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler are also popular picks.
What About Trading the Pick?
The Mavericks also have the 30th and 48th picks, and trading the No. 9 pick is a possibility. But if they stay put, they'll have a chance to add a talented young guard to their roster.
Stay tuned for draft night on Tuesday!
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