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Mavericks: Second Round Draft Sleeper, Isaac Bonga

By Reid Hanson

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 20: The Dallas Mavericks Dancers perform as the Dallas Mavericks take on the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center on October 20, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 20: The Dallas Mavericks Dancers perform as the Dallas Mavericks take on the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center on October 20, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Mavericks are intent on rebuilding through the draft and this second round sleeper from Germany may be just the piece they need…

One player is not going to turn the Dallas Mavericks into a contender. There’s simply too much to do. If the Mavs want to get back to contender status they are going to have to hit on multiple players. That’s why we’re looking to the second round.

The second round offers a variety of players with top-end potential but very little polish. For a team like the Mavs, who have the luxury of patience and willingness to develop, it’s these high-risk/high-reward players who could make all the difference in the rebuild.

With two picks in the second round, the Mavericks will have the ability to swing for the fences with one of their selections. And this player, who’s expected to be around when Dallas goes on the clock at Pick 54, may be worth swinging for.

Isaac Bonga

Isaac Bonga is a 6’9” point guard from Germany. He’s played on the U-19 German National Team as well the Frankfurt Skyliners. The 18-year boasts a 7-foot wingspan and natural feel for the game. While his size and length indicate he could play other positions, point guard is his best fit.

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Bonga possesses excellent vision and appears to be a pass-first PG who has a flare for dazzle. The downside of that “dazzle” is it can lead to untimely turnovers. The upside is that he’s unselfish and makes those around him better players.

Offensively, Bonga is one-dimensional. He’s a good driver and good finisher. Even though he’s not an overly physical player, he draws contact and get a lot of calls. He just can’t shoot. At all. Opponents cheat and sit back, allowing him to throw up as many bricks as he wants from the field. That’s why he’s at his best on the move – either in a pick-and-roll situation of on a break.

His length gives him a strong advantage in both rebounding and defending. His long reach is tough for most opposing PGs to deal with and Bogna does a good job of collecting steals and rebounds because of it. He also handles switches well, which is important in any Rick Carlisle defense.

Additionally, Isaac Bogna would be a nice piece to pair with the Mavericks’ collection of undersized guards (J.J. Barea, Dennis Smith Jr., and Yogi Ferrell) given his size and length.

Next: Players to watch in the draft for Mavs fans

Isaac Bogna isn’t the type of player who’s going to be able to make a big difference on Day 1. But he has a tremendous upside that extends beyond his seven foot reach.  He’s going to take time but time is precisely what the Mavs have plenty of. He’s a risk, but not without reward.

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