Why the Dallas Mavericks should trade the fifth pick in the draft
The Dallas Mavericks currently own the fifth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, but history says that the team should trade their selection
The current NBA draft class is full of future stars like DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and Luka Doncic. Each player brings their own style, charm and unique perspective to the game of basketball.
While the players seem bright, it is best if the Dallas Mavericks do what is best for the organization and that is trading away their fifth pick of the current draft. Here’s why…
For starters, every team that has drafted at spot five has struggled when it comes finding the right player.
Since 2010 only one player drafted with the fifth pick has been selected to the NBA All-Star game and that is four time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins. Since Cousins though, teams have yet to find much luck.
The list of players drafted at the fifth after Cousins, includes Jonas Valanciunas, Thomas Robinson, Kris Dunn and last year’s selection De’Aaron Fox.
This does not take away from the fact that all the players listed above are excellent role players when called upon.
While this year could take a different turn, it is not 2010 and if history is telling us fans anything it is that luck is not kind to teams selecting fifth.
What about Mav’s history?
Like the NBA history of selecting fifth, Dallas Mavericks’ history also says the team does not do well when picking in the first round.
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This will be the first time ever that the team will have a first round pick two years in a row. There have been times where the Mavs have have two or more selections in the first round, but never two years in a row.
The argument one can make is with last year’s rookie sensation, Dennis Smith Jr., the Mavs have been good at drafting high. The Dallas Mavericks point guard played extremely well in his first year. The rookie finished the year averaging 15.2 points per game to go with 5.2 assists.
Before Smith Jr though, first round draft picks for Dallas have not been so kind.
In 2015, the team drafted forward Justin Anderson and well Mavs fans know how “young simba” turned out. Before that though, in 2013 Dallas selected Kelly Olynyk who would immediately be traded the same night. Tyler Zeller was another Mav draftee selected in the first round and then traded that same day.
2003 was the last year Dallas had success drafting in the first round. That year, the team picked guard Josh Howard. Howard had a great run with the Mavericks but his off season mishaps would later get him traded.
The Dallas Mavericks do not do well when it comes to drafting in the first round. Only time will tell if Dennis Smith Jr. will fall into the category of poor decision making by the Mavs.
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The past history of selecting at the fifth spot and recent woes of Mavericks’ selection should force the team to have a different mindset when it comes to this year’s draft.