The Dallas Mavericks have a lottery pick in the NBA Draft to build around Cooper Flagg, but their late first-round pick could end up being a steal and a household name that DFW fans already know about.
Zuby Eijofor is the big man that Dallas would love. He may have been an undersized big man in college, but he's better suited to play a true power forward position. He averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in his last season with St. John's, and was the face of Rick Pitino's revived Red Storm program.
Mike Curtis from The Dallas Morning News has Eijofor going to the Mavericks, and not only would it make sense for a defensive-minded forward to be next to Flagg, but he's got some hometown roots, as the former Red Storm forward played high school ball in Garland, TX. Curtis says his measurables are an attractive piece to back up Flagg on defense.
"The Mavericks met with Ejiofor during the NBA draft combine and could perhaps give him a look with their second pick in the draft. The senior forward has tremendous measurables with a 7-2 wingspan and 8-11 standing reach, which makes him a nice defensive wing. Anyone with a motor would be an intriguing prospect to play alongside Flagg and Ejiofor is someone who plays hard on a nightly basis."
Mavericks have a late first-round steal on their hands in St. John's forward Zuby Eijofor
Ejiofor is at the peak of his basketball career, as he's coming off being named Big East Player of the Year and Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He may be undersized in the NBA, but he's got amazing length.
With unknown questions about Dereck Lively II's injury history and Daniel Gafford's injury lingering all season long, the Mavs aren't wrong for dipping into the big man market in the draft. Depending on whether both guys stay on the roster, Eijofor may only average a few minutes of game time, but his defensive presence can be used.
One weakness is deep-range shooting. Ejiofor didn't take a lot of shots from the outside, but he isn't afraid to pull it from deep if he needs to. He shot 30.5 percent from downtown in his last season at St. John's.
It looks like Ujiri is cleaning house and trying to build around Flagg, so it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if one of the big men were to get traded, but there should still be an opening for Ejiofor to come back and make his name be known.
Curtis added that the Mavs would pick Arizona guard Brayden Burries. So the Mavs would get their new guard and big man in the draft.
It's the perfect homecoming, and Eijofor is one of the more underrated guys in the NBA Draft. Considering the Mavs have already visited with him, he can be the perfect late first-round steal the Mavs need.
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