Re-Grading the Mavericks' Last 5 First-Round Picks

The 2024 NBA Finals are in the rearview mirror and even if they didn't bring home the gold, the Dallas Mavericks have plenty to be proud of. There isn't much time to reflect on the playoffs, though, as the offseason is about to kick into full gear, meaning it won't be long before we arrive at this year's NBA Draft.

With the franchise only holding one second-round pick this year, there isn't a ton for Mavericks fans to anticipate regarding this year's draft. That's why it's the perfect time to take a stroll down memory lane and look back at Dallas' most recent first-round selections to see how they panned out.

Just a reminder, though, that this list omits the likes of Trae Young and Cason Wallace, who were technically drafted by the Mavericks only to be moved on draft night.

With that in mind, let's get into the re-grades.

5. Josh Green, SF/SG (2020 R1, P18): C+

The last time the Mavericks drafted a player in the first round and kept them was when they selected Josh Green 18th overall back in 2020. The ex-Wildcat played well in his sole season at Arizona, leaving Mavs fans hoping that he'd be the perfect complement to play alongside Luka Doncic for years to come.

While we're still waiting for a breakout performance, Green has developed into a decent rotational player for Dallas. He mostly plays off the bench (62 starts in 223 career games) and has seen his playing time increase with each passing year. He played a career-high 26.4 minutes last season, resulting in his averaging 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.8 steals.

Green's numbers don't jump off the page, but he helps the Mavericks in other areas. He's a plus-defender who gives his all on most nights and his non-stop motor can be infectious to his teammates. While his offensive games must still reach that next level, it's clear that he holds an important role in Jason Kidd's game planning.

For now, I think a C+ grade is solid for Green. Would it be nice if he could finally average double digits? Yes, but he could also be much worse than he is. This grade will improve if his development continues, however, we'll keep things tempered for now.