Despite perhaps winning the 2018 NBA Draft with the selection of some pundits’ top-ranked player, Luka Doncic, Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram doesn’t see the Mavericks making the playoffs next season, writing that Dallas will likely end up picking in the NBA Draft Lottery for a second straight summer in 2019.
The projected lineup of Dennis Smith Jr., the aforementioned rookie Doncic, Harrison Barnes, Dirk Nowitzki and a center-to-be-named-later, while an improvement, is not enough to crack the top eight of Western Conference, in Engel’s opinion, even if that new center is potential free agent DeAndre Jordan or free-agent-to-be DeMarcus Cousins.
Despite the hype surrounding Doncic and his experience playing with professionals overseas, he will still be an NBA rookie next season, and as Mavericks’ president Donnie Nelson puts it, that means “he’s going to get his rear end handed to him.” Add in the fact that Smith Jr. is also still only 20 years old, and you’re left with one of the youngest – albeit most talented – backcourts in the NBA, which is probably not enough in the deep Western Conference.
There’s more from the Southwest Division.
- With Danny Green choosing to opt in for the 2018/19 season, the Spurs are situated to be near the projected salary cap line of $101MM at the beginning of free agency, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN. Marks adds that in addition to renouncing free agents Tony Parker and Rudy Gay, the Spurs would also likely need to unload some heftier contracts like those belonging to Green and Pau Gasol in order to create cap room this summer.
- Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Rockets’ general manager Daryl Morey said the team wasn’t really close to making a deal to move up in last week’s NBA Draft, but that there was an opportunity to move into the No. 20 to No. 25 range.
- Pau Gasol is doubtful that the Spurs and Kawhi Leonard can mend their relationship, telling EpDeportes, via Jeff Garcia of Spurs Zone, “I do not know if the situation can be rectified after Kawhi’s request to leave, I do not know if a multi-million dollar offer would fix it, he has not talked to him for a long time, he’s a very reserved player.”
They’ll only pick in the lottery if they’re top 5 correct? They traded their 2019 pick (top 5 protected) just to get doncic and his mom. (The mom is worth the pick).
You’re damn right she is
Wouldn’t that be the third consecutive year in lottery. DSJ, Doncic, and 2019.
Waiting for 1 person to get his Doncic comments in…
If Engel says it, I’ll believe the opposite. First of all, he can’t even get the starting lineup right. And I’m sorry, but with a center like DAJ, they are most assuredly in the playoff hunt. Spare me OKC, NO (minus a healthy Cousins), and the Lakers….Mavs can be better than all of them. Spurs lose Kahwai and they’re hurting too….and Portland isn’t that deep a team. The West gauntlet goes both ways – teams that made it last year could easily fall out due to how competitive it is. The Mavs will be there. Take it to the bank.
Winning the draft with Doncic?!? That’s cute. I’ll take Shaq with a jumpshot over a Euro guard every day of the week. And yes, that includes Sunday.
Haha! Dude thinks Ayton is Shaq with a jumper.. said no one ever.
I said it. Your comment has already been debunked.
If I was the Mavs, I’d honestly want to tank and grab a top 5 pick again. DSJ, Doncic and another stud rookie is a good core to build on
Between mffl2001’s “The Mavs will be there. Take it to the bank” and tsc32’s tanking for a “stud rookie”… Cuban has a lot to think about.
Not a bad thing to do to get another top 5 pick next year, I am not sure with DJ, they go over, but if they can get DMC at a healthy level, then they are a lock to the playoffs.