The Dallas Mavericks are headed to the lottery after a disappointing finish to their season.
If the Mavericks don't move up in the draft, they're slated to be on the clock at the No. 11 spot. They have a 1.8% chance to win the lottery and an 8.5% chance to make a pick in the top four.
Assuming they stay right where they are, Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley predicts that the Mavs will select Duke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach. Buckley also compared Maluach to NBA champion DeAndre Jordan.
The Mavs have a loaded big-man rotation featuring Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford. However, Maluach could bring something unique to the table.
"If he aces his development, he could be a reliable lob finisher and defensive anchor with more modern enhancements than (DeAndre) Jordan, like capable foul shooting and an ability to defend in space," Buckley wrote. "His touch and ability to defend away from the basket potentially add interesting wrinkles to his game."
Maluach could also help the Mavericks feel comfortable about potentially moving on from Gafford, who is due to make $14.3 million next season before becoming a free agent. Given Gafford's strong ability to finish at the rim and protect the basket, he could very easily see a significant raise in his next contract.
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If Dallas moves on from Gafford, they'll still have Davis and Lively to eat a lot of minutes at the big man position, which will afford Maluach plenty of time to make the necessary adjustments to succeed at the next level.
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