1. Cleveland Cavaliers – Nerlens Noel, C Kentucky | Ht: 6’11″ Wt: 206

Noel has long been slotted as the top pick in this year’s draft and that hasn’t changed. Expect the Cavs to select the slender defensive center who’s aiming for a December return to the court.

2. Orlando Magic – Ben McLemore, SG Kansas | Ht: 6’5″ Wt: 188

McLemore has a pure jump shot and great size at SG for the NBA. Along with his shooting, Ben is an incredible athlete and many say he’s likely to be an All-Star level player for years. The Magic need that scoring infusion and McLemore can be that guy.

3. Washington Wizards – Otto Porter, SF Georgetown | Ht: 6’9″ Wt: 198

Otto Porter wins the Naismith College Player of the Year award if not for Trey Burke’s very impressive run in the tournament. Porter has an all-around game with intangibles that make him as NBA-ready an anyone in this class. Wizards keep Otto in DC.

4. Charlotte Bobcats – Alex Len, C Maryland | Ht: 7’1″ Wt: 255

Alex Len provides the Bobcats a center they need. With Byron Mullens likely gone it leaves Brendan Haywood. Bismack Biyombo could move to PF while Len offers Charlotte a solid defensive anchor in the middle who isn’t offensively challenged.

5. Phoenix Suns – Victor Oladipo, SG Indiana | Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 213

The Suns need stability. Victor Oladipo helps in that regard, he’s a relentless worker and plays hard on both ends of the floor. Oladipo would infuse energy into the U.S. Airways crowd, a step in the right direction with a new GM and head coach.

6. New Orleans Pelicans – Shabazz Muhammad, SF UCLA | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 222

ShaMu this high?! The popular pick is Trey Burke, but they do have the 6-foot-6 Greivis Vasquez running point who averaged 9.0 assists in 78 games last season. The Pelicans have a more pressing need at SF and Shabazz could be the right guy.

7. Sacramento Kings – Anthony Bennett, PF UNLV | Ht: 6’8″ Wt: 240

Kings need a PG more, but it’d be tough to pass on Bennett if he were to drop here. SI.com says Bennett may have the most star potential in the draft, but is he a tweener? Sneaky skilled for a PF-type, AB would compliment Boogie Cousins well.

8. Detroit Pistons – Trey Burke, PG Michigan | Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 187

It’s no secret the Pistons want a PG. Michael Carter-Williams could be the choice, but with   Wolverine and College Player of the Year Burke available they may go that route. Burke’s heart and competitiveness would be welcomed in Detroit.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves – C.J. McCollum, PG/SG Lehigh | Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 197

McCollum makes perfect sense for the Wolves. A combo guard with advanced scoring ability and versatility. The foot injury no longer an issue, McCollum would step in next to Ricky Rubio and relieve some of Kevin Love’s scoring responsibilities.

10. Portland Trail Blazers – Steven Adams, C Pittsburgh | Ht: 6’11″ Wt: 235

Portland hit a homerun (Damian Lillard) and a ground out (Meyers Leonard) in last year’s lottery. Steven Adams represents a true NBA center with his physical tools, rebounding and defense. Tons of upside and an solid fit next to LaMarcus Aldridge.

11. Philadelphia 76ers – Cody Zeller, PF/C Indiana | Ht: 7’0″ Wt: 230

Some have the Blazers snagging Zeller, but he’ll be more of a PF in the NBA. Either way the Sixers will be satisfied to see Zeller fall to them. Cody showed impressive athleticism at the combine and he’d be able to play the 4/5 in Philly.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Mason Plumlee, C Duke | Ht: 7’0″ Wt: 238

OKC could go in several directions with this pick, but smart money says they address the center position. Kendrick Perkins has been disappointing. Plumlee gives the Thunder an explosive big who rebounds very well and finishes with authority above the rim.

13. Dallas Mavericks – Michael Carter-Williams, PG Syracuse | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 185

The Mavs have their eye set on Carter-Williams. If he makes it to 13, they draft him. His size is special for the position and he owns the best court vision and PG instincts in this class. MCW would be nice addition if Dallas whiffs on Chris Paul.

14. Utah Jazz – Dennis Schröder, PG Germany | Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 165

Utah has strong interest in Schröder to replace free agent Mo Williams. The 19-year-old PG has a lot of Rajon Rondo in his repertoire. Reports say he received a promise from the Boston Celtics, but he may not make it that far.

15. Milwaukee Bucks – Jamaal Franklin, SG San Diego State | Ht: 6’5″ Wt: 191

The Bucks face a lot of uncertainties in their backcourt. If Brandon Jennings stays, Milwaukee could use help on the wing. Franklin fits the bill as an above average rebounder, elite athlete and plays aggressive on offense and defense.

16. Boston Celtics – Gorgui Dieng, C Louisville | Ht: 6’11″ Wt: 230

With Schröder likely gone, the Celtics could switch gears and find a center. Dieng owns NBA center size and is skilled defensively. There are other options, but many scouts are high on Dieng ability to contribute immediately.

17. Atlanta Hawks – Dario Saric, SF Croatia | Ht: 6’10″ Wt: 223

Saric is believed to be the draft’s top international prospect and could go as high as No. 6 to the Pelicans. Naturally this would be quite to steal for the Hawks who will be carefully utilizing their cap space this summer. Saric to withdraw from the draft?

18. Atlanta Hawks - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG Georgia | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 204

The Hawks’ only guards with guaranteed deals are Lou Williams (ACL) and John Jenkins. There’s buzz about Caldwell-Pope and this seems like a good fit for both parties. Hometown kid stays around and Hawks get a legit all-around player.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers - Sergey Karasev, SG/SF Russia | Ht: 6’7″ Wt: 197

According to reports, sounds like Karasev’s already received a promise and word out there says this is the floor for Karasev. The Cavs really like him. He provides Cleveland a player with immense shooting ability and the size to play either wing position.

20. Chicago Bulls – Kelly Olynyk, PF/C Gonzaga | Ht: 7’0″ Wt: 238

A slide of sorts for Olynyk, but he could still crack the lottery. If the Bulls consider amnesty with Carlos Boozer, the Gonzaga product provides Chicago an ample replacement (along w/ Taj Gibson) whose skill set fit an NBA four.

21. Utah Jazz – Rudy Gobert, C France | Ht: 7’2″ Wt: 238

The Jazz could double dip in international waters by going Gobert after Schroder. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are set to leave, so Utah could be enticed to take Gobert as a development behind ripe big men Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors.

22. Brooklyn Nets – Tony Mitchell, PF North Texas | Ht: 6’9″ Wt: 237

Mitchell is scheduled to work out for city rival NY Knicks tomorrow, but the Nets have interest as well. Brooklyn could use a PG unless they trust TyShawn Taylor as Deron Williams’ backup. Mitchell’s stock is on the rise nonetheless.

23. Indiana Pacers – Shane Larkin, PG Miami | Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 171

This would be too sweet for the Pacers. Point guard is an area of need and Larkin falling in their lap is a miracle. Chances of it happening are slim though as he could go as high as 14th or 15th to the Jazz or Bucks.

24. New York Knicks - Jeff Withey, C Kansas | Ht: 7’0″ Wt: 222

Roy Hibbert’s size was too much for Tyson Chandler and the Knicks. Marcus Camby doesn’t play anymore, Kenyon Martin was too small. Withey plugs in as the immediate backup with great basketball knowledge, physical tools and shot-blocking.

25. Los Angeles Clippers – Allen Crabbe, SG California | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 198

Crabbe is a talented player with a terrific stroke. The Clippers believe Chris Paul isn’t going anywhere and it’s always wise to surround a PG with shooters. Crabbe works well off screens and in transition, perfect wing type for a Paul-run offense.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves – Ricky Ledo, SG Providence | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 197

Ledo appears to be the mystery and possible best sleeper of the draft. Someone mentioned he had a Kevin Durant-like shot and it’s not far off. He looks like a top-notch scorer and special wing this late in the first round. Minny can use ‘em!

27. Denver Nuggets – Glen Rice Jr., SF Rio Grande Valley (NBDL) | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 211

Glen Rice Jr. looks to go from the D-League to the NBA by way of draft. The Nuggets who recently severed ties with George Karl will probably lose SG Andre Iguodala to free agency and seek his replacement. Denver will like that Rice Jr. is ready NOW.

28. San Antonio Spurs – Lucas Nogueira, C Brazil | Ht: 6’11″ Wt: 215

With already one Brazlian center on the roster in Tiago Splitter, the Spurs may entertain the idea of selecting Nogueira and stash him away for a year or two. This gives Lucas time to advance his skills and the Spurs to prep a role for him down the road.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder – Tim Hardaway Jr., SG Michigan | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 200

The Thunder addressed a vital need in the lottery, but could seek a cheaper SG option here rather than retain free agent Kevin Martin. OKC still has Jeremy Lamb as well and could have two younger, more affordable guard competition in camp.

30. Phoenix Suns - Giannis Adetokunbo, SF/PF Greece | Ht: 6’9″ Wt: 196

Adetokunbo this late would be amazing for the Suns, who want to ignite new enthusiasm to it’s fan base. He brings different elements to the game than any Suns forward. Channing Frye remains a health concern and there’s zero faith in Michael Beasley.

Damian Jackson is a partner at Mavs Fanatic. Follow Damian on Twitter @thedfactor and like our site’s page on Facebook.

Let me break it down for you.

I’ll be pulling for the Heat in this year’s Finals.  It hurts to type that, I promise. But as a Mavs fan, it’s a must. Here’s why……..

1) By the Heat winning the title, it will make the Mavs the only team to beat the ‘Big 3’ Miami circus in the 2011 Finals.  It will make that title run even more special than it already is.  Yes, I understand that it will be a beating to have to hear about LeBron James and the “Heatles” every five minutes in this ESPN generation. We will be the only team to take down the Heat before the new CBA dismantles them. Imagine the team that would’ve taken down the 90’s Bulls (hypothetically). Not even the Bulls were built with a checkbook like the Heat were/are. I’m selfish…I want Dallas to be the only team to take down the mighty, modern day NBA, cHeat.

2) Do we really want Spurs fans celebrating a fifth title? Not only will they be celebrating their championship over the Heat, but they’ll also gain more ammunition in any future Mavs/Spurs trash talk. Deservingly so, there will be absolutely ZERO rebuttal we can make for that. We’ll lose every bit of bragging rights we gained from 2011. Is that what you want, Mavs fans?

3) Texas Schmexas. I could care less that the Spurs are a “Texas team.”  It doesn’t make it OK to root for the Spurs because of their geography. If this logic is acceptable, then I can’t wait to see the entire Longhorn fans root for the Aggies this year.

4) Look at it this way. We’re NOT rooting for the Heat; we’re only rooting against the Spurs. Just keep telling yourself that. It will help you sleep at night. A Heat title will not put LeBron in the “Jordan” category if that’s what you’re concerned about. No matter how well they play, LeBron will always have the advantage of other superstars on his team. LeBron lost all of that “Jordan” credibility when he sold out and went to Miami.

It’s important that you all recognize something here. I dislike the Heat as much as you do. I hate that the Pacers laid an egg in Game 7 and put us in this position, I really do. I realize the evil of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade and all they represent to today’s NBA. But this is about basketball, not personalities. The way I see it, win or lose, LeBron will always be talked about and blown up in the media. He’ll always be relevant. If Miami wins then he’ll be the best “ever”, if they lose the talking point will be what LeBron didn’t do.  It’s a lose-lose.

So for the sake of basketball related points, and in the BEST interest of the Mavs; I’ve made my rooting interest decision.  I dislike both teams with a passion.  But my disdain for the Heat is .00000001% less than my disdain for the Spurs.  So by default, go NOT THE SPURS!

MFFL

According to sources, Chris Paul is angry with the organization for making him out to be the lone reason for the firing of Vinny Del Negro last week.

“He’s angry right now and his anger is directed toward the Clippers organization,” the source said. “Chris is a man of principle and if he feels like you’ve gone against his principles, it will affect how he feels about you. He’s very agitated that his name has been put out there as the reason for Vinny’s firing. He had nothing to do with it.”

This is fantastic news for all Mavericks fans out there. What this means for the Mavericks pursuit of Paul is unknown at this time, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. The Dallas Mavericks organization has never really ran into anything of this nature, and that’s one of the categories that favor the Mavericks in this chase.

When things got shaky with Lamar Odom, Cuban and Mavs management could’ve really made things public and fired back. Instead they chose to take the high road and grant Odom his freedom. When the Delonte West fiasco came about, management once again handled it like a top notch organization would.

Chris Paul wants to go to an organization where he can win, but more importantly one that he can trust is moving in the right direction with him. The Los Angeles Clippers organization must have missed that memo. Look, it’s May 31st, and there is quite a bit of time before decisions will need to be made, so it’s all hear say at the moment. The Clippers should take a note from the Mavericks book. It’s better to keep things in house then to let your dirty laundry pile up for all of the public to see.

What Does This Mean For Mavs Summer Plans

It’s also been rumored that because of all these recent developments, Paul would be willing to sign a deal for less than the max, or even do a sign and trade for the right situation. How does this help the Mavs?

If the Mavericks can offer Dwight a max deal, they could then turn their attention to a sign and trade deal for CP3. There are still a lot of pieces that need to fall into place for all of this to happen. However, one thing is for sure. The Dallas Mavericks odds just got moved a little more in their favor. June 30th can’t come soon enough.

Although point guard or a center seem to be the most pressing needs, the truth is the Dallas Mavericks could use help at all positions. Head coach Rick Carlisle agrees.

“We have six guys under contract. Three of them are rookies. One of them was basically in the rotation all year. One guy started nine games, in and out other than that. And the other guy didn’t play much at all. Then we have our three main veteran guys. So we have spots open at virtually every position.”

Franklin opted to pass on his senior season and enter the draft following an impressive junior campaign. The shooting guard, standing at 6’5″ and weighing 205 pounds, averaged 17 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists this past season.

The Mavericks and Franklin have a workout scheduled in Dallas for Monday June 3rd.

Strengths: Jamaal Franklin first and foremost defines a competitor. He exemplifies heart and fearlessness on the basketball court.

He beholds legitimate NBA two guard size which assists him on both ends of the floor. Franklin loves to attack the basket, plays above the rim with immense athleticism and earns plenty of trips to the foul line (8.2 FTAs per 40 according to DraftExpress).

Rebounding stands out in Franklin’s game because he’s relentless on the glass for his position. His average of 9.5 rebounds per game led the Aztecs and ranked best among all NCAA Division I shooting guards.

Franklin’s ability to create for teammates exists and shows his offensive awareness and above average court vision. His all-around defensive repertoire is portrayed in his lane instincts, man-on-man ball pressure and overall intensity to work on that end of the floor.

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Weaknesses: Despite leading the SDSU Aztecs in points, rebounds, assists and steals there are areas in which Franklin can improve.

Franklin’s efficiency would increase with better judgment in his shot selection. On several occasions he’s guilty of launching ill-advised jumpers early in the shot clock. For the blessed athlete his is, Franklin’s set shot doesn’t own much lift and usually lacks consistency, but certainly an area he can adjust.

While leading his team in nightly helpers, Franklin in turn also led his comrades with 3.4 turnovers per game. That’s an alarmingly high number and Franklin must significantly trim those to earn consistent minutes in an NBA rotation.

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With the possibility and perhaps likelihood that O.J. Mayo doesn’t return next season, the Mavericks could seek another shooting guard to fill the vacancy. Franklin’s game isn’t similar to Mayo so the two are not an ideal comparison.

Franklin would bring aspects to Dallas that would be warmly welcomed. He’s a rebounder. He’s a slasher. He gets to the free throw line. He’s aggressive in nature. He’s well respected and admired by his coaches. He’s a character guy.

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It would be hard if even possible to find mock drafts that currently have Franklin to Dallas at 13. Most still place Michael Carter-Williams or Dennis Schröder to the Mavs at 13, both of whom we’ve already hit on.

Franklin could possibly move his way up draft boards following his workouts with teams start taking place.

This could also be a Mavs target were they to trade down on draft night. One thing we know – Franklin will be auditioning for Dallas on Monday and we’ll know more after their time together.

Video courtesy of Impact Basketball

Schroeder helped lead the International team to a victory over Team U.S.A. and had 18 points and 6 assists in the process.

He’s received praise from German born Dirk Nowitzki, and been compared to Rajon Rondo as well. He is a risky gamble at #13, but one that could pay off huge dividends in the end.

If being compared to Rajon Rondo is what Schroeder has to deal with, he’s got Rondo beat when it comes to shooting. They both can create separation with their ball handling and quickness, but Schroeder’s jumper is far more consistent.

To go along with Schroeder’s physical 6’2 frame, he also possesses a 6’7 wingspan, which he can use to his benefit on the defensive end. Combine that with his quickness, he can be the same type of nuisance Rondo is defense.

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Weaknesses: While Schroeder showed he can shoot consistently, it’s still unknown whether that will translate over here on the main land. He has a bit of a set shot, so mechanically, scouts worry about him showing that 3-point range in the NBA.

He will also need to bulk up. 168 lbs on a 6’2 frame isn’t going to get it done. While he does possess some physical power, adding a few pounds wouldn’t hurt.

Finally, we all must remember that he is only 19 years old, and hasn’t really played against the top talents in the world. He played against much older players who have been around the game for some time, but that doesn’t even come close to the players he will be roughing it up with in the NBA.

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How Schroeder fits in Dallas: As Damian mentioned yesterday, it’s no surprise to anyone that the Mavericks are looking at landing Chris Paul, filling a point guard slot that was a huge problem in Big D last year.

Even if the Mavericks land a big time point guard in Free Agency, Schroeder could have immediate impact off the bench. His type of play is very fitting for a Carlisle team. Schroeder’s ability to break down a defense could pay huge dividends when finding a guy like Dirk Nowitzki on the wing.

The Mavericks would love a player who can play both ends of the court and be aggressive in the process. While these are things that Schroeder could provide, it’s also important to note how raw he is. The Mavericks most recent international experiment went south when it came to Roddy Beaubois.

However, they did strike gold with one player. From Germany I believe as well.

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Mock Drafts w/ Dennis Schroeder to the Mavs at 13:

Jonathan Tjarks (SB Nation)

These types of players are the ones that baffle everyone, including the scouts. Schroeder has a lot of the characteristics that a true point guard needs to possess, but it remains to be seen how it will translate.

At last weeks combine, Schroeder was a limited participant in the workouts. It was rumored that he had already been promised a pick by a certain team in the draft, but he shot that rumor down and mentioned a toothache as the reason for his absence.

His name doesn’t garner the attention of a Trey Burke or Michael Carter-Williams, but if his promising game overseas translates successfully here in the U.S., the Mavericks could have a major steal in this draft.

Schroeder is just one of the international players getting the watchful eye from Mavericks management. Dario Saric is the second player on that short list, and Damian Jackson will be covering him on our next segment.

As always, Go Mavs!

Video courtesy of DraftExpress

The 13th pick is ours…for now. ESPN’s Chad Ford reported on Tuesday night the Mavericks would look to deal the pick to create more cap space for a “run” at free agent center Dwight Howard.

We’ll carry on as if Dallas will keep their first lottery selection since 2000 and key in on some candidates to fill needs on the current roster. Every few days we’ll have another prospect.

We kick things off with Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams.

Carter-Williams leaves the Orange after his sophomore season in which he blossomed with ample playing time after spending most his freshmen year behind Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters.

Size is Carter-Williams’ key feature at the point guard position. At 6-foot-6, MCW will have the advantage to see over defenders and his length tends to bother smaller guards.

Strengths: MCW does a little bit of everything. He didn’t need to be the leading scorer at Syracuse, but his 11.9 points per game was a nice addition while also being the team’s best facilitator. He finished third in rebounding (4.9 RPG) and led the team in steals (2.8) and assists (7.3).

His athleticism seems a bit underrated. Wouldn’t surprise me if his game developed more at the NBA level. He’s able to get by defenders with a quick, long first step. Once in the paint, Carter-Williams knows when and where to find an open teammate.

Defensively, MCW thrives on reading passes and shooting the lanes for steals and deflections. People quick to say it’s a problem he’s only played zone in college, but fail to understand that man-to-man principles and concepts are involved into the Syracuse 2-3.

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Weaknesses: The popular knock on Carter-Williams is his lack of a reliable perimeter shot. He shot at a 29.2% clip beyond the line. The encouraging aspect is his form isn’t poor and points guard have been known to improve their jumpers in the association.

It could be said that at times MCW struggles with full court pressure and traps, mostly against the Louisville Cardinals who owned the best press defense in the NCAA. Still, it’s an area the lengthy PG needs to address and improve.

Carter-Williams’ basketball instincts are well-tuned, but there are moments where you’re left clueless. He tends to makes the wrong play at times, however it’s an issue that can be harnessed when his mind speeds up and the game slows down.

Adding 5-10 pounds of muscle would do MCW a favor. He’s 187 lbs now which isn’t too shabby, but he loves penetrating into the paint which in the NBA will require more strength.

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Point guard is the NBA’s most important position in today’s style. You need a great big man to win as well, but the Dallas pressing need has to be a floor general. The Darren Collison/Mikes James experiment was a disaster.

MCW would give the Mavericks a promising PG for the future were they to miss on a stud free agent. His size, skills and versatile make him extremely enticing. His defensive awareness would earn him solid time right away in Rick Carlisle’s rotation.

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Mock Drafts w/ Michael Carter-Williams to the Mavs at 13:

Matt Moore (CBSSports)

Chris Mannix (SI.com)

DraftExpress (Also Yahoo!)

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I say Carter-Williams is the 3rd ranked PG in this draft behind Michigan’s Trey Burke and Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum. McCollum (6-foot-3) has more off guard tendencies, but he’ll be a skilled combo guard featured at PG in the NBA.

It’s fair to have doubts about how MCW will turn out due to a poor sample of previous Orange guards. Both Gerry McNamara (Utah Jazz) and Andy Rautins (NYK/OKC) were excellent collegiate players who didn’t carve out an NBA career. Jonny Flynn was a high lottery pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves but never panned out. Most recently, Dion Waiters was taken 4th by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012 – he made the All-Rookie team.

Personally, I’m a Syracuse guy and love my Orange. This at times has me 100% on board with MCW becoming a Dallas Maverick. However, when I set my fan hood aside and take an unbiased perspective, sometimes my vision shifts through different options at #13.

One of those other options….German point guard Dennis Schroeder. We cover him next, stay tuned!

Video courtesy of DraftExpress

Donnie Nelson and Keith Grant will be in New York to represent the Mavericks, and all of Mavs Nation have their fingers, toes, and anything else you can imagine crossed. After all, it’s really a game of luck.

“As much as we want to say it’s all science, there’s a big part of it that’s luck.’’ – Mark Cuban

I would have to guess that most MFFLs don’t pay much attention to the upcoming draft, mostly due to the fact that the Mavericks have clinched a playoff berth for 12 consecutive years. My, how the tides have turned. Draft picks for Dallas are crucial in helping rebuild this team back to playoff form.

There’s a .6 percent chance that the Mavs will have the first overall pick in the draft. So realistically, Cuban will not get the first guy off the draft board.

So here are some guys I think that will be beneficial to the Mavs while I watch the Combine and leading up to this Draft. The fans might disagree with these guys, but it’s just my personal view. This group could change later as we get closer to the NBA Draft.

Seth Curry – Duke

Yes, Stephen Curry’s little brother from Duke. Of course if you are the son of Dell Curry, you are born with the gift to shoot the lights out of the gym. Seth does just that. The Mavs need a PG with Darren Collison possibly on his way out. Mike James isn’t getting any younger, so he is unable to play big minutes. Seth isn’t known as a floor general seeing that his assist totals were so low during his career at Duke. But he is a physical defender and great for snatching rebounds. Who wouldn’t want a guard who can grab the boards? Seth averaged 17.5 points per game and shot 43% from behind the arc in his senior season. He could bring the shooting consistency that O.J. Mayo lacked during the season. Seth Curry would help bring some life to the offensive side for the Mavs.

Michael Carter-Williams – Syracuse

“MCW” is what the world of college hoops calls him. Michael Carter-Williams had a breakout year this season compared to his freshman season. This guy is only a sophomore and averaged 11.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists during his second year. He isn’t a great long-range shooter, but has an excellent midrange game and is quick when driving to the basket. ‘Cuse is known for running the 2-3 zone thanks to Jim Boehim, which allowed MCW to average 2.8 steals a game. That defensive presence could be beneficial since the Mavs were the fourth-worst in the league for most opponent points allowed this season (averaged about 101.7 points). MCW is also 6’6”, so he could play the 2-guard and maybe forward position. So he could be great when needing to matchup with guys like Kobe, Iggy, or James Harden, etc.

Shabazz Muhammad – UCLA

Shabazz will most likely be drafted before the Mavs are on the clock for their First Round pick. If for some reason Muhammad is still available, this is one guy Mark Cuban should highly consider. Shabazz is very athletic on the offensive side and can run the floor resulting in easy transition baskets. Shabazz is quick coming off screens, plus his spot-up mid-range jumpers are almost automatic. He brings that explosiveness that most NBA teams need. Muhammed is not that great behind the arc, but he isn’t afraid to take a 3-pointer if he’s wide open.

Mason Plumlee – Duke

I watched this guy play all four years at Duke and his development during his college career is probably one of the best of all the prospects in the draft. Plumlee is a “NBA-ready” center being that he is 6’11”. I always tell the Twitter world that Mason Plumlee will be one of the best big men in the draft, usually resulting in me getting laughed at each and every time. He averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds his senior season. Plumlee is very physical. He has a ridiculous vertical for a guy at his height. He could easily be good in transition offense with his ability to play above the rim. Plumlee is strong in the paint when it comes to boxing out and grabbing the boards. He could be vital in the Mavs pick and roll game because he has good hands and mobility. People disagree that Mason is soft in the paint. I disagree. He has a great post game, having the ability with the hook shot, which makes him tough to guard. One area he could improve on is his defense in the post, but with his wingspan of 6’10”, that should make up for the lack of post defense. A center is what the Mavs need, and Mason Plumlee can help fill that void.

Ryan Kelly – Duke

I picked Ryan Kelly to get drafted hopefully in the 2^nd round to the Mavs. I’m a huge Duke fan, so like Plumlee, I watched Ryan Kelly progress in his career at Duke. I call him “Baby Dirk”, which Mavs fans call me crazy. However, if you watch him, he is a “poor man’s Dirk Nowtizki”. His game is so similar to Dirk’s. No, he doesn’t shoot the trademark fade-away step back jumper like Dirk, but he can shoot. He’s skinny and 6’11”, just like Dirk coming into the draft. Kelly shot above 40% from the 3-point line in his junior and senior season. For a big man, that’s pretty impressive. His defense is lacking, because he lacks athleticism. If he’s on the floor, however, he can help a Mavs offense that was stagnant at times this past year.

This “To-Watch” list could change after the combine and when experts start posting Mock Drafts, but I think one of these guys could help the Mavs get back to being a contender in the NBA.

Go Mavs!

We here at the Mavs Fanatic saw this as a great opportunity to share our creativity and get more in touch and involved with our Dallas Mavs.

Mavs Fanatic partner Damian Jackson with consultation from website founder Ryan Wilson, devised five new jersey layouts: 2 home whites, 2 away and one alternate roadie.

Here they are:

1. White on white with Blue HOME – The idea here was feed from NBA jerseys who have went for the white on white look, but with a Mavs twist utilizing the ‘Mavs’ font already in the archives from the original Diddy design for the 2004-2005 season. Rather than also making the player number white, the blue provides slight contrast we really favored. Wanted to step away from using the city on the home uniform. Simple and fresh.

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 2. Blue with Hints of Past Green AWAY – Using the basic design on the alternate road jersey blue we had this past season, but instead of using the “Mavs” font on the road, we thought repping the city “DALLAS” was needed back. This ‘Dallas’ font was a signature from ’93-’01 and blends well with the reincorporated green tone the Mavs used in years past.

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3. Dallas Skyline Whites HOME – After considering idea after idea about how to be the most creative without going over the top we settled on inspirations from two NBA franchises – the Denver Nuggets and Seatlle Super Sonics. Both had made use of city skylines to depict their logos and/or team jerseys. What better way to embrace the city of Dallas than to have it on the jersey!

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4. Dallas Skyline Blues AWAY – Using nearly the exact concept of the Dallas Skyline Whites these would be the Mavs main road uniform with ‘DALLAS’ on the chest/front as opposed to ‘Mavs’ on whites. Both include font on the shorts front/right leg, opposite of what appears on the chest.

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5. Fresh Look to the 80s & Early 90s ALTERNATE – Figuring out what would work best as an alternate was not simple. Some obvious choices were a different shade of blue, some kind of Mavs green or venture out for a black on black experience. Thought why not try and blend all three ideas into one without the appearance of someone puking colors on an NBA uniform. The green dominates as a staple from the early Mavs years (also P Diddy greens), with usage of both the ‘Mavericks’ and ‘Dallas’ fonts (1980-1992). Blue intervenes as the trim here, slightly used in the elder Mavs logo on the shorts. Black has been an idea tossed around and we ventured to use it as the secondary color on this version and we’re pleased.

The most important feature of this jersey is the artwork that would appear near the right shoulder, opposite the NBA logo, which represents the 35th year in Mavericks history.

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And there’s that.

Tell us what you think!

Postseason play produced only two wins before losing four straight and elimination to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Not quite the conclusion the little brother in Los Angeles expected. More importantly, Chris Paul becomes are free agent July 1st and the early ousting may affect his decision to stay or leave.

Here are some quotes from his exit interview (VIDEO: Complete Version) on Saturday May 4th:

A long, great season hits a brick wall:

“I have nothing to do, this is unreal, like I had no idea this season would be over…we only played two weeks longer than everybody else who didn’t make the playoffs. It sucks.”

You recruited players last summer, will they (LA Clippers) now be recruiting you?

“I don’t know…we’ll see, we’ll see. I don’t know how this whole thing’s gonna go or play out. I’m gonna pray about it.”

Asked to compare the 17-win streak in December and the playoffs:

“December and May, they don’t go together…at all.”

What does ‘built for the playoffs’ mean to you:

“Built for the playoffs means you have to have a little bit of everything. You have to have shooting, defense…all that different stuff.”

Whether it’s difficult or not to watch the rest of the playoffs:

“Yeah. No question…and I watch ESPN, SportsCenter all day…everyday, but not now.”

On liking LA, West Coast guy now? Part of the equation for you, family?

“Did I like it, yeah I liked. I loved it out here – Of course, if everybody hated it…you know what I mean? My family is very easy going, what’s not to like. It’s far away from home, but fortunately I’ve been blessed to be in a situation where my parents, my wife’s parents and my family we always got people in town.”

Paul talks about taking his time to decide on his future in what will be his first true all-out free agency frenzy. A Clippers return on a 5-year max contract worth $107 million appears the probable route.

However, since CP3 isn’t ready to make an official announcement nor should he prior to the July 1st free agent floodgates, we can take some time to at least consider other options for the NBA’s best point guard – with focus on our Dallas Mavericks.

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Once upon a time Chris Paul was ready to be a Dallas Maverick. Reported early in the 2012-2013 season by CBSSports’ Matt Moore which originally derived from Yahoo! Sports NBA writer Marc Spears’ article titled ‘What stopped Dwight Howard and Chris Paul from playing together as Dallas Mavericks?‘.

Inside you’ll understand that this idea spanned over a couple years and would have involved the cooperation from BOTH Paul and then Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. Howard’s indecisiveness deflated the opportunity to join forces at that point.

If I take anything away from their failed execution to partner up, it’s the fact that Paul was ready to work for Mark Cuban and the Mavs organization just last summer. Events didn’t materialize then, but now Paul (and Howard) are on the brink of becoming unrestricted FA a year later.

Dallas or any team with cap space could only offer Paul a 4-year max contract worth about $80 million. On the surface that’s a glaring disadvantage, but in reality with some mathematical breakdown of all known money/tax details involved the numbers aren’t far off.

This with the thought process that Paul or Howard would both try for one last max deal which involves them opting out of a fifth year with their respective Los Angeles squad. At that point Paul will be 32 years-old and Howard 31.

For more in-depth coverage on this check out the material from Mike Fisher and David Lord at DallasBasketball.com or this article (Dollar Differences) by Tim MacMahon on ESPN Dallas.

A section in Moore’s report on CBSSports from November 2012 intrigues as it relates to the current situation:

 - Dallas continues to be the “almost but not quite” destination for superstars, and it leaves them both in the running for Paul and Howard in 2013 should their stints with their respective teams go catastrophically wrong, and still huge underdogs despite being really the only other team on the board.

Catastrophically wrong? Both Paul and Howard were ejected in their final games of the season. Howard used ‘nightmare’ to describe his lone year as a Laker, while CP3 was clearly not satisfied playing only six more games than non-playoff teams.

In other words, neither concluded their seasons with a fairy tale ending.

Dallas may not have the most attractive roster to alone lure Paul away from his highlight reel big men Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. The Mavs have veterans in Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Vince Carter, but the Clippers have some too in Caron Butler, Jamal Crawford and Chauncey Billups.

The Mavs do have positives in their favor.

Mark Cuban – Owner with unmatched passion for his team, savvy and involved.

Donnie Nelson – GM that’s advantageous, bold and beyond diligent in his work to always make the Mavs better.

Rick Carlisle – An upper-echelon coach in the league today. Respect. Relentless to get the most of his players.

Dirk Nowitzki – He’s going to be 35, we know, but let’s get that out of the way. Dirk’s work ethic combined with his unique style of play should grant him three or four more solid years in his legendary career, a couple still at an elite level. Dirk isn’t Blake, but more importantly Blake isn’t Dirk. 41 is an accomplished player, future first ballot Hall of Famer and NBA champion – a winner.

It’s not fair to say Paul has the best shot at winning a title with Dirk and the Mavs, because a player of CP3′s caliber could go to most teams and morph them into title contenders.

The point here is more about visualizing his short-list options IF he surprised people and decided to move on from the Clippers. On that list you probably have Dallas, Atlanta and Houston.

Each has its reasons to attract Paul. I already went over Dallas, but what about the Hawks and Rockets?

With the Houston Rockets, you envision CP3 merging into an already rich environment of untapped youth potential and a superstar in the making – James Harden. Chandler Parsons elevated his game this season which would provide Paul with two sweet treats on the wing. Houston has always wanted Dwight Howard and may be able to entertain the idea of Paul and Howard finally joining forces as Rockets.

Atlanta owns plenty cap space to sign both Paul and Howard, similar to the Rockets. They have their own star free agent in Josh Smith who isn’t sure about his future either. The Hawks would LOVE to sign Chris Paul, the point guard they passed on in 2005, drafting Marvin Williams instead. Paul running the show with Al Horford, a re-signed Josh Smith and other solid free agents has appeal.

It all comes back to the Mavs and playing alongside Dirk though. Chris knows something when it comes to German father-to-be…

He is a problem, Chris. Now imagine Paul and Dirk working pick and roll/pop. Dirk and Terry had formed themselves into quite the impressive two-man game, but it would not compare to the deadly duo of 3 and 41.

One thing you see in Chris Paul – he’s hungry. Paul wants to win more than anything and at 28 the time in now. It’s safe to say that realistically looking at the options available to him, Paul cannot join a better superstar than Dirk in this moment.

James Harden exploded this season and is on the verge of superstar status, but Dirk is still the better option and fit. Dwight Howard and Paul would be fun to watch and it could happen, in what city though? Not LA. After those two, no one is close to Dirk’s level.

All in all, we must continue to wait this process out until the new season officially begins on the first of July. We already know Mark, Donnie and staff are in the battle room devising multiple plans and scenarios, prepping for what they would like to be the best summer in Mavericks history (2011 was pretty good, Champs!).

It starts with Chris Paul.

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Feel free to comment with your thoughts and questions!

Follow and contact me on Twitter @thedfactor and @TheMavsFanatic