As I mentioned before, this 2018 NBA re-draft doesn’t have the Dallas Mavericks and the Hawks pulling off that pivotal trade that involved the exchange of the dynamic point guards Doncic and Young. Instead, the Mavericks and Hawks keep their original draft picks since Doncic and Young are the top two picks in this draft.
Instead, the Mavericks and Hawks both get to fill respective frontcourt needs. The Mavericks elect to go with the original first round draft pick of the Grizzlies, 6-foot-11 former Michigan State Spartans power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. One of the top five contenders for the Rookie of the Year honors last season is a good get for the Mavericks in this spot.
Although the Mavericks wouldn’t be getting their MVP contending point guard that is leading them to prominence this season with Doncic, Jackson Jr. could still be a solid building block. The pick-and-roll potential that Jackson Jr. would bring to the table would still be a great presence for whatever floor general the Mavericks would have in Doncic’s place.
If the Mavericks were still able to pull off the trade to land Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks, then the combination with him and Jackson Jr. would also be dynamic. Jackson Jr. great within the three-point line and Kristaps could help the Mavericks space the floor. Jackson Jr. is also a better floor spacer this season, shooting better then 40 percent from beyond the arc.