DRAFT: #18 [Green] & #31 [Terry] & trade for #36 [Tyler Bey]

[DanSchwartzgan]

Assuming we get through the TDL without giving up our early 2nd from GS.  The value chart shows #31 + #20 being of similar worth to the 13th or 14th pick.  Maybe we can take advantage of some other team having money issues (Portland?) and needing to trade down.

Will the Mavs use one of their picks or not? When you're in a situation like the Mavs, trying to do your best to advance as far as you can in the playoffs and just a year or two away from serious contention (knock on wood), an NBA-ready draft pick needs to be good enough to join the back end of the 10-man rotation, contributing without hurting too much. Developmental players will have a hard time getting developed and require long-term patience - you won't know if you have anything of any worth whatsoever until toward the end of their rookie contract. That, to me, indicates that you may be right - either the Mavs will trade up to the point of getting an NBA-ready guy who can contribute on the back end of the rotation right away, or they will trade their pick. We'll see.

You make a good point about having minutes to develop on a stacked team.  Let's say for argument sake that this is our top 10 next year with JJB finally retiring after this season:

Powell/Dieng
KP/Maxi
DFS/Culver
THJ/Curry
Luka/Brunson

The slot I see as vulnerable is Brunson's spot.  Finding a good PG who can help run the second unit while also finding success next to Luka would be a reasonable goal for your pick.  The other thing I was thinking about in terms of moving up was getting the bigger name guy for a trade later.  We think Giannis, Beal and Oladipo might change teams via free agency in 2021.  But, I think it just as likely it happens by trade.  Whoever we might get at 13 or 14 will probably have more trade value than a combination of 20 and 31.