'Less is More' Mavericks? Assessing Dallas' NBA Draft So Far

Something great doesn't always have to have an eye-popping feature like a bunch of diamonds. It's ok to have something of worth without needing to accessorize every little attribute of the item. Despite the Dallas Mavericks making the 2024 NBA Finals, following a myriad of trades that cost future assets, fans beg the question, did the Mavericks' lack of activity make for a bad 2024 NBA Draft?

Last season, the Mavericks pissed off basketball purists and writers alike, deciding to throw in the towel instead of fighting for a Play-In Tournament spot. However, what Dallas received in sacrificing organizational pride and possibly a frustrated Luka Doncic catapulted them into contending status.

'Less is More' Mavericks? Assessing Dallas' NBA Draft So Far

Dereck Lively II was a risky draft pick, especially for a team requiring win-now moves following a disappointing season in which the Mavericks missed the playoffs for the first time since Doncic's rookie season. However, Lively became a savior of the Mavericks' season, especially in the NBA postseason.

While the Mavericks' "unethical" entrance into the lottery was ultimately a positive move, it was the exception, not the rule. Not only was the way the Mavs moved into the lottery the exception, but acquiring an immediate impact player at such a spot or a rookie, in general, also fits the bill.

Sometimes, the moves a general manager doesn't make help more. For instance, the Minnesota Timberwolves received praise for trading into the lottery for a young, economically efficient player in Rob Dillingham. However, what are the chances a player drafted outside the top three of the draft is good enough to make an instantaneous impact, especially in the postseason?

Furthermore, Minnesota traded a first-round pick and a pick-swap for a player in a "weak" draft. You can't assume a player drafted is an automatic win for a franchise. Perhaps Dallas made the right move by assessing no player on the board is worth further risk for a team void of many assets.

While the Mavericks haven't re-signed Derrick Jones Jr. or traded Tim Hardaway Jr, one must realize the domino is still on the board. Paul George's free agency seems to catalyze what happens this summer.

The Mavericks made all-in moves last season, leading to an NBA Finals berth. You can't always hit home runs; sometimes, getting on base is good enough. Keeping with the baseball metaphor, George's free agency is the batter waiting to be walked before the rest of the league can make more significant moves.