Editor’s note: This story will be updated continually.
The NBA’s Nov. 18 draft date is set.
Dallas will pick at No. 18 in the first round. The Mavericks have just one first-round pick (2022) in the following three years because of the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
The Mavericks' first and only second-round pick will come at No. 31 because it traded one, via Utah, in January to acquire Willie Cauley-Stein from the Warriors and traded its own in 2017 to Philadelphia for Nerlens Noel.
Here’s who experts predict Dallas to select in the first round:
SB Nation community (Nov. 12)
18. Mavericks: C Aleksej Pokusevski, Olympicacos B
“With the 18th pick the Dallas Mavericks select perhaps the most polarizing player in the 2020 draft. The Mavericks won’t have a pick this high (or a pick, period) for years, so this is their last chance to add raw and young talent to their roster. Does he make sense for the short term? No. But if Poku can add weight and perform against better quality talent, he might just be ready for Dallas right when Luka Dončić's rookie extension kicks in and it gets more difficult financially to add pieces to the Mavericks. His skill set and size is just too much to ignore at this point in the draft.
2019-20 season stats: 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists
• Read the SB Nation community’s full mock draft here.
The Ringer (Nov. 12)
18. Mavericks: G Josh Green, Arizona
“The Mavericks are looking all over for a secondary playmaking presence behind Luka Doncic; they’re chasing Indiana’s Victor Oladipo, Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie, and Chicago’s Zach LaVine. Whether any deal is completed before draft night remains to be seen; should they stay here, however, their choices might be limited and it could make more sense to target a 3-and-D wing, such as Green. The Mavs had to put Seth Curry on Kawhi Leonard in the playoffs; Green could alleviate that defensive responsibility in the future with his energetic style.
2019-20 season stats: 12 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists
• Read The Ringer’s full mock draft here.
CBS Sports (Nov. 12)
18. Mavericks: G Tyrese Maxey, Kentucky
“Tyrese Maxey was inconsistent and mostly underwhelming in his one season at Kentucky. But most still believe he’s a talented-enough combo guard who will be able to score in the NBA.”
2019-20 season stats: 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists
• Read CBS Sports' full mock draft here.
ESPN (Nov. 12)
18. Mavericks: C Aleksej Pokusevski, Olympicacos B
“GM Donnie Nelson has had considerable success with international prospects and could very well be intrigued by the upside of Pokusevski, the youngest player in the draft and arguably the most distinctive. A 7-footer who can dribble, pass and shoot, Pokusevski is several years away physically but has impressive versatility on both ends of the floor.
2019-20 season stats: 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists
• Read ESPN’s full mock draft here.
Bleacher Report (Nov. 16)
18. Mavericks: G Desmond Bane, TCU
“Teams have raved about Bane’s interviews, but his first-round case is still built around an attractive mix of shooting, passing and defensive IQ. The Mavericks are interested, and they may not want to risk seeing if he’s there at No. 31."
2019-20 season stats: 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists
• Read Bleacher Report’s full mock draft here.
The Athletic (Nov. 10)
18. Mavericks: C Aleksej Pokusevski, Olympicacos B
“Okay, let’s talk about the biggest mystery meat of the draft, because there is a lot of subterfuge to process here. The rumor is that Pokusevski has a promise from a team in the first round, and that’s why he bailed on the draft combine. Bigger picture, that may also be why he bailed on much of his 2019-20 season, depending on when the promise came. Adding fuel to the fire are two data points: 1) Pokusevski’s agent, Jason Ranne, used to work for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and 2) The Thunder themselves are notorious in league circles for promising their pick and having him shut down workouts and other public viewings waaaaay ahead of the draft. I don’t think the Thunder are the only ones playing poker here, though. At the 18th pick, we have a Dallas team with a noted proclivity for swinging for the fences on high-upside international prospects. Sometimes they get Dirk Nowitzki and sometimes they get Pavel Podkolzin, but they’ll keep swinging.” ... read the full breakdown here.
2019-20 season stats: 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists
• Read The Athletic’s full mock draft here.
SB Nation (Nov. 5)
18. Mavericks: G Josh Green, Arizona
“Green is the definition of an elite athlete on the wing while also offering projectable spot-up shooting. The 6′5 freshman flew all over the court for Arizona this season, showcasing impossibly quick hips, tremendous straight line speed, and sharp defensive instincts. He isn’t a threat to create off the dribble, but adds value offensively in transition and potentially as a catch-and-shoot threat. Green ranked in the 77th percentile on spot-ups while hitting 36 percent of his threes on relatively low volume (2.8 attempts per game). It feels like this could be a major addition for a Dallas team that needs defense and athleticism on the wing.”
2019-20 season stats: 12 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists
• Read SB Nation’s full mock draft here.
Rotoworld (Nov. 2)
18. Mavericks: PF/C Jalen Smith, Maryland
“Will Kristaps Porzingis be ready when the season begins? That’s tough to say, especially when we don’t know exactly when next season will begin. But even if he were, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to add some insurance given his medical history. For that reason Smith could be an option for the Mavericks here, as he’s coming off of a sophomore season in which he averaged 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 0.7 steals per game. The 6-foot-10 Smith also shot 36.8 percent from three on 2.8 attempts per game, with his percentage jumping a full ten points from the season prior. He’s athletic and works hard on both ends of the floor, and he’d be a good fit for a team that’s looking to grab a seat at the table with the West’s best. This all being said, it would not be a surprise if the Mavericks used this pick in order to add a third star to their roster."
2019-20 season stats: 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists
• Read Rotoworld’s full mock draft here.
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