Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumor is becoming the biggest threat to Mavericks' draft plans
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumor is becoming the biggest threat to Mavericks’ draft plans originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo trade opera dominated NBA headlines for months. It finally ended Monday night when the Milwaukee Bucks sent their franchise cornerstone to the Miami Heat.
Dallas Mavericks were busy with their own offseason chaos, such as firing Jason Kidd, hiring Dusty May and trying to figure out what to do at No. 9. But those two storylines are now directly colliding on draft night, and the Mavs may be the ones who lose.
The conflict centers on 19-year-old Arizona guard Brayden Burries and there is a very real possibility emerging that the Bucks grab him one pick after Dallas.
Burries has been the most frequently mentioned name connected to the Mavs’ No. 9 pick for weeks. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Burries skipped workouts with select teams in the top 10, including the Sacramento Kings at No. 7, and there is “a belief that the Dallas Mavericks, selecting at No. 9, are one of his preferred landing spots.”
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman had the Mavs taking him there in his latest mock, calling out Burries‘ “downhill attacking, shotmaking, strong defensive tools and knack for scoring without needing heavy usage.”
He fits well alongside Cooper Flagg. Burries is a strong, physical, two-way guard who can score inside and shoot from three. That is exactly the type of backcourt partner Dallas needs while 34-year-old Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL. However, because of the recent trade, the Bucks now pick right after Dallas and could easily steal Burries if the Mavericks are hesitant due to the many choices available at No. 9.
Burries doesn’t have a wide draft range. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo puts him between Nos. 8 and 11, with Dallas at 9 frequently mentioned and Golden State Warriors at 11 as his floor. That two-pick window is razor thin, and the Giannis trade just made it more complicated.
Woo noted that Burries “appears to have a narrow range between Nos. 8 and 11, with Dallas frequently mentioned and Golden State viewed as his backstop. He would present a best-available case here for the Bucks, giving them another ball handler and interchangeable perimeter option and a player who can immediately plug into their backcourt.”
Before trading Antetokounmpo, the Bucks were a contending team focused on their superstar. They had little reason to draft the 19-year-old guard. But now they are rebuilding.
As a franchise in transition, they suddenly need exactly the type of young, versatile playmaker Burries represents. Antetokounmpo’s trade literally changed their draft strategy entirely, creating a problem for Dallas.
More NBA news:
- Kyrie Irving’s relationship with Kidd is gone, and Dusty May could push him out the door
- Three key reasons Dusty May left Michigan for Mavericks job exposed
- AJ Dybantsa exposes unexpected Houston Rockets influence on his rise and it’s interesting
- Kevin Durant reveals the elite teammate trait he desperately wanted with Thunder
- Giannis Antetokounmpo trade idea involves 8 players, 5 picks and a $285 million star
