My Mavs Draft Top 10 Draft Board

With the NBA Draft less than three weeks away let's take a look at the top prospects from a Mavs-centric point of view. After all the Mavs with the ninth pick will be picking the highest they have since they drafted a certain 7 foot German all those years ago. This is not necessarily how I would rank these players based on pure talent but on possible fit for the Mavericks.

1. Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington

Fultz is the consensus #1 pick in the draft for a reason. He has all the tools you look for in an elite point guard such as size, quickness and shooting ability. Don't let his team's poor record fool you, Fultz is the most likely player in the draft to be a franchise player. Expect to see him in Celtics green come draft night.

2. Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA

Yes, he has an overbearing dad who won't shut up, but Ball is a special talent who should be worth whatever trouble his father creates. He is an elite level passer who seemingly makes everybody around him better. He has a funky looking jumper, that none the less was very effective for him last year. Questions remain about his defense however. He shouldn't get past the Lakers with the second pick.

3. Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas

The best wing in this draft class, Jackson has the tools and athleticism to be a top notch defender. His offense remains a work in progress but he shot surprising well from three point range in his one year at Kansas. Think of him as a better shooting Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Unlikely to be available for the Mavs unless they trade up.

4. De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky

His stock rose after dominating Ball in a tournament game, seemingly putting him out of range for the Mavs. Has first-rate quickness and penetrating ability that calls to mind another Kentucky point guard, John Wall. His big question mark is his outside shooting capability. If he can improve in that area as Wall has you are looking at an all-star level player.

5. Dennis Smith, PG, N.C. State

The first player that could realistically be available when the Mavs pick at 9, Smith has a lot of the tools you are looking for with a point guard in today's NBA. The most constant comparison you hear with Smith is with Steve Francis. He has that kind of athleticism and ability. Like with Francis there are questions with what kind of team player Smith is,especially after N.C. State suffered a very disappointing season. However, Smith's talent will be very hard to pass up if he's still there when the Mavs are on the clock.

6. Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, Florida St.

There is a lot of upside potential with Isaac, who could turn into a premier two way forward if things go right. His year at FSU showed his immense talent but also a lot of inconsistency, especially on offense where he could disappear for long stretches. Isaac is a top talent though, who would seemingly fit well at the forward spot next to Harrison Barnes.

7.Frank Ntilikina, PG, France

I've seen a lot of less of Ntilikina than the other top prospects in this draft due to him playing professionally in France. The things I have seen and read about him give one plenty to get excited about. While raw, Ntilikina has the size and length to be impactful on both ends of the court. The Mavericks have scouted him plenty reportedly and you can see him being the type of player that would really interest Donnie Nelson. They'll have to patient if they pick him, but Ntilikina could be a player who pays big dividends down the road.

8. Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke

Tatum is probably a top five talent in this draft. The problem from a Mavs point of view is the similarity in his style of play to that of Harrison Barnes. Like Barnes, Tatum excels in isolation opportunities especially against smaller opponents. Scoring is what he does best and he tends to do a lot of it. Even though the fit with Barnes would be less than idela, if Tatum somehow slipped to 9 his talent would make it really hard for the Mavs to pass him up.

9. Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky

Monk is a pretty polarizing prospect who has both significant strengths and weaknesses. The strength is obvious, he's the best shooter in the draft who's capable of incredible scoring binges. On the other hand, Monk is undersized at the 2 spot and lacks the ballhandling ability to play the 1. What you probably end up getting is a Jamal Crawford like player, although Monk has a better jump and worse handles than Crawford. That the Mavs already have a somewhat similar player in Seth Curry probably makes him a lesser priority.

10. Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona

Let's get this out of the way first, Markkanen is in no way the next Dirk. Yes, he's a 7 foot European who can shoot from outside, but so was Andrea Bargnani. That being said Markkanen is still a very intriguing prospect with Ryan Anderson being a more fitting comparison. Markkenen's ability to defend at the NBA level is very much in doubt and he doesn't rebound as well as you would someone his size to. He can be a possible potent offensive weapon however and being able to learn from Dirk would only help his development.

Other prospects worth considering: Donovan Mitchell, O.G.Anunoby, Zach Collins, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles.