The Dallas Mavericks went from NBA title holders in 2011 to being swept in the first round in 2012, so the team has some major decisions to make on what to do with the veteran core in place. The Mavs have the No. 17 choice in the upcoming 2012 NBA Draft, and Tom Ziller has his latest mock out that gives Dallas some help in the backcourt with Duke’s Austin Rivers.
Ziller writes, “… and we’ll see 13 ‘Doc to Dallas’ rumors, five essays on why Austin will be better than Jason Terry, three posts comparing Rivers favorably to Rodrigue Beaubois and the most atrocious set of proposed nicknames you’ve ever seen. (I love you, Mavericks fans.)”
NBADraft.net likes Rivers’ talent at the NBA level, despite concerns about his position at the next level. On his profile, they compare him with O.J. Mayo and say, “Rivers is an exciting prospect and a potentially electric offensive player at the next level.”
The NBA Draft takes place on June 28.