Unless the Dallas Mavericks make a trade before the NBA Draft, their only selection this year will be No. 58 overall. Sure, the No. 58 pick will not receive much attention. That does not mean it should be overlooked, though. Perhaps the Mavs will find a diamond in the rough.
Bronny James has been rumored to be a potential target for Dallas. The expectation is that James will not fall any lower than No. 55 in the draft, which is the Los Angeles Lakers' final pick this year. The Lakers are the favorite to draft James.
There will still be plenty of intriguing talent when the Mavericks find themselves on the clock during the second round. Without further ado, here are four sneaky players the Mavericks can take with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Enrique Freeman, Akron
Freeman was a standout forward for the Akron Zips this past season. A five-year player, Freeman consistently displayed signs of improvement throughout his college career.
In 2023-24, Freeman averaged 18.6 points per game on 58.4 percent field goal and 37 percent three-point shooting. He doesn't shoot many three-pointers per outing but features the ability to knockdown open looks.
Overall, Freeman is regarded as a scoring threat who could find success in the NBA. He's also a good rebounder. Freeman recorded 10.6 rebounds per game during his college career and 12.9 rebounds per game during his final season with Akron.
The 23-year-old is 6'7, making him an undersized frontcourt player. With that being said, he's still considered a quality rebounder for his size. Additionally, his height should allow him to offer versatility as a defender. If Freeman can score at a respectable level while featuring the ability to guard multiple positions, he will be a valuable NBA player for the Mavericks or whichever team he ends up with.
Melvin Ajinca, France
Ajinca, 19, is a player who has been discussed as a possible second round target for a number of teams. He's a French player who averaged 9.3 points per outing for Saint-Quentin this past season.
Ajinca still needs to develop before factoring into an NBA team's rotation. His ceiling is quite intriguing, though. If Ajinca lives up to his potential, he should emerge as a quality two-way player.
At 6'8, Ajinca is a forward who has a high IQ and has demonstrated impressive rebounding ability. The question is whether or not he will develop enough scoring prowess in the NBA. Scouts seem to believe in his three-point shot which is what may set him apart from other players this late in the NBA draft.
The Mavericks could use another reliable scorer, so taking a chance on Ajinca will be an option.
Ajay Mitchell, UC Santa Barbara
Mitchell spent three years with UC Santa Barbara. He took a big step forward this past season, averaging 20 points per game on 50.4 percent field goal and 39.3 percent three-point shooting.
Mitchell clearly felt he was ready for the draft and opted against staying another year in college. Given his offensive performance, it probably wasn't a bad idea. He is receiving interest and there's a chance he will not be available when the Mavericks are on the clock at pick No. 58.
If Mitchell has not been selected yet, then Dallas should consider drafting him. He is an outside shooter who has playmaking potential as well. He is 6'5 which makes him a big guard. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are obviously the Mavericks guards of the future, but Mitchell could end up still receiving minutes as a role player to begin his career.
Dallas was among the team leaders in three-point attempts this past season. However, they were in the middle-of-the-pack in regards to efficiency. Drafting a player who almost shot 40 percent from beyond the arc will likely appeal to the Mavericks.
Pelle Larsson, Arizona
Larsson, 23, played four years in college, three of which came with Arizona. He is also a 6'5 guard who is an efficient three-point shooter. In fact, Larsson shot 42.6 percent from deep in 2023-24.
He also averaged 12.8 points per outing and shot 51.9 percent from the field. Larsson's ability to create for teammates to go along with his scoring prowess makes him an interesting prospect. He is also a respectable defender.
Larsson's upside is questionable. He may be able to become a role player in the NBA if he maintains his offensive efficiency. Scouts do not seem to think he will completely upset the odds and become a star. Nevertheless, drafting Larsson could end up being a quality move for the Mavs given his skillset.
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