Less-than-stellar NBA draft preserves status quo for Dallas Mavericks

by Erin Rice

Excitement wasn't exactly on the agenda for Mavericks fans across DFW as they prepared to watch the NBA Draft on Thursday evening. Hoping that the team might trade higher into the first round, Cuban and company actually traded down two spots on Wednesday, taking Portland's 24th pick. Adding to that what critics considered one of the thinnest fields of draft talent in years, Dallas fans were prepared to be let down.

Despite the anti-climax, and perhaps even a little disappointment that was to be expected, Mavs ManiAACS and basketball friendly families made their way to the official draft watching party at Chili's in the American Airlines Center. Packing the place hours before the Mavericks' pick was even to happen, it was standing room only by 7 p.m. with an indeterminate wait as patrons were hanging out to watch the proceedings.

As point guard after point guard was snatched up (hell, Minnesota took three until they traded Ty Lawson out to Denver), fans were left to wonder what was left for the 24th pick. Dallas initially took Ohio State center B.J Mullens, but quickly traded for Oklahoma City's 25th pick, French point guard Rodrigue Beaubois.

Beaubois from Guadeloupe, France was discovered at an open basketball camp by NBA player Mickael Pietrus. In the two previous drafts he entered his name early but pulled out to continue playing for French Pro A team Cholet Basket. In 2008-09 he doubled most of his figures from the previous season, averaging 10 points per 22.3 minutes of play over 29 games.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban, pointing out two of Beaubois' most notable characteristics, twittered this about his first rounder: "Fun fact -1st rd pick. got with in 1 " of blake griffin on the touch the top of the backboard test. The guy is crazy athletic, 6'10 reach." (Other reports put that reach figure at 6'11").

While head coach Rick Carlisle says the Frenchman will not be stashed away in Europe next season, claiming he got just the guy he wanted, critics doubt Beaubois will see much playing time, if any, in the immediate future.

The Mavericks acquired a second guard from Minnesota, Florida's Nick Calathes, giving the Timberwolves a second-round pick. Currently playing for Maroussi of the Greek League, Calathes will likely spend this year abroad as the Mavs retain rights to him. With the 56th overall pick, the Mavericks picked up 6'9" forward Ahmad Nivins from St. Joseph's.

As the night dragged on, what became obvious was that the Mavs' picks and moves throughout the day left the club at status quo, while several others, like Denver and San Antonio, improved, be it through selections or trades in the week leading up to the draft. But operations president Donnie Nelson warns fans not to become complacent. With Jerry Stackhouse and Erick Dampier's healthy contracts potentially up for grabs, Nelson indicated that free agency plays will keep the summer enticing. Hopefully he's right, because draft night itself hardly got the blood pumping in Big D.

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