Inside Report: Mavs land Larkin in draft-day wheelings and dealings
DALLAS — While it took a little wheeling and dealing, the Dallas Mavericks eventually got their man in former Miami standout Shane Larkin, son of baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin.
Moving back twice in the first round of Thursday night’s NBA Draft, from No. 13 to 16 and finally to the 18th selection, the Mavericks landed the athletic Larkin while also sending last season’s first-round acquisition, Jared Cunningham, to Atlanta to free up salary cap space.
Trading the 13th pick -- Gonzaga center Kelly Olynyk -- to Boston in exchanging for the No. 16 selection -- Brazilian prospect Lucas Nogueira -- and two second-round picks in 2014, the Mavericks then made yet another splash by sending Cunningham, the rights to Nogueira and pick No. 44 -- Bucknell’s Mike Muscala -- to Atlanta to move two spots back, grabbing the rights to the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year with the 18th selection.
"We had lots of scenarios -- trade up, trade down, trade out," Mavericks president of basketball operations and GM Donnie Nelson said.
He added: "Larkin is one of the top point guards in the draft. He's got the ability to get in the paint and also score. You know, his ability to break down defenses is certainly a strong point with leadership qualities. For us to get him when we did, we feel very good about that."
As a sophomore with the Hurricanes, Larkin averaged 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists an outing in 36 games while garnering First Team All-ACC and Second Team All-American honors. The 5-11, 176-pounder also knocked down 47.9 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from 3-point range, placing in the ACC's top 10 in assists, steals, minutes and 3-point percentage.
Larkin, who was also the ACC Tournament MVP, dazzled pro scouts at the NBA Combine last month while displaying a 44-inch max vertical. And it’s his athleticism that has the Mavs’ brass excited.
"Well, let's face it. He has phenomenal bloodlines," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said of Larkin's athleticism. "His dad is one of the all-time great Major League players in history. Barry Larkin is a Hall of Famer, so it's interesting. You know, Shane would have been a great baseball player had he opted to go that way. I think that's obvious. He selected to go with basketball, which is interesting, and he's excelled with it.
"I just think speed is so important to the game today. One of the things that's really unique about him is that from an analytics standpoint he's one of the best guys we've seen coming out of college shooting off the dribble. It's a bit of a lost art. He's one of the best in the game coming out of college this year and he can also get places and get other guys involved, so I just think he's good and going to get better. I just think he's the kind of guy that fits into today's game. I think he's going to help other guys on our team be better and I think he's going to keep getting better, too, because he's a worker."
The Maveicks will now turn their attention to the start of free agency on July 1, looking to add a big fish to pair with 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.
