MAVS NEWS:

[F Gump]

2025 has been heralded as one of the most stacked draft classes of the last 10 years. .

If you think that, you shouldn't. At one time, yes it was labeled that way. However, that's not how it actually turned out (and I'm not seeing anyone who says otherwise).

It's VERY thin at the top, with not much quantity OR quality behind Flagg, and there's not much depth to the draft either. The sizable guaranteed contracts to kids who by default end up being 1st rounders (because they are the best that's left) but are never worth a roster spot will be MANY. Sure, some of them will pan out as always, but it's a real crapshoot. And the Mavs can't really afford to get stuck with that guy who is junk, littering their cap with a multi-year guarantee. Frankly, I think B Will and Kai would be late lottery or so if they could jump into this draft right now, even at their age.

I wanted pick 1. Period. I was leery of picks in the Mavs range at 11 or so, and didn't see sure value past pick 4 or so. Not sure there's another All-Star to be except CF.

This draft fizzled to a large degree because of the emergence of big paychecks to college players. The middle tier of the 1st round and early 2nds can now get paid VERY well to stay in college and work on their game, rather than jump to NBA and face much harder opposition. So they did.