Mavs Targeting Cam Whitmore Amid Surprise NBA Draft Fall?

One NBA Draft insider suggests a new development in the Mavs' plans for the 2023 NBA Draft amid a surprise fall for Cam Whitmore's draft stock.'

DALLAS — In a typical NBA Draft process, there is a talented prospect that ends up falling in projections during the days leading up to the event. After being a common projection to be selected by the Detroit Pistons at 5th overall, the stock of former Villanova wing Cam Whitmore appears to be falling. . 

When an unexpected name begins to fall, it can change a team's plans on draft night. The Dallas Mavericks, who finished 38-44 on the season, seemingly are no exception as they aim to add talent around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. 

According to Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports, the Mavs plan to use the 10th pick to select Whitmore if his fall lasts long enough, or they will trade the pick. 

"With Cam Whitmore possibly falling, there's speculation the Mavericks will either take Whitmore at No. 10 or trade the pick," Peek wrote.

Whitmore, a 6-foot-7 wing who weighs 232 pounds, has the physical tools that could help any team on the wing. During his lone season at Villanova, he averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 27.3 minutes per game. 

A common rationale provided as to why Whitmore may be falling include underwhelming workouts with teams ahead of June 22, along with alleged medical findings that seemingly are giving teams pause. There are some with concerns about his upside offensively given he struggled to shoot off the dribble (0.79 points per possession) at a high clip and didn't generate many looks for teammates (0.7 assists per game).

According to Rafael Barlowe of NBA Big Board, one scout still believes that Whitmore will end up being selected in the top 10 of the order, but pointed out that his workouts haven't been strong and he's "definitely falling."

"His workouts haven't been strong and teams aren’t in love with him like they were a few months back," the scout said. "He’ll still go in the top 10, but he’s definitely falling. He’s not a workout guy."

Not everyone around the league agrees with the louder sentiment about Whitmore's draft stock right now. Barlowe mentioned on the perspective of a scout that described the talk of Whitmore falling before the draft as a "smokescreen" and doesn't believe it's actually happening.

When Barlowe appeared on the 'Inside the Mavs' podcast shortly after the NBA Scouting Combine, he highlighted Whitmore as a name unlikely to fall, but one the Mavs would be "ecstatic" to see available if it was to occur.

"Maybe Cam Whitmore," Barlowe said when picking a name the Mavs would be lucky to land if they fell. "I can't see him falling to number 10, but he's 6-foot-7, 225 [pounds]. I think he will be able to play the three and the four spot in the NBA and he's young. He's only 18 years old. 

"I think he's like the second youngest player in his class, and he has some upside as a shot creator," Barlowe explained. "A lot of people are concerned about his lack of assist numbers, but you know, if you play for the Mavs, you play with Luka, they don't need you to get a lot of assists. Just run the floor, knock down open shots and be a finisher. If he falls to number 10, I think Dallas would be ecstatic, but I just can't see a situation where he falls."

There currently appear to be mixed signals out there about what the Mavs intend to do in the event a trade doesn't transpire. It's worth noting, Barlowe recently described Dereck Lively II as the prospect the Mavs will take if they stand pat.

"It’s believed if Dallas can’t strike a deal for a 3-and-D wing or a rim protector, Lively will be its choice to fill a massive hole in the middle and help a Mavericks team whose starting center averaged 4.1 rebounds per game last season," Barlowe wrote.

The consensus expectation for the Mavs' draft outcome remains that a trade will take place. However, there is no guarantee the right trade develops just as it's highly challenging to forecast who will be available by the time the 10th pick is on the clock.

Regardless of how it's accomplished, improve on defense and rebounding are priorities given the Mavs finished among the NBA's worst in 2022-23. There is a desire to overhaul the center position and surely to add talent on the wing. Doing so with a limited set of assets will be no easy feat.

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Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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