Could Braylon Mullins fill the Mavericks' shooting void? One mock draft sees Dallas targeting the UConn sniper with a first-round pick.
March Madness has concluded, and as usual, it was full of some of the craziest moments you've ever seen on a basketball court. Understandably, some of those moments and performances can affect how some teams approach the NBA Draft.
In a recent mock by CBS Sports' Adam Finkelstein, the Dallas Mavericks use one of their first-round picks on a guy who showed up in a big way in the tournament. With the 30th pick, he has them taking UConn wing Braylon Mullins.
"An instant legend in Storrs for his 38-footer to beat Duke, we already know Mullins is a pure shooter with deep range," Finkelstein writes. "He's also a better defender than he gets credit for... If he elects to stay in the draft, he'll need some time, but he could be a nice long-term complement to a young core that features Flagg and Acuff in this scenario."
As mentioned, Dallas uses the sixth pick in this mock draft to take Arkansas superstar point guard Darius Acuff Jr., which makes the pick of a shooter like Mullins even better.
After a crucial turnover by the Duke Blue Devils in the final seconds against UConn in the Elite Eight, Mullins pulled up from dang near half court and drained it as time expired to send the Huskies to the Final Four.
And despite his team eventually losing in the championship game against Michigan, Mullins will still be known as a hero in Storrs.
That moment has also helped Mullins quickly build a reputation as one of the premier shooters in this class. Known for his deep range and ability to move without the ball, he profiles as a modern NBA wing who can stretch defenses the moment he steps on the floor.
For Dallas, the appeal is obvious. The Mavericks had the third-worst three-point percentage in the league this past season at 34.2 percent. So, needless to say, the team could use some shooting around Cooper Flagg.
Mullins averaged 12 points, just under four rebounds, and a steal per game in his freshman season at UConn, and he shot around 34 percent from beyond. That might not seem that impressive at first glance, but you also have to remember that he was asked to shoot a decently high volume at over six attempts per game.
UConn head coach Danny Hurley seems to be fighting to get Mullins to stay just one more year with the Huskies. So if a coach that recently won back-to-back championships wants a player so badly, you know they've gotta be something special.