2017 NBA Mock Draft 6.0: Suns snag Lonzo Ball; Heat trade up for Fox

Mar 24, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) controls the ball against Kentucky Wildcats forward Wenyen Gabriel (32) in the first half during the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Dallas Mavericks – Lauri Markkanen, F/C, Arizona

GM: Evangelos Kotsifis

Lauri Markkanen certainly passes the eye test for Dirk 2.0. He is a European big with size, solid grasp of fundamentals and a great shooting touch. Markkanen left Arizona with a more than respectable 42.3 three point percentage.

In the era of spacing and shooting forwards and centers, he seems perfectly suited for the role. He stands 7 feet tall and weighs 200 lbs and has shown glimpses of a well shaped talent during his lone year in college.

Under the guidance of coach Carlisle he is bound to get better over time. Even if he does not live up to the hype or the potential, and truthfully that is an extremely high bar, he will serve as a rotational big who curves defenses open with his elite shooting. Not a bad choice for the Mavericks, keeping in mind that there were no sure-thing game changers available at no 9.