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NBA: Predicting the 2019 draft lottery teams

By Colin Cann

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles during a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles during a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 17: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Dallas Mavericks and Jamal Crawford #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at American Airlines Center on November 17, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 17: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Dallas Mavericks and Jamal Crawford #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at American Airlines Center on November 17, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

8. Dallas Mavericks

Another victim of the gauntlet in the West, the Dallas Mavericks may be better than some teams in the Eastern Conference but they will have a much tougher schedule. New rookie Luka Doncic is touted as the most NBA-ready prospect in the draft after playing with grown men in Europe for the past four seasons.

Dennis Smith Jr. has shown flashes of his potential, although he struggled mightily with defense and shot selection. Barnes is still in place after averaging 19 points per game over his two seasons in Texas, he remains a relatively inefficient volume scorer, though.

The addition of DeAndre Jordan should help improve the team field goal percentage if Doncic or Smith Jr. are able to break down defenses and open him up for lobs. The Mavs should be fun to watch this season, but they just don’t have the firepower to make a postseason run unless Dirk finds a time machine laying around.

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