9. Dallas Mavericks – OG Anunoby
Most teams in a draft don’t hit big with a superstar and have to be good at finding role players to fill out their roster. OG Anunoby is no superstar, but he fills the most important non-star role in the NBA: 3-and-D wing.
Anunoby’s value is largely drawn from his defensive versatility. He has the size and agility to guard opposing 2’s or 3’s, and can even guard some 4’s against small-ball lineups. Pair that with his 38 percent 3-point shooting this season and you have a guy who is a star in his role.
But probably my favorite part of Anunoby’s game is that he just knows what to do. That sounds like something everyone should have but it’s rarer than you might think, especially for young players. Anunoby’s physical profile lends itself to being a good individual defender, but it’s his basketball IQ that allows him to thrive as a team defender which is equally as important.
It’s a shame that Anunoby was injured for Toronto’s championship run last year, but I have no doubts that he is a player who could play big minutes in a playoff series. And when you’re drafting role players, that’s all you can really ask for.