The Dallas Mavericks concluded their 2023-24 season with an impressive playoff run and an NBA Finals appearance. Now, their focus shifts to free agency, the offseason, and the upcoming draft. With only Derrick Jones Jr. and Markieff Morris as free agents this summer, it’s crucial to reload the roster around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Strengthening the team through the draft is a key strategy, even though the Mavs only hold the No. 58 pick this year.
Over the years, the Mavericks have generally made the most of their draft picks, although they’ve had some notable misses. Players often get selected just before or after a team’s pick, and Dallas has experienced this numerous times. One particularly notable miss was Desmond Bane in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Bane was picked at No. 30 by the Boston Celtics and then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. Dallas, with the No. 31 pick, chose Tyrell Terry instead. Bane, who played college basketball at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, was a player the Mavericks had ample opportunity to scout. However, they didn’t show as much interest in him as he did in joining their team. Bane has expressed his desire to have been a Maverick if not a Grizzly, and he often speaks about how Dallas passed on him.
Since joining the NBA, Bane has become a key player for the Grizzlies, forming an effective partnership with Ja Morant. Over his four-year career, Bane has averaged 17.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from three-point range. His performance makes him an elite two-guard, a role that would have complemented Luka Doncic perfectly.
Now, the Mavericks have to face Bane multiple times each season as he plays within their division. This missed opportunity remains a significant what-if for the team and its fans. The story of Bane highlights how crucial each draft pick can be and how a single decision can impact a team’s future. As the Mavericks prepare for the next draft, they aim to avoid repeating such painful misses.
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