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Alexander is the excitement new owner wanted
Associated Press
DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks triggerman Don Nelson filled two
key needs in the draft Wednesday night: he got a big guy to defend
inside and he acquired the scorer his boss wanted.
Dallas took power forward Etan Thomas of Syracuse with the No.
12 pick, then traded a second-round choice, a future first-rounder
and $3 million to Orlando for the rights to NCAA scoring champion
Courtney Alexander of Fresno State, who went 13th.
"We got the two guys we wanted all along," said Nelson,
Dallas' coach and general manager. "Everything worked out
perfectly. I just couldn't be more pleased."
The 6-foot-9, 256-pound Thomas was a logical choice because the
Mavericks need someone to grab rebounds and block shots.
Alexander doesn't fit on paper because Dallas already has an
exciting scorer in All-Star Michael Finley.
But new owner Mark Cuban wanted a flashy pick with lots of
upside and the Mavs are convinced Alexander is it.
"When we first started," Cuban said, "I asked Nellie, 'Who in
this draft could come in and be a star the quickest?' We looked at
all the players and said ... Courtney Alexander is probably the one
guy who can walk out there for us and put up 20 from Day One. I
said, 'OK.' "
Alexander was a top-five pick on many early mock drafts. NBA
teams soured on him likely because of previous off-court problems,
not for anything he does on the court.
Alexander said he was told he'd be taken "everywhere from three
to 10."
"I slid a little bit, but what can you do?" he said. "I'm
truly happy to be in the position I'm in now. I'm a gifted basketball player. What I've tried to do is hone
that talent properly. I do hope to be a star in this league."
The Mavericks were willing to trade up to get Alexander, then
were pleasantly surprised they didn't have to. Nelson sealed the
deal with the Magic before going to bed the night before the draft,
then kept his fingers crossed all day.
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Thu, June 29
In grading out this draft, the big winners were Dallas and the Los
Angeles Clippers. As Dr. V., I am going to give the Mavericks an A+.
Don Nelson and company added Etan Thomas, Courtney Alexander and Donnell Harvey, as well as John
Wallace and Eric Murdock.
Alexander has superstar talent and should have an immediate impact, providing instant offense to Dallas.
Thomas gives the Mavericks a defensive presence up front and his athleticism will be a factor. Harvey will need
to improve his offense, but he can be a big time force on the boards.
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"We tried to trade up to get him. If we could've gotten to
five, six, we would've taken the same guy. We never realized we
didn't have to. We just realize we got real lucky and he fell to
us."
Orlando got the 31st overall pick, second of the second round,
and Dallas' top choice next year if it's not in the lottery. That
could be considered a compliment for the Mavericks, who've been in
the lottery 11 straight years.
This was the first time in Nelson's four Dallas drafts that he
did not make a move involving his first pick. Thomas made it easy
for him not to because he offers exactly what Dallas wants -- a
defensive mentality.
"That's definitely something I've been known for," said
Thomas, a two-time Big East defender of the year who is the No. 7
shot blocker in NCAA history at 424. "I really go out and try to
work hard at it."
Thomas and Alexander both spent four years in college. That
experience makes them far more prepared for the NBA than Dallas'
ill-fated pick last year, Leon Smith, who was coming out of high
school.
Dallas went 40-42 last season, its best record since 1989-90.
The Mavs got their with a late burst that included a 30-18 finish
and a league-best 9-1 record in April.
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Owner Mark Cuban is pleased with the Mavs' draft choices.