The Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA world by trading away superstar guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for forward Anthony Davis, guard Max Christie, and a future first-round pick.
Dallas general manager Nico Harrison tabbed the trade as a win-now move in the present and the future, referencing the future as within the next 3-4 years. Looking ahead to the loaded 2025 NBA Draft class, who might Harrison and the Mavericks have their eyes on to pair with the duo of star guard Kyrie Irving and Davis?
5 Players the Mavericks Could Target in the 2025 NBA Draft
While the season is still far from over — meaning the draft order will likely fluctuate — the Mavericks hold the 18th selection as of today. According to ESPN’s BPI, Dallas has a 52.9% chance of making the playoffs, meaning they’re unlikely to fall into lottery pick territory.
Taking that into consideration — as well as another trade the Mavericks made today, acquiring forward Caleb Martin from the 76ers for guard Quentin Grimes and a second-round pick — we’ll take a look at five players the Mavericks could target in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke Blue Devils
With Harrison’s vision of building around Irving on the outside and Davis on the inside, Kon Knueppel would fit right in on the wing.
Proven to be an excellent shooter (37.7% from three-point range on 6.2 attempts per game) in his lone season with the Blue Devils, Knueppel would immediately help space the floor for the two stars — a necessity once young center Dereck Lively II is factored into the mix, another non-shooter alongside Davis.
Knueppel has solid size at 6’7″, and as the season’s progressed, he’s shown an increased ability to create his own shot. Against the North Carolina Tar Heels this past weekend, Knueppel showcased his entire repertoire, scoring 22 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field to go along with five assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
His draft stock is trending up, meaning the Mavericks may be out of reach to select Knueppel if they make the playoffs. But if they’re in position, the Duke guard would complement the teams’ two stars exceptionally.
Chaz Lanier, G, Tennessee Volunteers
While the fifth-year senior Lanier will be 23 years old come draft night, that’s exactly the type of player the Mavericks need. With the vision of being a win-now team, accomplished college players who can come in and fill a role right away should be of high priority for Dallas.
Lanier fits that mold. After spending four seasons with the North Florida Ospreys, he transferred to Tennessee for his final season of eligibility. He’s become the Volunteers’ go-to scorer, averaging 17.9 ppg, including nailing a staggering 3.6 threes per game on 42.2%.
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He can create his own shot, something the Mavericks desperately need alongside Irving. At 6’4″, he is slightly undersized as a two-guard in the NBA, but he moves his feet well and is capable of being a solid defender.
Previously seen as a late second-round pick, Lanier has risen up draft boards as of late. He’d be a perfect option for the Mavericks, especially if they could trade back and still get him.
Nolan Traore, G, France
Traore is one of the top international prospects in the 2025 draft class. He plays for Saint-Quentin of the LNB Elite in France, averaging 10.2 ppg on 33.5% shooting to go along with 5.1 apg.
Only 18-years-old, Traore is expected to improve his efficiency as he matures. At 6’5″, he presents solid size at the two-guard position and shows a crafty ability to create his own shot and finish in the paint.
Traore also has showcased an ability to create shots for others — something Doncic did at a very high-level for Dallas. While Traore won’t be expected of that right away, he could grow into a ball-dominant guard, slotting Irving into his true position of combo guard.
The Frenchman has good hands defensively, stepping into passing lanes and demonstrating his tremendous feel for the game. Though not a quick-contributing draft pick like Lanier, Traore’s ceiling is much higher and could help bridge the timelines of Irving and Davis, leading the next chapter of Mavericks basketball.
Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma Sooners
Fears is another ball-dominant guard who could help take the pressure off of Irving. Though only a freshman, Fears surprised many in the college basketball world with how quickly he was able to dominate on the court.
Averaging 16.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 4.2 apg, Fears does it all: he can create his own shot, come off the pick-and-roll and dish to others, and mix it up down low, finishing through contact. His three-point shooting is still a work in progress at 27.4%, but his smooth stroke from deep, optimistically, should get better with time.
He’s inconsistent — as many freshman are — on the defensive end, but having Davis and Lively II on the back line behind him should alleviate those concerns for Dallas.
Fears has likely played himself into being a lottery selection; the Mavericks may need to pull off a draft-day trade similar to what the Minnesota Timberwolves did during the 2024 Draft to nab Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham with the No. 8 selection. If they’re able to pull it off, or if Fears somehow falls to them, he’d make a high-powered offensive duo with Irving.
Jaxson Robinson, G, Kentucky Wildcats
Another fifth-year senior, Robinson has exploded over the past month. In his first year with the Wildcats, he’s averaging 13.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg on 43.7% shooting from the field — but it’s from behind the three-point line where he’s made the most damage.
Over his last six games, the Kentucky guard has broken out, pouring in 26 threes on 52% shooting from deep. His confidence from multiple feet behind the line is evident, seemingly making the transition to the NBA line a non-issue. Robinson stands at 6’6″ with length defensively, something the Mavericks could be seeking.
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Robinson has greatly improved his draft stock this season; prior to 2024-25, he was considered a candidate to go undrafted. Now, some mock drafts have him going in the late first round.
If the Mavericks deem him important enough to take at their selection, he’d be a solid plug-and-play piece on the wing as a guy who can hit threes and use his length to defend smaller guards.
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