Mavericks trade up to 51, draft Melvin Ajinca in second round of the 2024 NBA Draft

Mavericks trade up to 51, draft Melvin Ajinca in second round of the 2024 NBA Draft

The 6’8 French forward Melvin Ajinca was chosen by the Dallas Mavericks on

Thursday after they moved up to the 51st pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Dallas only had the 58th overall pick—actually the final pick available this year—as it went into the second day of the draft, which is exclusively for the second round.

Rather than wait, they advanced seven spots to select French forward Ajinca, a 20-year-old who can play both forward and defense.

The Mavericks only lost money and the 58th pick to

New York in order to move up to the 51st pick, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

Ajinca, the nephew of former Mavericks big man Alexis Ajinca,

announced his candidacy for the draft following a successful season with

the French pro team Saint-Quentin and a strong showing at the FIBA U19 World Cup last summer.

Ajinca shot 30.9 percent from three and 50.7 percent from two points last season

while averaging 9.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while playing for Saint-Quentin.

The majority of scouts believe Ajinca will mature into a 3-and-D wing with the potential to be an off-the-dribble slasher. The fact that Ajinca doesn’t seem to be a very good athlete doesn’t help either;

during the NBA Combine last month, he measured 6’7.25 without shoes, had a 6’7.5 wingspan, and a 31-inch vertical jump.

That was one of the lowest vertical jumps made by all the combine athletes.

Ajinca will undoubtedly have his work cut out for him facing NBA-caliber players,

but he proved successful enough in his lone pro season in France to give himself a shot at being drafted,

and the Mavericks intend to select as many defensive-minded role players as they can.

Ajinca will be featured in a lot more content in in July during NBA Summer League.

 

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