The Dallas Mavericks were quiet on Day 1 of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday, June 26, described by some media outlets as the French invasion, as they avoided trading into the first round and making any other trades around their current roster. But the Mavericks entered Day 2 with the 58th overall pick as their general manager, Nico Harrison, reportedly isn’t afraid to move up or down the draft board to go after his desired targets.
The Mavericks appeared to be ready for the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 27. The Mavericks were scheduled to draft with the 58th overall pick at the end of the second round. Here’s what you need to know about the Mavericks’ lone and final pick, Melvin Ajinca, of the second round.
Melvin Ajinca at a Glance
The Dallas Mavericks drafted Melvin Ajinca with the 58th overall pick at the 2024 NBA Draft. Dallas reportedly acquired Ajinca, first drafted by the New York Knicks, in a trade. Ajinca, 20, is a guard who hails from Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France, and played professional basketball for the Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball of LNB Elite.
Ajinca has averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per season and shot 36% from the three-point range. Ajinca’s size and three-point shooting prowess are his top two qualities. The 20-year-old French big man could help the Mavericks by becoming another high-quality shooter to reduce the pressure off Mavericks stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Melvin Ajinca’s Dallas Mavericks Connection
If the name Melvin Ajinca rang a bell to you, you’re not alone. Melvin, who stands at 6-foot-7 and weighs 214 lbs, is a cousin of Alexis Ajinca, 36, an assistant coach for the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G-League and a former NBA player for the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans. Alexis played ten games for the Mavericks during the 2010-11 NBA season, an NBA team that later became the 2011 NBA championship roster.
Melvin Ajinca’s big-league gig with the Mavericks might come with high expectations due to his cousin Alexis Ajinca’s stint with the team. The last time the Mavericks began a season with a player with the surname Ajinca was in 2011 when they won an NBA championship. And so, the French invasion continued in Dallas, Texas, a big city whose Oak Cliff neighborhood was first established as a French Utopian colony called “La Reunion.”
Dallas Mavericks Made the Right Choice for Now
The Dallas Mavericks made the right choice in trading for Melvin Ajinca. Well, at least for now.
Ajinca is living his dream in his first professional gig playing for the Mavericks starting in the 2023-24 NBA season. The French big man could be a hidden gem, thanks to his size and frame for a professional basketball player his age. There’s a probable chance that his versatile game on both ends of the court could translate to the NBA, but there’s a possibility that he might have no choice but to continue his development if he’s a little too rough around the edges in some aspects of the game.
While Ajinca might not become a French basketball star, the 20-year-old can become a decent and reliable contributor to the Mavericks’ future success. But Ajinca’s offense arguably outshines his defense, which is to be expected but could be one of his weaknesses that overpowers his skills.
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