In the second segment of Mavs Draft Watch, we are focusing on a raw and promising point guard in Dennis Schroeder. While he has showed glimpses of his ability overseas, it was the Nike Hoops Summit where he made his presence known.
Schroeder helped lead the International team to a victory over Team U.S.A. and had 18 points and 6 assists in the process.
He’s received praise from German born Dirk Nowitzki, and been compared to Rajon Rondo as well. He is a risky gamble at #13, but one that could pay off huge dividends in the end.
If being compared to Rajon Rondo is what Schroeder has to deal with, he’s got Rondo beat when it comes to shooting. They both can create separation with their ball handling and quickness, but Schroeder’s jumper is far more consistent.
To go along with Schroeder’s physical 6’2 frame, he also possesses a 6’7 wingspan, which he can use to his benefit on the defensive end. Combine that with his quickness, he can be the same type of nuisance Rondo is defense.
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Weaknesses: While Schroeder showed he can shoot consistently, it’s still unknown whether that will translate over here on the main land. He has a bit of a set shot, so mechanically, scouts worry about him showing that 3-point range in the NBA.
He will also need to bulk up. 168 lbs on a 6’2 frame isn’t going to get it done. While he does possess some physical power, adding a few pounds wouldn’t hurt.
Finally, we all must remember that he is only 19 years old, and hasn’t really played against the top talents in the world. He played against much older players who have been around the game for some time, but that doesn’t even come close to the players he will be roughing it up with in the NBA.
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How Schroeder fits in Dallas: As Damian mentioned yesterday, it’s no surprise to anyone that the Mavericks are looking at landing Chris Paul, filling a point guard slot that was a huge problem in Big D last year.
Even if the Mavericks land a big time point guard in Free Agency, Schroeder could have immediate impact off the bench. His type of play is very fitting for a Carlisle team. Schroeder’s ability to break down a defense could pay huge dividends when finding a guy like Dirk Nowitzki on the wing.
The Mavericks would love a player who can play both ends of the court and be aggressive in the process. While these are things that Schroeder could provide, it’s also important to note how raw he is. The Mavericks most recent international experiment went south when it came to Roddy Beaubois.
However, they did strike gold with one player. From Germany I believe as well.
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Mock Drafts w/ Dennis Schroeder to the Mavs at 13:
These types of players are the ones that baffle everyone, including the scouts. Schroeder has a lot of the characteristics that a true point guard needs to possess, but it remains to be seen how it will translate.
At last weeks combine, Schroeder was a limited participant in the workouts. It was rumored that he had already been promised a pick by a certain team in the draft, but he shot that rumor down and mentioned a toothache as the reason for his absence.
His name doesn’t garner the attention of a Trey Burke or Michael Carter-Williams, but if his promising game overseas translates successfully here in the U.S., the Mavericks could have a major steal in this draft.
Schroeder is just one of the international players getting the watchful eye from Mavericks management. Dario Saric is the second player on that short list, and Damian Jackson will be covering him on our next segment.
As always, Go Mavs!
Video courtesy of DraftExpress
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