There are a handful of international prospects in this draft, but Theo Maledon may be one of the least talked about. While the 19-year-old out of France has shown flashiness both in the open court and around the rim, he’s most known for his defensive abilities. Here’s why Maledon might be a solid fit for the Mavericks and the guy that could give Dallas that defensive boost they need off the bench.
The Specs
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 175
Wingspan: 6’9”
Key Notes
Offense
- Very skilled in the open floor
- Good draft age, lots of room for improvement
- Good size for a guard
- Not a great 3-point shooter
- Average free throw shooter
- Crafty around the rim
- Lots of finesse, great touch inside
- Solid pick and roll ball handler
- Good vision and playmaking ability
- Complimented for his basketball IQ
Defense
- Strong on-ball defender
- Good instincts off the ball
- Can really only guard 1’s and 2’s
- Great footwork and quick hips
- Relentlessness in defensive pressure
- Lots of potential
- Great anticipation resulting in easy steals
Active Player Comparisons
If everything goes wrong: Frank Ntilikina
If everything goes right: Young Jeff Teague + size
Most Realistic Outcome: Delon Wright + more playmaking
Stats and Accomplishments
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He was also once awarded the MVP in the French Cup finals.