Mavericks plan risky 2025 NBA Draft pick, Traoré

The Dallas Mavericks are looking ahead to the 2025 NBA Draft after a tough season filled with injuries. The team is expected to make a bold choice by selecting guard Nolan Traoré from France. Early in his career, Traoré was thought to be a top-five pick, but his stock has since dropped due to struggles with adjusting to professional basketball. At just 18 years old, selecting Traoré is considered a risky move. He opted to stay in France instead of entering last year's draft. However, he has shown promise. Scouts were impressed when he scored 18 points and had four assists at the 2024 Hoop Summit. He also made headlines by breaking a scoring record in a championship game in May. Standing at 6'5, Traoré is recognized as one of the top combo guards in the draft. His strengths include his ability to run fast-paced offenses and create scoring chances for himself and others. Although he is averaging 10.8 points and five assists per game in the French league, his numbers have dipped recently. Still, many believe he has the potential to be a key player for the Mavericks in the future.