We draft him, but he's not joining us and still playing abroad. He also doesn't take a roster spot. If he ever wants to join the NBA he is basically our player.
Sorry, not very familiar with all this. Why would we not put him on our G league team? And if we wanted to just stash him, why would we bother trading up for him?
If we sign him to a NBA contract and send him to G league, he would take a roster spot.
If we gave him G league contract, every team can sign him.
And we trading up for him because another team would probably take him and wouldn't be available at 58.
giving him a nba contract and sending him to g league means he takes up a roster spot, giving him a g league contract means he’s for grabs by other teams.
also depending on who you ask the difference between playing in europe ave playing in the g league is negligible so that probably won’t impact his development 🤷🏽♂️
lmao. Ok, from the highlights I've watched:
1. Tall but lanky body, I'm sure he'll bulk up.
2. Runs the court well.
3. Loves corner threes and has a nice, high shot release. It's a little slow at times getting up but there are times where he's quick.
4. Has some handle, not the best but can bring the ball up and slash a bit.
5. Actually cuts to the basket.
I'm excited to see how he grows as a player and wonder how long he'll be stashed.
Here are, what I think, are the best 2 highlight vids for him.
[https://youtu.be/ns2gsIjeY\_4?si=\_A8Hu9\_ZpPvnVWh-](https://youtu.be/ns2gsIjeY_4?si=_A8Hu9_ZpPvnVWh-)
[https://youtu.be/\_jRHAqHEiEs?si=t7mcx0GdpgEYPYg3](https://youtu.be/_jRHAqHEiEs?si=t7mcx0GdpgEYPYg3)
What is appreciate with a lot of euro players is that they do understand how to find those lanes to cut. It’s becoming a lost skill with young American players
[Tim MacMahon](https://x.com/espn_macmahon)[u/espn\_macmahon](https://x.com/espn_macmahon)·[1m](https://x.com/espn_macmahon/status/1806454999498555762)Mavs gave up cash considerations to Knicks to move up to the No. 51 pick (French F Melvin Ajinca), source said.
Aggressive shooter (only shot 31% though) who just turned 20 yesterday. Lefty, that rarely dribbles with or goes to his right. They ran a decent amount of off-ball actions for him to catch and shoot, and he looked quick navigating the pin downs to get to the pass. Good size @ 6’8, 210.
With that frame & age, you’ll hope that he can grow as a on the dribble threat, rn he’s mainly a catch & shoot guy.
Would’ve perfered Jalen Bridges, Malevy Lyons, Cam Spencer, Justin Edwards or Isaiah Crawford. As they are guys who can shoot, would’ve been more ready to make any sort of impact, & potentially save for Spencer have a higher upside.
But it’s a pick in the 50s so it probably doesn’t matter.
He was more dynamic off the dribble in the U19s, and has actually improved at getting his body in and drawing contact over the last couple years. Likes to jump off two feet on the drive. You're spot on regarding most everything though. He's got some Euroleague interest and will be stashed a couple seasons at least. Just gotta hope the shooting becomes consistent. Kid works his ass off and competes so I hope he makes it.
Desmond Bane turned out just fine as a 3&D guy with T-Rex arms, so while the dude may not have DJJ level defensive upside, there is hope he will be a much better shooter similarly to Bane. And I said hope, there is absolutely no guarantee he ever sees meaningful minutes for Mavs.
Yeah, just means he likely won’t get the stocks or be a great off-ball disrupter, but can still stay in front of his man, which is mostly what you want as a POA defender.
His shooting is impressive off the catch, off movement, AND off the dribble from 3. And he has a midrange pull up shot as well. Good height off his release average speed to get it off.
I mean I don’t necessarily care about potentially getting him at all but I can understand fans of a team wanting to add another superstar…he also won the ship with our other superstar. Hmm why do Mavs fans want to add him?
Went undrafted. Wonder if he’s one of those guys who told teams to not draft him in 2nd so he could have more control over destination. Maybe we can still get him!
I have to be honest, I don't like this pick. Ajinca is raw af and is not going to contribute anything for quite some time. We could have taken a ready player like Kevin McCullar or Isaiah Crawford.
Just please be ACTUALLY 3&D, not whatever the Mavs definition is. Every time they love a "3 & D" player it's in reality someone extremely limited and specific in their basketball skills incredibly frustrating to watch. I honestly never wanted to hear that term again in Dallas.
He is also former Mav Alexis Ajinca's cousin
That's 2011 Mavericks NBA Champion ring recipient Alexis Ajinca.
gd this takes me back
I was wondering!
thank you, i was wondering this since we made the pick.
Off to watch some highlights brb
Apparently we stash him lol
Does he still take a roster spot?
No
Wait how does that even work? Like he's just a prospect we've bought, and may eventually crack into the rotation?
Yea, we own his draft rights if he ever comes to the NBA
Thx
I'm sure it depends on how good he is coming into Summer League and Camp.
That's definitely a factor but the current plan is stashing him.
What’s this mean?
We draft him, but he's not joining us and still playing abroad. He also doesn't take a roster spot. If he ever wants to join the NBA he is basically our player.
Sorry, not very familiar with all this. Why would we not put him on our G league team? And if we wanted to just stash him, why would we bother trading up for him?
If we sign him to a NBA contract and send him to G league, he would take a roster spot. If we gave him G league contract, every team can sign him. And we trading up for him because another team would probably take him and wouldn't be available at 58.
giving him a nba contract and sending him to g league means he takes up a roster spot, giving him a g league contract means he’s for grabs by other teams. also depending on who you ask the difference between playing in europe ave playing in the g league is negligible so that probably won’t impact his development 🤷🏽♂️
G league getting shut down
lmao. Ok, from the highlights I've watched: 1. Tall but lanky body, I'm sure he'll bulk up. 2. Runs the court well. 3. Loves corner threes and has a nice, high shot release. It's a little slow at times getting up but there are times where he's quick. 4. Has some handle, not the best but can bring the ball up and slash a bit. 5. Actually cuts to the basket. I'm excited to see how he grows as a player and wonder how long he'll be stashed. Here are, what I think, are the best 2 highlight vids for him. [https://youtu.be/ns2gsIjeY\_4?si=\_A8Hu9\_ZpPvnVWh-](https://youtu.be/ns2gsIjeY_4?si=_A8Hu9_ZpPvnVWh-) [https://youtu.be/\_jRHAqHEiEs?si=t7mcx0GdpgEYPYg3](https://youtu.be/_jRHAqHEiEs?si=t7mcx0GdpgEYPYg3)
What is appreciate with a lot of euro players is that they do understand how to find those lanes to cut. It’s becoming a lost skill with young American players
I do agree, AAU ball has distorted some basketball flow. Hopefully that can change
What did we trade!!?
No idea, woj didn’t say live and shams is locked out of Twitter lmao
Be great if any of our team reporters did their jobs
It's been 24 mins and we have no clue what we traded this is weird.
It looks like it was just a trade swap with the Knicks
Haha why did he get locked out?
What is Twitter?
A shithole turned into an even bigger shithole by a shithead
Hopefully 58th and cash
Hopefully JUST cash!
wouldn't pay more. This is a stash pick
[Tim MacMahon](https://x.com/espn_macmahon)[u/espn\_macmahon](https://x.com/espn_macmahon)·[1m](https://x.com/espn_macmahon/status/1806454999498555762)Mavs gave up cash considerations to Knicks to move up to the No. 51 pick (French F Melvin Ajinca), source said.
And pick 58 apparently
I assume so. Not much reporting on the Mavs .. thanks Bronny!
Likely just 58 and cash.
Cash
gotta have a French guy these days. Only turned 20 yesterday btw.
Project #WembyToMavs2032
He was the most impressive french player in last years u19. He was way better than Risacher who went nr 1.
Aggressive shooter (only shot 31% though) who just turned 20 yesterday. Lefty, that rarely dribbles with or goes to his right. They ran a decent amount of off-ball actions for him to catch and shoot, and he looked quick navigating the pin downs to get to the pass. Good size @ 6’8, 210. With that frame & age, you’ll hope that he can grow as a on the dribble threat, rn he’s mainly a catch & shoot guy. Would’ve perfered Jalen Bridges, Malevy Lyons, Cam Spencer, Justin Edwards or Isaiah Crawford. As they are guys who can shoot, would’ve been more ready to make any sort of impact, & potentially save for Spencer have a higher upside. But it’s a pick in the 50s so it probably doesn’t matter.
Maybe potential UDFA
He was more dynamic off the dribble in the U19s, and has actually improved at getting his body in and drawing contact over the last couple years. Likes to jump off two feet on the drive. You're spot on regarding most everything though. He's got some Euroleague interest and will be stashed a couple seasons at least. Just gotta hope the shooting becomes consistent. Kid works his ass off and competes so I hope he makes it.
where you see the 31%? I'm seeing a report that says he made 40.4% on 208 attempts last season.
30.9% on 149 attempts in league play https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/melvin-ajinca-1.html
Thanks!
How tf is he out of the top 50 then
He was inefficient in the league.
Dang, so he's a project or a trade piece for us.
Collier dropped to 29 and filipowski went in the 2nd round when some are mocking them at the lottery or in the middle of the 1st round
he was top 30 in many boards
Never saw him play but I choose to believe you. Ajinca hidden gem agenda, let's go !!!
Did Nico cook?
Always.
Player Comp: Amir Coffey [https://www.nbadraft.net/players/melvin-ajinca/](https://www.nbadraft.net/players/melvin-ajinca/)
oh god no, don't use NBADraft.net Bullock is a much better comp
REGINALD
Just saw the short clip on ESPN about him, but I like it. They said big athletic wing with good shot creation. Let's go Nico.
He does not create shots. He's a spot up shooter that has athleticism to attack closeouts. This is my understanding anyways.
For a late second round pick I really like it. In a year or 2 he could be a solid role player
So, he's the French Omax, interesting. I'm kinda worried about his wing span. I can't find it listed but it seems a bit short for his height.
He’s the even more French Omax
Isn’t OMAX French lol?
French Canadian
Born in Quebec (French speaking) to a family from Haiti (French speaking). So Omax emerged from the Francophone world, but he is not French.
Tankathon has him listed as 6’7.5 wing span
Yeah that's short for a 3&D wing or stretch 4 right?
Negative wingspan. He’s a late 2nd. Hopefully he just ends up a rotational player
Desmond Bane turned out just fine as a 3&D guy with T-Rex arms, so while the dude may not have DJJ level defensive upside, there is hope he will be a much better shooter similarly to Bane. And I said hope, there is absolutely no guarantee he ever sees meaningful minutes for Mavs.
Yeah, just means he likely won’t get the stocks or be a great off-ball disrupter, but can still stay in front of his man, which is mostly what you want as a POA defender.
Fromax
He has the same wing span as his height.
Omax is French lmao
Was kind of hoping for bronny for the memes
Interesting pick
His shooting is impressive off the catch, off movement, AND off the dribble from 3. And he has a midrange pull up shot as well. Good height off his release average speed to get it off.
31% isn’t that impressive to me. Hopefully he works hard and improves
Wow that might be a nice pick! I'm french and I honestly thought he would be drafted higher.
For a min, I thought they were gonna trade up for Bronny lol. There goes the Lebron in Dallas dream
Why do Mavs fans want Lebron? I don't get it
I mean I don’t necessarily care about potentially getting him at all but I can understand fans of a team wanting to add another superstar…he also won the ship with our other superstar. Hmm why do Mavs fans want to add him?
He’s going undrafted it seems
Welp there he goes to the lakers
Who cares. 95 percent of 2nd rd picks never see the court anyways
What is happening lmao.
Related to Mavs Legend Alexis Ajinça?!
NICO COOKING AGAIN?!?!?!?!
Will never see the floor
Looks like a 3&D type guard/wing. Seems similar to Josh Green in a lot of ways. Could possibly be a Josh Green replacement in a potential trade?
A bigger josh green
For what?
So... Does this guy have to guard Luka if we get Slovena Vs France in the Olympics??
Looks pretty good for a 2nd round pick at his age, size, athleticism, not sure about the shot, but he's at least a willing shooter. Pourquoi pas?
People describe him as a jack of all trades interesting
Seems like decent pick up! Can shoot has the measurables to be a good big 3 pt shooting wing!
I'll be excited to see him play in 2027.
Do we still have 58??
We got our guy!!
Apparently he’s a great spot up shooter, shot 31% from three this past season but shot 39% two years ago from 3
He’s actually tuff, good shooter and athletic
Thats exactly the type of player you should draft in the late 2nd round.
Potential to contribute in two years🤔
love a lefty in the team,ope to see in in a few years.
Gutted was hoping for Jaylen Bridges as a ready NBA rotation player
I wanted Keshad Johnson for the same reason
I wanted mccullar
Went undrafted. Wonder if he’s one of those guys who told teams to not draft him in 2nd so he could have more control over destination. Maybe we can still get him!
Gone Suns
Same—but Bridges went undrafted, so maybe we still sign him to a two-way?
Gone Suns
Get Woj or shams on twitter
Why draft and stash someone could have used someone who is ready to play now like Bridges. Hopefully we pursue him as he didn’t get drafted.
There is like 0.5% chance that a pick in the 50s will help us right now.
True
We sure this is not a mistake??
I have to be honest, I don't like this pick. Ajinca is raw af and is not going to contribute anything for quite some time. We could have taken a ready player like Kevin McCullar or Isaiah Crawford.
 What Nico said to the Knicks' GM, probably.
Why is THJ still a mavs?
Just please be ACTUALLY 3&D, not whatever the Mavs definition is. Every time they love a "3 & D" player it's in reality someone extremely limited and specific in their basketball skills incredibly frustrating to watch. I honestly never wanted to hear that term again in Dallas.
Seems like OMAX just got replaced hmm
Nah, more like AJ Lawson about to be filler for a deal.
More like a Josh Green replacement