In Yahoo! Sports latest 2012 NBA Mock Draft, draft expert Jonathan Givony projects that Syracuse guard Dion Waiters will be selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 17th pick.
Waiters was named the Big East Conference's Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 12.6 points and 1.8 steals in 24.1 minutes per game while leading the Orange into the Elite Eight.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder has been compared to Dwyane Wade for his explosive scoring potential. One NBA general manager told ESPN's Chad Ford that beyond Anthony Davis, Waiters is the only other potential superstar in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Writes Givony, Waiters would have good value if he falls to the Mavericks.
The Mavericks are a team in transition, with a large amount of cap space coming up this summer and serious needs in the backcourt. Dion Waiters duplicates some of what sparsely used second-year combo guard Dominique Jones offers, but has good value at this point in the draft. Considering their flexibility, the Mavericks could go in many different directions here.
For more 2012 NBA Draft speculation and analysis, stay tuned to this StoryStream.
