Draft preview: Terrence Ross
Eighth in a nine-part series analyzing our top NBA draft choices for the Dallas Mavericks at No. 17 on Thursday. We will look at one prospect a day leading up to the draft. ESPN.com Insider Chad Ford and ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's and Mavs play-by-play man Chuck Cooperstein provide the inside goods. The order is alphabetical.
Reviewing Draft Prospects
Who will the Mavs take with the No. 17 pick in the NBA draft? ESPN Dallas' Jeff Caplan looks at the possibilities.
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At 6-foot-7, he's a prototypical NBA shooting guard. Combine his quickness, athleticism, shooting ability and improving defensive chops, he should be able to slip into a rotation immediately.
With plenty of holes on the Mavs' roster and no way of knowing who will and who won't be on the roster until Deron Williams makes up his mind once free agency starts Sunday, finding a player that you know can fill a rotation spot from the jump is critical this year.
Here's a look at our next draft prospect:
AP Photo/George Holland/CSMTerrence Ross is an excellent shooter with good range and athleticism.School: Washington (2 years)
Position: SG
Age: 21
Ht./Wt.: 6-foot-7/197
2011-12 stats: 16.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 37.1% 3FGs
Why he would fit: Like Austin Rivers, Ross has the size, athleticism and scoring ability Dallas has long craved at shooting guard. He's also developed a defensive reputation and would give Shawn Marion needed help against top wing players.
Why he wouldn't fit: While other shooting guards have been receiving more attention, it's still doubtful that Ross will slide all the way down to the Mavs at No. 17.
Chad Ford's thumbs up, thumbs down: Up -- Explosive athlete ... Excellent shooter with range ... Very good leaper ... Can get to the basket with a quick first step. Down -- Needs to improve his handle, shot selection ... Needs to add an in-between game ... Can sometime overly defer to teammates ... Needs to add strength.
Coop's comment: Ross can really shoot it, and observers tell me he comes off screens as well as anyone. But there is no handle in his game and thus very few drives to the basket to try to draw fouls. He has very good length at 6-foot-7 and almost 200 pounds, and there are those who believe he has the ability to be an elite defender, as well.
Previous prospects
Terrence Jones, Kentucky
Meyers Leonard, Illinois
Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
Fab Melo, Syracuse
Quincy Miller, Baylor
Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State
Austin Rivers, Duke
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
Marc Stein
Marc Stein began writing for ESPN.com in 2000 and signed on full-time in 2002 as Senior NBA Writer. He also makes regular appearances on "SportsCenter," "NBA Shootaround," "NBA Fastbreak," "NBA Coast To Coast," ESPNEWS, ESPN "First Take" and ESPN Radio.
103.3 FM ESPN PODCASTS
Play Podcast ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about the NBA playoffs.
Play Podcast Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle gives his take on the contrasting styles of the Pacers and Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Bulls-Heat, Tom Thibodeau, the state of the West and more.
Play Podcast Chuck Cooperstein joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about who he would rather have if forced to choose between Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.
Play Podcast Tim MacMahon joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the possibility of Chris Paul joining the Mavericks and break down what kind of pitch Mark Cuban would have to make to the NBA's best point guard.
Play Podcast ESPN.com senior NBA writer Marc Stein joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to touch on the storylines in the NBA playoffs and offer a Mavs perspective.
Play Podcast Rick Carlisle joins Chuck Cooperstein and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Mavericks' disappointing season and what needs to happen for them to get back to the playoffs.
Play Podcast Donnie Nelson joins Chuck Cooperstein and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Mavericks' season and the importance of this summer.
Play Podcast Rick Carlisle joins Galloway & Company to discuss the Mavericks playing after being eliminated from playoff contention, whom he wants to keep for next season and much more.
TEAM LEADERS
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Dirk Nowitzki
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | S. Marion | 7.8 | ||||||||||
| Assists | D. Collison | 5.1 | ||||||||||
| Steals | D. Collison | 1.2 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | E. Brand | 1.3 | ||||||||||
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