Ager brings energy, defense to Mavericks
Maurice Ager was predictably emotional and excited to be selected in the first round by the Dallas Mavericks. He’ll be playing for one of the league’s top teams, fresh off an appearance in the NBA Finals, and could fill an important role for the Mavs as a great defender. The Dallas Morning News reports that Dallas was surprised that Ager had fallen to 28th in the draft and were excited to select him.
For the Mavericks, they were surprised Ager fell to 28. They had him pegged as high as the low end of the lottery.
“We’re fortunate to fill a need at the 28th pick,” coach Avery Johnson said. “From what we have seen, he can give us a few minutes next year. We were looking for a guy who had the potential to be a shut-down guy at the two [shooting guard] spot. We don’t think we have that on our team. But also a guy who can stretch the defense a little bit.”
Ager said he believes his stint under coach Tom Izzo with the Spartans will pay big dividends for him with the Mavericks.
In another story from The Dallas Morning News, Jamie Aron speculates that Ager could be the “Dwayne Wade stopper” that the Mavs lacked in the NBA Finals.
A week too late, the Dallas Mavericks might’ve finally found someone to cover Dwyane Wade.
The Mavs drafted guard Maurice Ager of Michigan State with the 28th pick in the first round Wednesday night and coach Avery Johnson immediately called him the shooting-guard defender the team lacked this past season, which ended in a loss to Wade and the Miami Heat in the NBA finals.
“We were looking for a guy who can be a shut-down guy at the 2 spot,” Johnson said. “We didn’t think we had that on our team last year.”