A day after the rival San Antonio Spurs pulled off a pre-draft deal for Richardson Jefferson, the Mavericks answered with their own deal -- sort of -- by handing their 22nd overall pick to Portland for the 24th pick, a second-rounder and a second-rounder in 2010.
Mavs fans scratched their heads. On draft night, the Mavs held pat and selected Ohio State freshman center B.J. Mullens, only to quickly trade the 7-footer to Oklahoma City for the Thunder's 25th pick, French point guard Rodrigue Beaubois and a future second-round pick.
Needless to say, the Mavs' brass is more excited about its pick than its fandom, mostly because most fans had never heard of the 6-foot-2 Frenchman.
Beaubois averaged 10 points for Cholet Basket in the French League last season. He has an exceptionally long wingspan and is considered to be an excellent athlete, quick with excellent leaping ability.
While the Mavs have seen their share of picks go back overseas, the Mavs say that's not the case with Beaubois, although they weren't biting on Beaubois cracking the rotation next season.
"You'll probably hear rumors that he'll stay in Europe, but that's not the plan at all," said Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, who compared Beaubois to Boston's Rajon Rondo. "The whole thing went absolutely as we had prepared for. We targeted a guy that we wanted and we felt we could get him a little lower than our pick.
"He's a dynamic athlete. He just looks like a basketball player with his length."
The Mavs will get their first good look at him in July during Summer League in Las Vegas.
After some second-round dealing, the Mavs acquired Florida guard Nick Calathes, who was taken at No. 45 by Minnesota, for the 56th pick and cash considerations.
Calathes has signed with the Greek team Olympiakos. The Mavs will retain his rights if he decides to play overseas.
