Name: Dedric Lawson
Height/Weight: 6’8 ½ / 233
Wingspan/ standing reach: 7’2/ 8’11 ½
Hand size: 9.75
Position: PF
College/ country: Kansas
Tools: Rebounding, shooting upside
Pros:
- Excellent rebounder
- Shooting upside and nice form on his jump shot
- Able to put the ball on the floor and create off of one dribble
- Good touch around the rim
- Long arms
- Good vision
- Ideal frame
Cons:
- Slow slasher
- Lacks explosiveness and overall athleticism
- Lacks mobility defensively on the perimeter
- Needs to continue to improve 3 point shot form consistency
Overall: Dedric Lawson is a slashing power forward with plus rebounding ability. Lawson has a great frame and guard skills, but his limited athleticism will be his biggest obstacle to overcome. Lawson has a 26 inch vertical and is slow in both the half-court and transition. However, he is able to make smart passes and be a capable ball handler in both slow and fast pace offenses. His jump shot has continued to improve with good form, which shows potential for him to be a rebounding and shooting specialist. This unique combo can allow for him to earn meaningful NBA minutes. Almost all of Lawson’s weaknesses are related to athleticism, so he will have to find a way to overcome his athletic limitations.
NBA Comparison: Floor: Henry Ellenson; ceiling: Kyle Anderson
Projected draft range: 45- undrafted
Fit with Mavs:
Lawson’s strengths align with the Mavericks’ current needs: rebounding, finishing at the rim, and stretch shooting. The second round will likely be unpredictable this year, so the Mavs could select Lawson at 37, or Lawson could go unsigned and the Mavs could pursue him as an undrafted free agent- both realistic outcomes. Lawson would likely play no more than 15 minutes per game in his rookie year, but he could be another piece on Carlisle’s hyperproductive bench. Carlisle has worked with overcoming a lack of athleticism in the past, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him pull it off another time in Lawson. Lawson’s unique skillset makes him a fit on nearly every NBA team.
