NBA Mock Draft: Dallas Mavericks Select Shabazz Muhammad From UCLA

NBA Mock Draft Pick #13 -- Shabazz Muhammad, Guard, UCLA

SB Nation's Mavs blog Mavs Moneyball explains the pick:

Muhammad is perhaps the most polarizing player in the draft, and certainly of those left on the board. Our own Jonathan Tjarks is a noted detractor, and he is not alone. However, I think all the things that might make Muhammad a very risky selection in the top 6 or 7 become far less so at the back end of the lottery, in what most consider a subpar draft. Frankly, I think some of his so called "red flags" may be overblown. He is criticized for not being a great athlete, but he didn't test poorly at the combine(his lane agility time and vertical leap were both better than Trey Burke's and Otto Porter's). His off-court troubles are well-documented, but he's also considered to be a hard worker and clutch performer, and Ben Howland's program at UCLA had become so unhealthy an environment that it's a surprise he lasted as long as he did.

Familiarity breeds contempt, as they say, and the scouting world is very familiar with Muhammad. The bottom line is that Dallas needs somebody -- anybody -- to take the scoring load off Dirk Nowitzki. Muhammad's motor and length should make up for the non-elite athleticism at the next level. With the Big German as the focal point of the offense, and coach Rick Carlisle on the sidelines, Shabazz lands softly after his draft day fall. Now Dallas can use their ample cap space to go find a veteran point guard and defensive minded center.

More: Full NBA Draft Coverage

Updated 2013 NBA Mock Draft Board:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: NERLENS NOEL
2. Orlando Magic BEN MCLEMORE
3. Washington Wizards OTTO PORTER
4. Charlotte Hornets ALEX LEN
5. Phoenix Suns VICTOR OLADIPO
6. New Orleans Pelicans TREY BURKE
7. Sacramento Kings ANTHONY BENNETT (for Philly)
8. Detroit Pistons C.J. MCCOLLUM
9. Minnesota Timberwolves KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE
10. Portland Trail Blazers RUDY GOBERT
11. Philadelphia 76ers MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS
12. Oklahoma City Thunder CODY ZELLER
13. Dallas Mavericks SHABAZZ MUHAMMAD
14. Utah Jazz
15. Milwaukee Bucks
16. Boston Celtics
17. Atlanta Hawks
18. Atlanta Hawks
19. Cleveland Cavaliers
20. Chicago Bulls
21. Utah Jazz
22. Brooklyn Nets
23. Indiana Pacers
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Clippers
26. Minnesota Timberwolves
27. Denver Nuggets
28. San Antonio Spurs
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
30. Phoenix Suns