2011 NBA Draft Results: Why Mavericks' Draft-Day Trade Set Them Up for Repeat

With the 26th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, the Dallas Mavericks predictably drafted a small forward, in lieu of Caron Butler and Shawn Marion entering free agency this offseason.

That small forward, Jordan Hamilton, just so happened to be a huge steal, given he was one of the most explosive scorers in college basketball last season with the Texas Longhorns.

But, soon after, the Mavericks traded their No. 26 selection in Hamilton to the Portland Trail Blazers for veteran sharpshooter Rudy Fernandez (and the rights to Finnish point guard Petteri Koponen).

The jury's still out on Kopenen, whom the Philadelphia 76ers drafted with the 30th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft and was ranked 32nd overall at the time by ESPN's Chad Ford.

But Fernandez, if anything, will provide another outside scoring threat for the Mavericks in the quest for a second straight NBA championship.

Fernandez has certainly had his troubles in Portland, with just nine starts in 218 games played in the last three seasons for the Trail Blazers, but one thing he can do is stroke it from downtown, a career 36-percent shooter from beyond the arc.

Hamilton could have been the Mavericks' next starting small forward, but this tells me A) the Mavericks still like Butler, and B) they are not ready to start transitioning to the inevitable youth movement they must undergo at some point.

It also tells me that they are committed to winning the title again next season, and they're willing to compromise the future for the present.

And why not?

Superstar Dirk Nowitzki isn't getting any younger and this is going to be their best chance for a title run.

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