3-For-1: Mavs Trade Rights Of No. 17 Pick To Cavs
DALLAS (AP) – The Dallas Mavericks used their only pick of the first round to get 7-foot North Carolina center Tyler Zeller, then traded his rights to Cleveland for three selections.
While the deal still has to be approved by the NBA, the Cavaliers took Oregon State guard Jared Cunningham with the 24th overall pick, presumably for the Mavericks. Cleveland also had the Nos. 33 and 34 picks that were part of the deal during Thursday night's draft.
Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson had talked about getting an impact player with the No. 17 overall pick, their highest pick since 2000.
Cunningham, an early NBA draft entry, led the Pac-12 in steals in his junior and sophomore seasons. As a junior last season, he averaged 17.9 points, which was second in the Pac-12.
Bernard James, a 27-year-old center from Florida State, has been selected 33rd by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the second of three picks presumably going to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks used their only pick of the first round to get 7-foot North Carolina center Tyler Zeller at No. 17 overall, then traded his rights to Cleveland for three selections. The 3-for-1 deal, including picks 24 and 34, still has to be approved by the NBA.
James served in the Air Force from 2003-09 before playing at Florida State for two seasons. He averaged 10.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots a game last season.
James ranked second in Florida State history with a .627 field goal percentage. He ranked third with 164 career blocked shots.
Marquette forward Jae Crowder has been picked 34th in the NBA draft by Cleveland, the last of three Cavaliers picks presumably going to the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas used its only pick of the first round to get 7-foot North Carolina center Tyler Zeller at No. 17 overall, then traded his rights to Cleveland for three selections. The 3-for-1 deal, including picks 24 and 33, still has to be approved by the NBA.
Crowder was the Big East Player of the Year as a senior last season, when he averaged 17.5 points and, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. The 6-foot-6 Crowder scored 20 points or more 13 times, and was in double figures in 31 of 35 games last season.
