8. Dallas Mavericks - Taking A Chance On Dirk Nowitzki
Incoming foreign players to the NBA are often treated with suspicion on draft day, given their lack of exposure to the high quality of US college basketball. The Dallas Mavericks must therefore be thankful they decided to take a risk on Dirk Nowitzki, a seven-foot forward coming into the NBA with only a few seasons in the second tier of the German league by way of experience. Dirk attracted the attention of the Celtics, Boston scouts comparing him to franchise legend Larry Bird, but the Mavericks worked out a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in order to get their man. The Bucks selected Nowitzki ninth in the draft (the Celtics had the tenth pick) and traded him to the Mavs in a pre-arranged agreement. It almost didn't pay off. Nowitzki initially struggled with the step up to the NBA, but eventually solidified himself as a franchise superstar, leading Dallas to the NBA Championship in 2011.
