The Dallas Mavericks had just wrapped up their first season in the NBA. They finished with a league-worst 15 wins, Not unexpected for an expansion franchise. The Mavs made a trade with the Cavaliers that gave them two top-ten picks in the 1981 draft.
They selected Mark Aguirre first overall out of DePaul. The Mavericks came back to secure Rolando Blackman with the ninth selection. The two quickly formed a dynamic duo for the Mavs that lead them on a solid run. After two years of growing together, they made the playoffs five straight years including going to the Western Conference Finals in 1988.