LAS VEGAS -- The Dallas Mavericks believe they got the best player in the draft by trading up to select Slovenian swingman Luka Doncic with the third overall pick.
"He was the top player on our board," Mavs owner Mark Cuban told ESPN. "It wasn't even close."
Doncic sat out Dallas' summer league opener on Friday, a 92-85 loss to the Phoenix Suns and No. 1 pick DeAndre Ayton, who had 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, eight rebounds and a blocked shot in 22 minutes. Dallas is working to finalize Doncic's buyout with Real Madrid, but he will likely play only one game if at all during summer league, as the Mavs want their prized rookie to rest after his season in Europe ended two days before the draft.