So the Mavericks actually stayed exactly where they were supposed to, instead of looking for immediate help, using their 55th pick to select Yugoslavian guard/forward Mladen Sekularac, and then saying they expect him to stay abroad for one more year.

The 6-8 player is under contract for one more season with FMP Zeleznik, and Nelson said "he would probably be more comfortable playing there another year."

"[But] this is a player who could very well be ready," Nelson said. "For the 55th pick, we're very, very happy to select this player."

In the year of the foreign player, the Mavericks felt lucky to land Sekularac, in fact. He is described by Mavericks assistant coach Donnie Nelson as a hard-nosed guard who is exceptional in the open court ? which happens to be the Mavericks' kind of game. Don Nelson said there was a flurry of calls just before the Mavericks selected, as teams hoped to somehow sneak away with Sekularac.