Mavericks trade for Melvin Ajinca of France in second round of 2024 NBA Draft

The Dallas Mavericks traded for Melvin Ajinca, who formerly played in France in the NBA Draft’s second round on Thursday.

Ajinca was selected by the New York Knicks but acquired by the Mavs in a trade that saw Dallas give the Knicks the 58th pick in the draft.. The French native has a Mavs connection as his cousin Alexis Ajinça, a seven-year NBA veteran, played 10 games for the Dallas in the 2010-11 season.

Here’s everything to know about the Mavs second-round draft pick.

Melvin Ajinca

Professional experience: Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball of LNB Élite

Round: 2, Pick 51

Height: 6-7; Weight: 214

Hometown: Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France

What you should know about him: Ajinca averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists per season and shot 36% from three-point range. Saint-Quentin’s three-point shooting prowess at his size is one of his biggest assets and he could help the Mavs by being another shooter to alleviate pressure off Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.