Mavs Select Purdue Center A.J. Hammons With 46th Overall Pick

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DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Mavericks have taken 7-foot center A.J. Hammons of Purdue with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the NBA draft.

When free agency opens next week, the center spot will be a prime target for the Mavericks, who figure their most significant offseason upgrades will come via signings of veterans.

But Dallas got an early start in the frontcourt by selecting Hammons on Thursday night. He played all four years with the Boilermakers, averaging 15 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game as a senior.

The Mavericks had just one pick because of the ill-fated Rajon Rondo trade that sent their 2016 first-round choice to Boston in a five-player deal during the 2014-15 season.

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