“They said Luka, I said ‘Luka Garza?'” Devin Booker’s reaction to the trade perfectly summed up how the basketball world processed the shocking Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade news. It will go down in free-agency history as one of those ‘where were you when the news broke?’ moments. No one in their right mind would have thought that the Mavericks would, or even could, trade away their Slovenian superstar.

The Mavs GM, Nico Harrison, was looking toward the future when he called up Rob Pelinka to start trade negotiations. “Defense wins championships,” was the reasoning Harrison gave for this shocker of a move. Dallas acquired perennial all-star Anthony Davis, the young Max Christie, and a 2029 first-rounder in this blockbuster deal. While AD is set to make an immediate impact, the two other pieces are more of a future investment for Harrison.

What is interesting, however, is the 2029 first-rounder. The draft class is four years off in the future, which means that the prospects have just entered high school! No one knows how these players will develop over the next four years, and no prospect is a sure thing this young.

Even though four years is plenty of time for new prospects to emerge, the ones that we have right now are also very exciting. It will be interesting to see how these players shape their careers going forward, which college they go to, and how they play.

How stacked is the draft class of 2029? Meet Kameron Mercer and Erick Dampier Jr.

The future looks to be in good hands! As time goes on, the game is evolving. Big guards are becoming more common, and the skill set that they are developing seems almost unreal. Case in point, Kameron Mercer from Cincinnati, Ohio—the projected first overall pick.

Standing at 6-foot-5, with a 6-10 wingspan, Mercer is no ordinary freshman. The Huntington Prep guard can do it all on the court, giving immense contributions on both ends. He stuffs the stat sheet really well, showing proficiency in scoring, rebounding, and defending. The biggest upside to Mercer, however, is his ambitious nature.

In an exclusive with ZAGSBLOG, Kam Mercer discussed what his goals are for his play style in the future. “I really want to transition to like a true point guard,” the freshman said, acknowledging that his draft stock would shoot through the roof if he became the one. “There’s a difference between being a 6-foot-5 point guard and 6-foot-5 two-guard. It’s very very different.” 

The most shocking thing about Mercer, however, is the fact that he already has 4 D1 offers, including powerhouse Ohio State! His list consists of Cincinnati, Missouri, Xavier, and Ohio State so far, having landed his first offer in middle school. Though he has a long time before he can even have recruiting conversations with the schools (more specifically, until June 15 after his sophomore year of high school), Mercer does have a few standing offers. The calm before the storm, so to say.

Another exciting prospect is Erick Dampier Jr. His father is Erick Dampier, an NBA journeyman who was in the league for a very productive 16 years. Dampier Jr., on the other hand, has a long way to go. He stands at a solid 6-foot-11, and according to draft notes by nbadraftroom.com, Dampier Jr. does everything his father did but better. And leading the son in doing so is none other than Erick Dampier himself.

“I’m probably a little too hard on him at times, but that’s just me getting my knowledge about basketball, knowing what’s coming and what’s expected,” the 49-year-old admitted to Michael Chavez of Mississippi Clarion Ledger. Well, having a former NBA player for a father, its only natural, I suppose. But that doesn’t mean he takes it for granted. In fact, it motivates him to work harder.

“I really learned pretty much everything he’s taught me. … He reminds me to be stronger and aggressive in the paint. To go out and do more scoring and get more blocks. To be quick with my feet which also helps with scoring and helps me to stay low with the ball,” Erick Jr. noted.

That said, Dampier wants to ensure that he has his own story to tell. Don’t believe it? Well, here’s what MRA’s winningest basketball coach, Richard Duease has to say about Erick Dampier Jr.: “He’s probably the best skill big man I’ve seen at that age, as far as being able to handle the ball and pass the ball.” 

And what about carving his own path? Well, the Mississippi Hall of Fame coach has the answer to that, as well. “I think that’s his goal all along. He’s his own guy,” the 72-year-old said.

Aside from that, his length is a major upside, especially considering that the center is only 15. If Dampier Jr. grows even a couple more inches, the impact on his game will be immense. A seven-footer with his agility and skill-set would make waves in the NBA, giving hints of a home-grown Wembanyama. Spurs, en garde!

Still, it is too early to say what these players will turn into. The Dallas Mavericks will definitely keep an eye out for this class, however, as they hold multiple picks in 2029. If any of them turn out to be in the lottery, the Mavs would be overjoyed. The motivation behind Harrison trading the Luka Doncic is not certain.

It remains to be seen whether Dallas fumbled this trade or not, as Luka Doncic, for sure, has the best years of his career ahead of him.