Who do experts predict the Dallas Mavericks will select in the 2023 NBA Draft?
The Dallas Mavericks own the 10th pick in Thurday’s NBA draft. According to the pundits, the Mavs are looking at a variety of options in the draft, includingusing the pick or trading the pick.
Here are how some experts believe the Mavs will pick if they do keep their selection:
Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, ESPN
Dallas continues to weigh its options in trading back, looking for the right opportunity to upgrade the roster while also preferring to stay in the draft and select a player they like later on. Lively is among the players in the mix if they keep it.
Selection: Duke C Dereck Lively II
Staff, NBA Draft Room
Whitmore is looking less likely to be selected in the top 5 and could go anywhere in the 6-12 range. If things go right for him he’d be a steal at this point of the lottery.
Selection: Villanova SF Cam Whitmore
Kyle Boone, CBS Sports
Dallas could —and I think, should — be thinking of ways to best maximize its pieces around Luka Doncic, and for my money Wallace is the best bet here. He’s a great defensive playmaker who can play on or off the ball and brings playmaking to the game as a potential secondary creator.
Selection: Kentucky PG Cason Wallace
Kyle Irving, The Sporting News
Reports suggest the Mavericks are aggressively trying to shop this pick to put established talent around franchise player Luka Doncic, but if they can’t find a trade partner, Lively appears to be the favorite to go No. 10.
Selection: Duke C Dereck Lively II
Krysten Peek, Yahoo Sports
Lively was one of the biggest draft risers after showcasing his improved motor and 3-point shot during his pro day with Klutch Sports. The Mavericks, if they end up keeping this pick, can use his rim protection with his 7-7 wingspan and won’t necessarily rely on him offensively with what they already have with Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić.
Selection: Duke C Dereck Lively II
Staff, SB Nation
In a draft that had a consensus top-nine for what feels like months, having the 10th pick isn’t ideal. But draft season is when teams lose their minds *waves at Wizards happily*. Taylor Hendricks is who Mavs Moneyball has had eyes for going back to April when it became clear that the play-in would go poorly because Dallas was a very bad basketball team.
Selection: UCF F Taylor Hendricks
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report
League sources expect the Mavericks to trade this pick, and Bilal Coulibaly could be an upside target for a team looking to take a big swing.
Selection: Metropolitans 92 F Bilal Coulibaly
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer
It would be a blessing for the Mavericks if Hendricks falls this far since he’s a highly versatile forward who could play some small-forward or even some small-ball center. Luka Doncic would be adding an enforcer on defense and a useful player on offense who can be used as either a roller or a shooter in pick-and-rolls. But will the Mavericks keep this pick? Sources say they’re trying to move down for multiple picks or players, or out of the draft entirely.
Selection: UCF F Taylor Hendricks
Christopher Kline, Fansided
Cam Whitmore appears to be a candidate to tumble on draft night. The Mavs would have to be ecstatic about this outcome, pairing Whitmore’s explosive downhill scoring with the versatile playmaking talents of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Selection: Villanova F Cam Whitmore
Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win
After a tough start to his collegiate career, Duke big man Dereck Lively eventually blossomed into a highly impactful player on the defensive end of the floor.
Selection: Duke C Dereck Lively II
This story was originally published June 21, 2023 at 10:21 AM.
