Mavericks are officially chasing a heist the NBA will hate

After the Dallas Mavericks sat all of their starters at the end of last night's game, it's clear that they're dedicated to tanking with just two games remaining. With losses being their focus, they have the chance to pull off another heist by winning the draft lottery.

Dallas is quietly in a great position in the lottery standings

Right now, Dallas is tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for the sixth-best odds of securing the No. 1 overall pick. A coin flip will determine who has the better odds between the Mavericks and Grizzlies if they end in a tie, but the fact of the matter is that they're going to have a great shot at winning the lottery, or at least moving up into the top four, once again.

The Mavericks currently have an 8.2 percent chance of landing the first overall pick and a 34.4 percent chance of landing in the top four. These are much better odds than they had last year when they won the lottery and drafted Cooper Flagg, and that same luck again would change everything.

This year's draft class is as stacked as we've seen in years, with Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa being the most coveted prospects.

The Mavericks will have plenty of options to choose from

Standing at 6-foot-9 with a wingspan larger than 7-foot and freak athleticism, Dybantsa would give Dallas one of the craziest young wing duos in the entire NBA. He plays as hard as anyone, just like Flagg, and he has all of the athletic tools to be an incredible fit in the NBA.

With Peterson, the Mavericks would be landing the unanimous best guard prospect in the draft. He averaged 20.2 points per game at Kansas while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from long range, proving that he can be an elite three-level scorer. Peterson's scoring looks effortless, and pairing him with Kyrie Irving in the backcourt, along with Flagg on the wing, would give other teams fits.

Even if Dallas can't jump into the top two, Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson will be waiting for them if they land at pick three or four. Boozer has an extremely high floor, while Wilson's defense, size, and athleticism on the wing are undeniable, and either player would give Flagg an elite running mate for years to come.

Every loss helps Dallas

The Mavericks' decision to tank was the best thing they could do for their future, and with the NBA set to crack down on tanking next season, Dallas did what they had to do. This is the last year that they fully control their own first-round pick until 2031, and they had to make the most of it.

Losses mean everything for the Mavericks over these final two games, and passing the Grizzlies in the lottery standings would give them an even better shot at pulling off a miracle again. The draft lottery is obviously about luck, but Dallas is in a great position to defy all odds for the second season in a row.