Can Mavericks take advantage of Victor Wembanyama hype?

The Dallas Mavericks won’t be players in the 2023 NBA Draft. They owe their first-round pick to the New York Knicks with a top-ten protection, and things will have gone horribly wrong if Dallas ends up with one of the ten worst records at the end of the regular season. Luka Doncic is a walking 50-win season and playoff berth, and he is still improving.

Projected top selection in the 2023 draft, Victor Wembanyama, came to the United States with his French team for a two-game showcase against projected number two pick Scoot Henderson and the G League Ignite. The 7’4 big man more than lived up to the hype (subscription required) as he had 73 points in 70 minutes over the two games, including showcasing his unbelievable ball-handling and shot-making chops.

Wembanyama has been hyped up for years, and he may be the biggest draft prospect since LeBron James in 2003. Can the Mavericks take advantage of the unbelievable buzz around the teenager?

How Victor Wembanyama hype will impact every team including Dallas Mavericks

Seven teams have already signaled they do not intend to compete this season, and they are firmly in the race for the top draft pick. A hot start is not going to change things for those squads, and most of them will do whatever they can to have one of the three worst records. Losing could be at an all-time high because teams want Wembanyama so badly.

Other teams could decide to waive the white flag early after a slow start. With a historic projected draft class among the top five players, teams like the Hornets or Kings could decide to tank if they start the regular season slowly.

If half the league is rebuilding, the teams competing for the championship should win even more regular season games. The Dallas Mavericks want to make another deep playoff run, but finishing back in the Western Conference’s top four means taking advantage of rebuilding teams more than ever before.