Why 2023 NBA Draft lottery will be one of the biggest nights in Mavericks history

The Dallas Mavericks were on the wrong end of an epic collapse to miss the postseason. They won just seven of their final 25 games as Dallas slipped from fourth to 11th in the Western Conference. The Mavs tanked their final two games, and it was so bad that the NBA opened an investigation into their actions.

The franchise did it to try to keep their draft pick. They owe it to the Knicks with a top ten protection meaning if the selection falls 11 through 14 it heads to New York. Dallas did not want to miss the playoffs and give the Knicks the 11th pick, especially after they signed Jalen Brunson in free agency last summer.

Losing their final two games clinched the Mavs having the tenth-worst record, but that does not guarantee that they keep their draft pick. The NBA Draft lottery is on May 16, and that will set the final order for the 14 teams that missed the playoffs. It will be a franchise-altering night, especially with Victor Wembanyama waiting for whoever gets the number one pick, but no team has more riding on the lottery than the Mavs. Here is why it will be a massive night.

Dallas Mavericks lose their first-round pick if someone jumps them in the 2023 NBA Draft lottery

The Mavs can either move into the top four or select tenth or worse. The top four picks are selected on lottery night with the remaining teams draft in inverse order of their regular season record. It will be a nervous night because of where Dallas is positioned.

They have a 3.0 percent chance of winning the lottery and getting the number one overall pick, and a 79.8 percent chance of staying in the top ten. In one out of five scenarios, the Mavericks still send their draft pick to New York, and their tanking was for nothing.

There is a ton of added pressure because the team does not want to lose Luka Doncic. There are already rumblings about his future after a rough season in Dallas, and the team needs to build a better roster around him, but the draft lottery could change that calculus.

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Dallas Mavericks need the asset if they are going to build title contender around Luka Doncic

More than anything, a top-ten draft pick is an asset to the franchise. They could use it to select a young talent that could blossom into a star or trade it for a veteran that can help them turn their fortunes around.

The Mavericks are closer than it seems to the elite teams in the Western Conference. Dallas could have easily won their final two games as their opponents were indifferent about the games. That would have put them at 40-42 on the season.

Consider the Mavericks with two superstars on their roster went 6-15 in clutch games after Feb. 8. If they go 10-11 in those games, which is still a losing record in close games, Dallas would have finished tied for fifth in the Western Conference with the Warriors and Clippers.

The Dallas Mavericks need to add rebounding, rim protection, and defense this offseason, but they need assets to make those moves. The cupboard is limited, but things are looking up if they have a top-ten pick to add to the equation. They need to keep their draft choice because that asset could be the difference in them building a contender for next season or not.

The draft lottery always adds a bit of hope too.

Dallas Mavericks could jump into the top 4 and get franchise-altering young talent

The Mavs have a 13.9 percent to jump up into the top four on May 16. It is nearly the same odds that the teams with the three worst records get in selecting first overall. That glimmer of hope will have executives and fans dreaming of what could be on lottery night.

They will read the results starting with the 14th pick, so fans will know quickly where the Mavericks stand. There will be some audible gasps if one of the four teams below them jumps into the top four, and it could happen. The Mavs' only hope of keeping their pick at that moment would be jumping up themselves.

Fans will dream of landing the number one pick and getting Victor Wembanyama, but this class has an outstanding top four. Scoot Henderson would be the number-one pick in most drafts. Brandon Miller and Amen Thompson are both elite prospects that could be multiple-time All-Stars. Having a future star on a rookie contract would be massive for the Dallas Mavericks, and it could instantly help them jump back into contention.

Dallas Mavericks fans will be holding their breath on May 16 because the 2023 NBA Draft lottery could change the course of the franchise. They must keep their pick, but Dallas could get lucky and jump into the top four. There will be plenty of drama, so please do not miss it.