Could Dallas Mavericks take NCAA champion guard with 10th pick in 2023 NBA Draft?

The Dallas Mavericks kept the tenth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery. It was a key moment for the franchise as they look to continue building around Luka Doncic. Dallas has plenty of work to do this offseason. They will be in search of multiple upgrades, but can the front office find them?

The Mavs are rumored to be shopping their pick, and they must find the right trade. Dallas has missed out on plenty of opportunities in the last year. They have limited assets to work with and multiple upgrades to find. Can the Mavericks do enough to get back into contention next season?

The NBA Draft Combine is taking place this week in Chicago and most of the top prospects are in attendance. The Mavs reportedly met with Jordan Hawkins on Wednesday, but could they take the 6’5 guard with the tenth overall pick?

Could Mavericks take NCAA champion Jordan Hawkins with the 10th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft?

Hawkins had a breakout sophomore season at UConn where he averaged 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 29.4 minutes per game. The Huskies won the national championship as he shot 38.8 percent from 3-point range. The 21-year-old is an outstanding shooter with a quick release. He is not just a catch-and-shoot option as he does well off movement.

Hawkins is a projected lottery pick, but his game is not without question marks. He needs to improve his playmaking and defense to reach his ceiling, but the 6’5 wing could find success as a shooter early in his career as he works to round out his game. Hawkins models his game after Klay Thompson among others, and fans can hear the other comps below.

Jordan Hawkins is part of a group of players projected to go from ten to 20 on June 22. The Dallas Mavericks want to put shooting around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but they need defense. Can Hawkins become a league-average defender in time? Dallas does not have the advantage of waiting, but the 21-year-old should be under consideration at ten.

The Dallas Mavericks could trade the pick for a veteran or look to trade back and pick up an additional asset. They are putting all of their options on the table, but what will Dallas do? Stay tuned for an exciting offseason where the Mavs will be active and aggressive.