7 Prospects the Dallas Mavericks should target in the top 10 of the 2023 NBA Draft

5. Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke

***EDITOR'S NOTE: Filipowski decided to stay at Duke and will not declare for 2023 NBA Draft.

The 2023 draft class is a bit light on big men after Victor Wembanyama. Filipowski may not even be taken in the lottery, and he projects as the second-best center. The 6’11 big man was the Blue Devils' best player this season, and NBA teams may be discounting the teenager’s potential.

He can handle the ball and execute a pick-and-roll. Filipowski only averaged 1.6 assists per game this season, but it could become a larger part of his game in the NBA. The 6’11 big man also made 1.0 3-pointer per game. Yes, he only shot 28.2 percent from deep in a 36-game sample, but his form and ability to shoot off the dribble make it a projectable skill that NBA teams will improve.

Can Kyle Filipowski hold up on the defensive end of the floor in the NBA? He blocked just 26 shots in 36 games in his lone season at Duke, and the 6’11 big man plays extremely upright on this end of the floor. Can he stay in front of ball handlers on switches? Will he be able to stay on the floor without protecting the rim?

The Dallas Mavericks had success developing a big man that could shoot threes and create shots. Now imagine, Dirk Nowitzki mentoring Filipowski in Dallas as the teenager attempts to reach his ceiling. It could happen if the Mavs decide to take a big man on draft night.