Ranking top 5 prospects for Dallas Mavericks with 10th pick in 2023 NBA Draft

1. Taylor Hendricks

Of all the prospects who could be available to the Dallas Mavericks with the tenth pick, Taylor Hendricks out of UCF should be at the top of the big board. He just fits too well.

At 6'8, Hendricks plays the power forward position, but he’s played some small-ball center in the past. And while he may be a bit too small to play that position in the NBA, his defensive instincts in the post are still there.

He’s also a solid perimeter defender, making him an extremely versatile option for the Mavericks to employ on the defensive end. But perhaps the most impressive part about his defensive prowess is the intangibles. It sounds cliche, but it’s important.

Hendricks is constantly hustling, brings great energy to the floor, and would help create a spark for Dallas. He’ll be 20 years old heading into the season and would have a chance to form an elite defensive duo with Josh Green for years to come in Dallas’ frontcourt.

The cherry on top, however, is Hendricks’ shooting. In his sole season at UCF, he shot 39.4 percent from behind the arc on 4.6 3-point attempts per game. He’s more than comfortable taking catch-and-shoot threes.

Hendricks didn’t play against great competition at UCF, so there are some concerns there, but everything he brings to the table screams Dallas.

The only potential issue is he could be off the board by the time Dallas picks, as most mock drafts have Hendricks going anywhere from seven to ten in the lottery.

Outside of Victor Wembanyama, the Dallas Mavericks couldn’t find a better prospect to fit their needs, even if they built their own rookie Frankenstein.