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

Heading into the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night, the Dallas Mavericks had a small chance to jump into the top four. They also had a shot to fall backward out of the top ten, which would have meant they owed their pick to the New York Knicks.

Instead, they stayed exactly where they projected to land, at the tenth pick in the draft. Now, they have to decide whether or not they want to trade the selection.

If the Mavericks choose to trade the pick, they’d almost certainly look for an upgrade to improve the team around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Ideally, this would be a defensive-minded wing or a center.

However, they could also decide to keep the pick and select one of the available rookies, and while that may not sound ideal to some Mavericks fans, there will be some solid options at pick ten. The question is, what position of need should they target if they decide to select a rookie instead of trading the pick?

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

There will be a wide variety of youngsters who play plenty of different positions. Taking a guard may not be the best choice for the Mavericks, as they already have guys like Doncic, Irving, and Jaden Hardy, meaning they’ll likely target a forward or center.

This means they’d potentially look away from guys like Carson Wallace, Keyonte George, and Jordan Hawkins.

Dallas could take a rookie with lots of defensive promise, a big man who could turn into their go-to guy in the middle, or even a shooter who will help space the floor for Doncic and Irving.

With all that in mind, here are the top five prospects that Dallas should target with the tenth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

5. Bilal Coulibaly

Not the name most Dallas Mavericks fans would think of when considering picks in the top ten, but Bilal Coulibaly reeks of a player who will skyrocket up draft boards during the week of the NBA Combine.

He spent last season playing alongside consensus number-one pick Victor Wembanyama on Metropolitans 92 in France, emerging as a potential lottery pick as the year went on.

Most mock drafts have him going in the late teens, but Dallas could afford to take a chance on him at pick ten, especially considering what he could bring to the table for them.

Coulibaly is 6'7 with a 7'3 wingspan and plays the wing position. Considering Dallas doesn’t have many solid perimeter defenders on their roster, Coulibaly’s length would prove crucial for them. And he’s put his measurements to good use, too. He’s a quality defender with the body and mental readiness to compete at the NBA level, especially on that end of the court.

Plus, Coulibaly is still only 18 years old. He turns 19 on July 26, meaning he’ll be 19 for the entirety of his rookie season, giving him plenty of time to improve.

Some Dallas fans may want the Mavericks to take a more NBA-ready player with the tenth overall pick, but with how much potential Bilal Coulibaly has shown on the defensive end, he fits the mold of what Dallas needs.

4. Kris Murray

While Bilal Coulibaly is one of the younger prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft, Kris Murray falls on the opposite end of that spectrum. He will be 23 years old before the start of next season, but he’s everything the Dallas Mavericks need.

The brother of Keegan Murray, Kris is as NBA-ready as they come. He got a ton of buckets while playing for the University of Iowa, but he projects to be a great 3-and-D guy in the NBA, just like his brother.

Murray is 6'8 with a 7-foot wingspan and plays the forward position. He could run small forward or power forward alongside Josh Green for the Mavericks.

In his junior year at Iowa, Murray shot just 33.5 percent from beyond the 3-point line, but that number came on 6.8 attempts per game as the primary option. With the Mavericks, Murray would only have to worry about shooting off the catch and wouldn’t have defenses focused on him. He’s been great in those spots.

Most importantly, Murray has shown plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball. His size and strength allow him to battle on that end, which would give the Mavericks a much-needed boost.

Mock drafts are unable to pinpoint where Murray will fall. Some have him in the lottery while others have him going in the 20s, but regardless, Dallas should have their eyes on him.

3. Gradey Dick

This selection would see the Dallas Mavericks opt to prioritize offense over defense, a choice some fans may disagree with. That being said, having Gradey Dick’s shooting and size alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving would give Dallas a major boost.

Dick is one of the best shooters in this draft, and at 6'6, can play the three and the four positions. In his one year at Kansas, he shot 40.3 percent from behind the 3-point line.

However, he has the talent and the tools to be more than just a spot-up shooting specialist in the NBA. Namely, his playmaking abilities were impressive at Kansas.

He only averaged 1.7 assists per game, but he was a solid ball-handler who found his teammates with ease. In a tertiary playmaking role, this would come to life even more, especially with defenses not keying in on him.

Obviously, his lack of defensive presence could lead to the Mavericks looking in other directions with the tenth pick, but they would be hard-pressed to find a better offensive fit than Dick.

With that in mind, it may be worth it for them to take the leap and address their defensive needs in free agency or via trade. Selecting Dick for his shooting and upside could make too much sense.

2. Ryan Rupert

Back to the defensive options, Ryan Rupert would see the Dallas Mavericks shore things up on that side of the floor. He’s the latest in a line of rookies to come out of the NBL.

Back to the defensive options, Ryan Rupert would see the Dallas Mavericks shore things up on that side of the floor. He’s the latest in a line of rookies to come out of the NBL. Like LaMelo Ball, Ousmane Dieng, and Josh Giddey before him, Rupert will enter the NBA after spending time in Australia playing for the New Zealand Breakers.

The biggest draw when it comes to Rupert is his defensive abilities. He’s one of the most impressive defensive prospects in the draft, with Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer comparing him to Mikal Bridges and noting that he “could lead the league in deflections” one day.

At 6'6, Rupert plays the wing position, making him a great option to take pressure off of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. He utilizes an impressive 7'2 wingspan to bother opponents on the perimeter.

Unfortunately, Rupert isn’t the best 3-point shooter, as he shot just 31.3 percent from behind the arc, but his defensive capabilities make up for that downside. Plus, 3-point shots can be developed, elite defensive instincts, which Rupert absolutely has, cannot.

Rupert’s ball handling is also solid, which means he’d be comfortable taking some pressure off of Dallas’ stars in that regard. And O’Connor also says Rupert “has that dog in him,” which would give the Mavericks a great spark.

Most mock drafts have Rupert going in the late teens, but his skill set is so perfect for Dallas, they should consider reaching on him.

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.