3 Reasons the NBA should secretly want Dallas Mavericks to pick 1st in 2023 NBA Draft

The Dallas Mavericks have arrived at one of the most important days in franchise history. They are clinging to the tenth pick entering the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, but Dallas is facing a bit of extra pressure on Tuesday night. If their pick slips to 11th or later, the Mavs owe it to the Knicks from the Kristaps Porzingis. It will leave Dallas without a draft pick in a crucial offseason where they must improve their roster around Luka Doncic.

The Mavericks have a 79.8 percent chance to keep their pick. Dallas can move up into the top four, stay at ten, or lose their pick to New York. They have a 13.9 percent shot at moving into the top four with three percent of getting the number one pick.

The 2023 NBA Draft features Victor Wembanyama, who is the most hyped prospect since LeBron James. Can Dallas land the generational talent? The odds are slim, but here are three reasons why the NBA should want the Mavs to win the lottery on May 16.

3. Make up for past lottery misfortune

The Mavs did have the first overall pick in 1981, but that was before the lottery began. Since its start in 1985, Dallas has taken part 14 times. They have never moved up, and the Mavericks have slipped in the lottery six times. HoopsHype did the math, and Dallas has the second-worst lottery luck among the 30 NBA teams.

The league can make up for that on Tuesday night if the Dallas Mavericks jump up to first overall. Victor Wembanyama has the potential to be an all-time great, and landing the French teenager would be massive for the franchise and the NBA. Having three stars on the same roster will only boost sales, but it is far from the only reason that the league thinks Dallas should win the lotto.