Taylor Hendricks 2023 NBA Draft profile: Could he solve the Mavericks defensive woes?

The Dallas Mavericks missed the playoffs for the first time since Luka Doncic's rookie year just one season after reaching the Western Conference Finals. This year's team was a disappointment and needs to undergo some major changes to return to the postseason.

The team that reached the Western Conference Finals was defensive-minded, had multiple ball handlers that could score, and had fantastic chemistry. The Mavericks team this year had multiple ball handlers that could score but didn't have the other two qualities. They couldn't defend and there seemed to be no chemistry.

Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison already said that Dallas' two biggest needs this offseason are defense and rebounding, and one particular prospect in this year's draft can do one of those at an elite level and is above average at the other. His name is Taylor Hendricks.

Taylor Hendricks 2023 NBA Draft profile: Could he solve the Dallas Mavericks defensive woes?

Hendricks is a 6'9 power forward from the University of Central Florida that can defend, stretch the floor, and rebound at a high rate. He averaged 15.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 0.9 steals while shooting 39.4 percent from downtown during his lone college season. Hendricks is projected to fall somewhere in the middle of the lottery, and some draft boards even have him going in the top five.

If Hendricks is available at pick ten, Dallas should target him, assuming they keep their top-ten protected pick after the draft lottery on May 16.

Here is a look at his overall game and his potential fit on the Dallas Mavericks.