2023 NBA Mock Draft: Detroit Pistons take a risk on a wing
2023 NBA Mock Draft
Nick Smith Jr.. 10. player. Scouting Report. Guard. Arkansas. 79. Pick Analysis
The Dallas Mavericks are not a team that thought they would be choosing in the lottery (their pick is top-10 protected, so they keep it here) and are a bit of a mess right now.
They are a half game out of the final play-in spot, Luka Doncic is unhappy and their forecourt includes Reggie Bullock, Dwight Powell and Christian Wood. They have little to trade, a top-heavy payroll that could lose Kyrie Irving at the end of the season, and if they are not careful, they are going to fumble one of the best talents to come along in years. Well done, Mark Cuban!
If the Mavericks end up keeping their pick, they will almost certainly package it in a trade for a win-now player, but in this draft, the 10th pick isn’t going to carry a ton of weight. But in this mock, I’ll give them Nick Smith Jr., whose shooting potential would be great next to Luka and would give the Mavs a chance to try and move Tim Hardaway Jr.
If the Mavs go into next season with this same roster minus Kyrie (possible) and with Smith Jr., expect to start hearing Luka trade rumors.