NBA Draft BREAKING: Mavs Trade Down to 12, Select Dereck Lively II
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DALLAS — After a 38-44 finish to the season, the Dallas Mavericks landed the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Facing a need to upgrade the supporting cast around Luka Doncic and impending free agent Kyrie Irving, the Mavs became the focus of many trade rumors leading up to June 22.
The Mavs used the 10th pick in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, moving down two spots to the 12th pick in order to dump Davis Bertans’ contract in the process. Dallas used its new selected to pick former Duke center Dereck Lively II.
Much of the focus surrounding the Mavs was placed on possible trade scenarios the team could make to add established help for Doncic and Irving.
“A lot of people want to be at 10, so they’re gonna come at you with so many scenarios,” Mavs general manager Nico Harrison said before the draft.
With the Mavs having clear needs to improve on defense and rebounding, there was a lot of attention placed on how they would use the draft to address it. The team wasn’t focused on forcing a selection for need, but managed to add a center regardless.
“It’s not an exact thing, but you could have a need. It’s not gonna be as good as the best player available and you gotta get the best player available,” Harrison said. “If they’re close, then you go with need.”
Atop the Mavs’ list of offseason priorities is to re-sign Irving, who is set to reach free agency later this summer. How much did the superstar guard being set to hit the open market impact the war room’s philosophy with the 10th pick?
“The draft’s going to happen regardless of what Kyrie does. So we gotta do what’s best for us,” Harrison said. “But, you know, obviously, he’s someone that we’ve already told everybody we want to re-sign, and we’re excited about. So that’s kind of how we’re moving forward as if best case scenario.”
Whether the Mavs resolved their top needs using the draft or not, the front office will be aggressive during the remainder of the offseason to do so. The team has plans to “remake” the center position with Christian Wood and Dwight Powell being set to reach free agency this offseason. Adding a center in the draft only helps.
“It’s art and science, so it’s going to be tough depending on the players available when we pick because we don’t choose who picks in front of us,” Harrison said. “If it’s not addressed tonight properly, it will be addressed during free agency.”
Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).
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