2023 NBA Mock Draft 6.0: Mavs’ $750K fine pays off

Objectively, there is no funnier outcome than the Mavs being fined $750,000 for possibly the most blatant late-season tank job of all time, only to be rewarded with the No.1 pick and the most generationally talented prospect since Luka Doncic, who the Mavs happened to have drafted a few years back.

There’s nothing standing in Wembanyama’s way of the No. 1 pick right now. The 7-foot-5 wunderkind has been stuffing the stat sheet and the highlight reel for Metropolitans 92 in France. Simultaneously an elite rim protector and an otherworldly offensive talent, Wembanyama feels like the safest bet for absolute superstardom in years. As long as he stays healthy, it’s hard to imagine his singular athletic gifts and diverse skill set not yielding extremely positive results.

It just so happens that Dallas desperately needs a facelift in the frontcourt. The Dwight Powell-Christian Wood center rotation was a source of extreme frustration for Mavs fans all season. The Mavs are also dangerously short on complementary talent, financial flexibility, and trade capital, which makes it very difficult to upgrade the roster around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving — if Kyrie Irving even decides to re-sign. Wemby would be a miracle save from the basketball gods, suddenly giving Dallas dynastic potential for the next decade if Mark Cuban and the front office don’t fumble the proverbial bag.

No prospect is a sure thing. Wemby will face challenges with NBA physicality and there are always injury concerns with players that tall. Especially when they’re also that skinny. But the talent level is off the charts and no prospect checks more boxes across the board. He is quite literally the best offensive and defensive prospect in the draft. The Mavs would be over the moon.