Projected 2023-24 Finish:
Projected Regular Season Finish: 5th in the Western Conference
Expected Playoff Finish: Projected to lose in the 2nd Round
2023-24 Preseason NBA Power Ranking: 11

Luka Doncic has been Dallas’ best draft pick in the 21st century, and he is a tremendously skilled player that has helped lead the Mavericks to the 2022 Western Conference Finals. On the left in the picture is Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban, who helped lead his team to win the 2011 NBA championship.
(Photo: Brandon Wade/Associated Press, via Bleacher Report)

NBA Draft History:

1st Round (2017-Present):

Dennis Smith Jr. (9th overall, 2017)
Luka Doncic (3rd overall, 2018)
Josh Green (18th overall, 2020)
Dereck Lively II (12th overall, 2023)
Olivier-Maxence Proper (24th overall, 2023)

2nd Round (2017-Present):

Jalen Brunson (33rd overall, 2018)
Ray Spalding (56th overall, 2018)
Kostas Antetokounmpo (60th overall, 2018)
Isaiah Roby (45th overall, 2019)
Tyrell Terry (31st overall, 2020)
Tyler Bey (36th overall, 2020)
Jaden Hardy (37th overall, 2022)

Best Draft Pick (2017-Present): Luka Doncic
Best 2nd Round Pick (2017-Present): Jalen Brunson
Biggest Draft Day Steal (2017-Present): Jalen Brunson
Notable Draft Busts (2017-Present): Dennis Smith Jr.

(Arguably, Dennis Smith Jr. could be considered a draft bust, as he’s been on the fringes of NBA rosters for the past several years, though he did have a pretty good rookie season. But if he is a bust, it’s not nearly as pronounced as for others such as James Bouknight or Kevin Knox. As for the biggest draft day steal, it was between Brunson and Doncic, and both have very strong arguments for that, but the value of Brunson’s performance relative to draft range and position was the tiebreaker for that specific category.)

Season Reviews:

2020 Dallas Mavericks (Season Grade: B+)
2021 Dallas Mavericks (Season Grade: C)
2022 Dallas Mavericks (Season Grade: A-)

Season Previews:

2023 Dallas Mavericks (Prediction: Lose in the 1st Round, Result: Missed the Playoffs)
2024 Dallas Mavericks (Prediction: Lose in the 2nd Round, Result: TBD)

Basketball-Reference
Salary Swish

Player ratings are subject to change as the season progresses. Thanks for reading.