The Dallas Mavericks made a home run move on draft night in 2023 when Cason Wallace was traded for Dereck Lively II. While Wallace is probably having the last laugh with the Oklahoma City Thunder's first championship victory, the Mavs made the right move because they were badly needing size. Christian Wood had sky-high expectations to be the next star big man next to Luka Doncic, but flopped badly. The coaching staff is to blame, too, but Wood never really showed up during the 2022-23 season.
Lively II established himself as a paint defender and a lob threat with Doncic, and now he's going to have to do the same with Cooper Flagg.