"I'm the best player in the NBA Draft,'' Missouri product Michael Porter Jr. recently said.

Would you settle, young man, for "top three''?

Sources tell me the Dallas Mavericks were among the teams present this week for Porter Jr.'s private workout in Chicago, that they found his session to be "extremely impressive,'' and that they are part of a growing movement of teams who believe he is a "top-three prospect'' if healthy.

This marks Dallas' second visit with Porter, who brought swagger to his Scouting Combine interview last month with the Mavs.

Porter Jr. -- a year ago the second-best prospect coming out of high school and a likely superstar entering college -- experienced an an injury-plagued season at Missouri, going down just two minutes into his Tigers career with what would be diagnosed as a spine injury requiring surgery. (Performed, by the way, by Dallas' Dr. Drew Dossett, one of the country's leading specialists and a member of the Dallas Cowboys' medical team.) Porter was out for four months, then returned in time for the NCAA Tournament, where Porter averaged 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals in the two games.

Porter said he first injured his back between his sophomore and junior years of high school when an opposing player undercut him as he elevated for a dunk. He thinks ultimately the surgery has made him more healthy.

“I think it was a step back to take three steps forward,” Porter said. “I feel like I took a step back, but now I’m able to reach my full potential being out of pain and everything. I was hoping to turn college basketball upside-down, just like a lot of these players ... But this is just a step in my process of becoming the best player I can be. It’s a little different but I’m more ready than ever. I’ve been dreaming about this NBA stuff for so long. I feel like I’m ready.”

Teams will soon have answers as to any lingering health issues. But if he's healthy? DeAndre Ayton is going No. 1 to the Phoenix Suns. But it's a grab-bag after that, the Mavs, picking fifth, high on Euro teenager Luka Doncic is at No. 2 (though we're about the experience the fallout of his comments suggesting uncertainty about entering this draft, as our David Lord explains brilliantly here and others.

And maybe high on Porter in that top-three mix.

"I played against all these guys, they're all great players, and I'm not taking anything away from them ... but I'm the best player in this draft," said the 6-10, 215-pound Porter, who would, on-paper, give offensive-starved Dallas an instant weapon on that end of the floor. "And I just can't wait to show what I'm capable of."

Some of that "showing off'' just occurred in Chicago. Other candidates will get their chance, too; I'm told to round up the "obvious candidates'' for other visits as Dallas looks at people to draft at No. 5. That includes Texas center Mohamed Bamba (DBcom profile here), who I think might visit with Dallas next week, and it includes Duke center Wendell Carter Jr., who sources tell DBcom will also be a Dallas visitor.

But if Porter is healthy -- and you trust Casey Smith and the Mavs medical team to have the right answers, especially with their availability to Dr. Dossett -- he can be a huge get, a long two-way player who can shoot and create for himself on the perimeter, aiding a Dallas offense desperate for help, and aiding a Dallas roster desperate for young talent.

So far? "Extremely impressive'' and "top-three candidate'' speak volumes.