2026 NBA Mock Draft: After hiring Michigan's Dusty May, Mavericks take former Wolverines star Aday Mara

On the eve of the 2026 NBA Draft, we got some drama when the Dallas Mavericks reportedly hired their next coach: Michigan's Dusty May. During his two seasons with the Wolverines, May transformed the program back into a national powerhouse and helped Michigan win the national title this season.

>With May set to take over Dallas, all eyes turn to what the Mavericks will do with the No. 9 pick on Tuesday night. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there have been talks about the Mavericks trading down with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City owns picks No. 12 and 17 in the first round.

>If Dallas sticks at No. 9, it will likely have a great  opportunity to draft a former Michigan player whom May coached last season. One who makes sense -- and is projected to go to Dallas in this mock -- is Aday Mara. Mara, who transferred from UCLA to Michigan last season, was one of the best shot blockers in college basketball and would add defense next to former No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.

>If Mara is off the board, Dallas could also consider Yaxel Lendeborg or Morez Johnson Jr. That trio of Lendeborg, Johnson and Mara wore down opposing teams during the NCAA Tournament and helped the Wolverines complete a dominant run.

>In this mock draft, we touch on Dallas drafting Mara, the Milwaukee Bucks picking up an extra first-round pick (13) after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo (in a mock trade) to the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves moving up 10 spots to secure Alabama star Labaron Philon Jr.