While most draft projections link Dallas to guards, adding frontcourt talent alongside Cooper Flagg may deserve some consideration.
Every pre draft conversation surrounding the Dallas Mavericks has focused heavily on guards. The assumption is understandable. Dallas needs more backcourt depth alongside Cooper Flagg and a returning Kyrie Irving.
But there is another direction worth seriously exploring ahead of the June 23 NBA Draft.
What if the Mavericks go big instead?
Aday Mara, Michigan
Most mock drafts project Aday Mara somewhere between picks No. 12 and No. 16, meaning Dallas at No. 9 would either need to stay put and hope he slips or potentially trade down a few spots to maximize value.
Mara was one of the most discussed prospects at the NBA Draft Combine for obvious reasons.
He measured 7 foot 3 barefoot, 260 pounds, with a 7 foot 6 wingspan and a 9 foot 9 standing reach, the second longest standing reach ever recorded at the combine behind only Tacko Fall. He also turned a lot of heads with his agility drill.
After transferring from UCLA to Michigan, Mara led the Big Ten in field goal percentage at 66.8% while averaging 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and a confernce leading 2.6 blocks per game. He also finished fourth nationally in box plus minus and posted the rare combination of a 12.0 block percentage and a 19.0 assist percentage. Michigan advanced all the way to the national championship game behind his interior impact.
On the surface, drafting another center may seem redundant with Dereck Lively II already in place. But if Masai Ujiri moves Daniel Gafford this offseason and eventually views Lively differently within the rotation, Mara suddenly becomes far more intriguing as a long-term defensive anchor.
A 7-foot-3 rim protector with passing touch and defensive versatility alongside Flagg could fundamentally reshape Dallas’ identity on that end of the floor.
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
Most projections place Ejiofor somewhere between the late first round and early second round. If the Mavericks go guard at 9, Ejiofor would be a great option for the Mavericks at 30. He is projected to be a late first round to early second in most mock drafts.
Ejiofor averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season at St. John’s while establishing himself as one of the Big East’s better defenders. At the combine, he measured 6 foot 7.5 with a 7 foot 2 wingspan and an 8 foot 11 standing reach. He also averaged 2.2 blocks per game and built a reputation as a versatile defender capable of protecting the rim while switching onto perimeter players.
He embraces the physical aspects of the game, rebounds aggressively and impacts possessions without needing offensive touches.
There are clear offensive limitations. Ejiofor is not a perimeter shooter and still has work to do as a creator. But on a roster built around Flagg and Irving handling most of the offensive creation, Dallas may not need him to do much beyond defend, rebound and finish plays.
Both prospects offer very different pathways. If Dallas truly wants to reshape its identity around defense and versatility, going big in this draft deserves far more attention than it has received so far.
