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Dusty May's calling card at the collegiate level was talent evaluation. He assembled a loaded roster at FAU, setting the stage for a Final Four run, and built a national champion at Michigan after some under-the-radar pickups in the transfer portal.
While the job of an NBA head coach is much different, May's talent evaluation could be put to the test immediately.
Masai Ujiri will be running the show when the Mavericks are on the clock at No. 9 overall in the NBA Draft on Tuesday, but May's presence could make Michigan stars Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara intriguing options as Dallas looks to build a contender around Cooper Flagg.
Here's a look at whether May's hire might lead to a change of plans for the Mavericks in the NBA Draft.
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Who will Mavericks draft at No. 9?
The No. 9 pick might be on the high end of where Lendeborg and Mara have been projected to land in Tuesday's draft, but that's a conversation the Mavericks could have now that they are hiring the man who coached them at Michigan last season.
The Mavericks need plenty of help around Flagg, but guards have made the most sense throughout the draft process. The final mock draft from SN's Steph Noh projects Louisville G Mikel Brown Jr. as the Mavericks' choice at No. 9 with Lendeborg and Mara still on the board; without Kyrie Irving now 34 and coming off a major injury, plus few proven options elsewhere in the backcourt, adding a scorer like Brown might make more sense than another frontcourt addition.
With that being said, May won at Michigan by assembling a loaded frontcourt. The Wolverines played through their frontcourt this past season, making it work between Lendeborg, Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. in part because each had different skillsets. If there are concerns about Dereck Lively II's long-term health, Mara might make sense next to Flagg while Ujiri could be intrigued by Lendeborg's ability to do a little bit of everything.
The Mavericks, led by top executives Ujiri and Mike Schmitz, have been preparing for the draft since long before May was hired. They may opt to stay the course and stick to their board, but for the price they are likely paying May, building out the roster the same way he did at Michigan is at least a possibility to consider.
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Yaxel Lendeborg draft projection
Lendeborg is generally projected to be a late lottery pick in Tuesday's draft. Sporting News' final mock draft projects Lendeborg to be selected 13th overall to the Heat, while SN's final big board ranks the Michigan star at No. 10.
Given he's already 23, a top-10 pick might be tougher for a team to justify. Lendeborg will turn 24 before Flagg turns 20, so he might not have the type of ceiling Dallas is looking for even if May's familiarity with him is a bonus.
Aday Mara draft projection
Mara is also a projected late lottery pick, but he has received at least some top-10 buzz due to his ridiculous size and defensive impact near the rim, particularly given Victor Wembanyama's rise and the need to find players who can match up defensively with the Spurs star.
With Lively's long-term health a concern and Mara's style of play being much different than Flagg's, he might be a more likely option than Lendeborg for Dallas at No. 9. Still, SN's final mock draft has the Mavericks passing on Mara and the Michigan big man landing with the Warriors at No. 11.
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