Dusty May’s Michigan Guy Just Became a Problem for Daniel Gafford in Dallas

The Mavericks made a splash Monday by hiring Michigan’s Dusty May as their next head coach. That move, coming less than 24 hours before the NBA Draft, already has ripple effects on Dallas’ roster decisions.

According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Mavericks are now eyeing Michigan center Aday Mara with the No. 9 pick. Mara played for May this past season and helped the Wolverines win a national championship. The 7-foot-3 big man turned heads at the combine with his mobility and touch around the rim, so the connection is obvious.

But here’s where it gets messy for Daniel Gafford. Siegel reports that Dallas is shopping Gafford — specifically trying to move up from pick No. 30 into the top 20. The logic is pretty straightforward. If the Mavs draft Mara and already have Dereck Lively II in the frontcourt, Gafford becomes the odd man out. That’s a lot of size and not enough minutes to go around.

Why Gafford Makes Sense as Trade Bait

Gafford is a productive center. He rebounds hard, protects the rim, and doesn’t complain about his role. But the Mavericks need to build around Cooper Flagg, and adding another young piece in the late lottery gives them more flexibility. Moving Gafford for a pick in the 15-20 range lets Dallas bring in a wing or a secondary ball-handler — something this roster doesn’t have enough of.

Other teams would absolutely want Gafford. His offensive rebounding rate is elite, and he’s on a reasonable contract. That’s why the Mavericks are making calls. They’re not dumping him. They’re trying to turn an asset into another long-term piece.

The Mara Factor

Mara isn’t a finished product. He’s still raw offensively, and his conditioning needs work. But May knows how to use him, and the Mavericks clearly trust their new coach’s evaluation. If Mara is sitting there at No. 9, it’s hard to see Dallas passing on him — especially with the Gafford trade chatter already circulating.

One more thing: the draft is Tuesday night in Brooklyn. That gives the Mavericks about 24 hours to find a trade partner for Gafford or decide to keep him and look elsewhere at No. 9. Either way, the next day and a half will tell us a lot about how Dallas views its frontcourt going forward.