Mavericks may have to consider drafting a 7-foot-3 monster after freakish NBA Combine

Guards, guards, guards, with a recent touch of forwards. That’s been the presumed draft philosophy of the Dallas Mavericks as of late. But that approach may be forced to change after a towering presence at the NBA Draft Combine turned heads. A 7-foot-3 center prospect measured with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and a 9-foot-9 standing reach, leading all participants in two of the three categories and reintroducing size as a serious consideration for Dallas.

Aday Mara Combine breakout puts Mavericks on radar at No. 9

That would be Michigan’s Aday Mara. The Spanish big man was already viewed as a mid-to-late first-round pick before his stock began rising during Michigan’s NCAA Tournament run. But that momentum may have fully kicked into overdrive after an absurd showing at the NBA Draft Combine, where his measurements only reinforced his rare physical profile.

However, there’s more to Mara than his size alone, which is why he’s climbed into lottery-level territory. He offers elite feel, impressive mobility for his frame, physical interior presence, passing ability, and even flashes of perimeter shooting potential.

Thus, Dallas could emerge as a potential landing spot for the rapidly rising Mara with the No. 9 overall selection. The Mavericks already have Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II — two athletic, rim-running centers — but both carry durability questions, and neither possesses Mara’s offensive upside. And while each brings elite size and vertical presence, neither matches Mara's rare physical profile measured at the NBA Draft Combine.

Lively II, still only 22, looks like a clear long-term building block for Dallas and a likely second-contract player. He’s flashed immense two-way potential, but injuries have kept him under 100 career regular-season games. If he does remain central to the Mavericks’ plans, pairing him with a more durable interior presence becomes an increasingly logical roster consideration.

Gafford has been an effective presence for Dallas, but he's not the long-term complement alongside Lively II. Over the past two seasons, he has appeared in just 112 games, under 70 percent of the Mavericks’ total, highlighting his durability limitations. He will also be 28 entering next season, making him less aligned with Dallas’ longer-term timeline than Lively II.

How Mara could redefine Mavericks’ frontcourt plans

While center may not be a pressing need for the Mavericks, Mara could be too intriguing to pass up. In his lone season at Michigan, he averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game in just 23.4 minutes. That followed a limited role at UCLA, where he totaled just 699 minutes across two seasons, suggesting there's still significant untapped developmental upside in his game.

Moreover, Mara offers something Dallas has rarely had in its modern frontcourt: a true post playmaking hub. Just envision Mara receiving an entry pass and quickly firing it out to an open three-point shooter or threading a pass to a cutting Cooper Flagg. While Lively II has flashed passing ability in spurts, Mara projects with passing as a primary skill rather than a secondary one.

Lastly, although Mara hasn’t fully explored his three-point shooting (3-of-10 from deep at Michigan), he’s shown more encouraging flashes in combine drills, hitting 16-of-25 in the star drill and 12-of-25 in the spot-up drill. Whispers… untapped potential.

All in all, Mara has likely forced several teams to rethink their draft philosophy, with Dallas among them, especially after sliding from No. 8 to No. 9 in the lottery. If he is still available at that spot, the Mavericks could strongly consider taking him earlier than expected, while addressing guard depth with their other first-round selection.

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