Mavericks' perfect draft pick just revealed himself after Dusty May hire

The Dallas Mavericks made a splash before draft night by signing NCAA Champion Dusty May to become the team's next head coach. May's hiring could have a huge influence on the Mavs' selections on Tuesday. Rumors have already swirled that Dallas is interested in trading back in the draft. This could open the possibility of the team selecting several of May's former players, as some of the former Michigan Wolverines should be available in the late lottery and the middle of the first round.

Yaxel Lendeborg hopes he is one of the players selected by the Mavericks. The 6-foot-9 forward showed why he would be the perfect draft pick for Dallas after the May hire during an interview. He gave fans an excellent response regarding the team's link to him and their signing of his former coach.

It's safe to say the former Michigan star couldn't contain his excitement. When asked about the possibility of playing for May, he vouched for Dallas to select him.

"You know, I'm going to tell him he'd better pick up. If he doesn't, I'm going to be mad, I might block him," Lendeborg said. "It would be amazing to stick with him."

Yaxel Lendeborg's connection to Dallas can't be denied

The Mavericks open up the draft with the ninth and 30th picks. It's an ideal spot to be in, as Dallas can now focus on upgrading its roster and solving their biggest weakness: shooting. One player who could be of assistance is former Michigan Wolverine star Yaxel Lendeborg. The prospect is the perfect draft pick for them to consider, especially with his excitement to potentially play for the Mavs and his connection to Dusty May.

Last month at the NBA Draft Combine, Lendeborg spoke about the idea of playing with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. He expressed nothing but excitement about the opportunity. The young forward believes he could be the perfect fit on the Mavs' roster.

"You know I haven't met with the Mavericks yet, but it would be nice. You know my favorite player growing up was Kyrie Irving, so I'm a big fan of him. Cooper Flagg is a generational talent, so I feel like playing alongside him would be great. I feel like we complement each other very well," Lendeborg said.

His response is what Mavs' fans want to hear: someone excited about the opportunity to play with Irving and Flagg. The fanbase wants the organization to select someone who can make an immediate impact. Lendeborg believes he can be the man to help turn things around in Dallas.

Plus, his connection to May is undeniable. After the Mavs' hire, he explained how amazing it would be to stick with the former coach. This speaks volumes about the impact the former Michigan coach had on his players, as he helped turn Lendeborg into a perimeter threat and a focal point of an offense. This is definitely something that could continue in Dallas.

The Michigan prospect must hope Dallas turns his dream into reality and reunites him with his former coach.

The Michigan forward would be the perfect complement to Cooper Flagg

Yaxel Lendeborg has the intangibles to be a strong fit alongside Cooper Flagg. His two-way physical abilities make him the ideal candidate who fits the blueprint of Masai Ujiri’s typical NBA forward. The former Michigan standout is a National Champion who could easily find success, like some of Ujiri's past forwards.

Coach Dusty May helped transform Lendeborg into a dominant forward, and it's very likely this trend would continue with the Mavs. The former Michigan coach gave his young prospect the green light to develop his offensive toolset while freeing his defensive traits as a forward in Ann Arbor.

This is why Lendeborg is viewed as one of the top draft prospects. Offensively, he has an amazing jump shot. Last season, he shot 51.5 percent overall and 37.2 percent from the 3-point line. Pair his shooting next to Flagg, and it would give the 2025 Rookie of the Year an extra offensive weapon. Plus, May knew how to run the offense through Lendeborg sometimes, as he showed excellent vision that led to high playmaking.

On the defensive side, May turned the potential Mav into a stretch player who can guard multiple positions. He used his 7-foot-3.25 wingspan and quickness to lead Michigan's defense. It's easy to see why teams have him high on their draft board, as Lendeborg can pressure opposing guards on the perimeter, while still being a primary rim protector.

So, it's easy to see why Dallas should favor the former Michigan star. He is a clear future upgrade over P.J. Washington and could make up for his awkward fit next to Flagg. The 6-foot-7 forward struggled to form a seamless fit with the rookie phenom last season, and Lendeborg would help alleviate these growing pains due to his shooting, versatility on defense, and size.

Dallas would be killing two birds with one stone if they draft Lendeborg in the first round, as he would help improve their shooting, defense, rebounding, and versatility right away. He would easily slide in next to Flagg in the starting lineup, and a frontcourt of Flagg, Lendeborg, and Dereck Lively II would give the Mavs elite size and versatility. Lendeborg also looks more NBA-ready than many of the other prospects projected to be drafted in his range.

The Mavericks have the perfect draft pick to start the Dusty May in style, and Ujiri should try to keep May with his former player by drafting Lendeborg on Tuesday night.

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