NBA's Wembanyama fear presents Mavericks with pressing 7-foot-3 draft question

With teams across the league already thinking about how they can add more size to slow down San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, the Dallas Mavericks have a pressing question that could be at the front of their minds with the 2026 NBA Draft less than a month away: Should they draft Michigan's Aday Mara with the No. 9 overall pick if he's on the board to give them the size needed to hang with their in-state rival's show-stopping superstar?

Seemingly every Mavericks fan wants Dallas to draft a guard, but the idea of drafting the 7-foot-3 Mara can't be ignored.

Mavericks can't watch the Spurs' dynasty form from the sidelines

Wembanyma and the Spurs' time is now, and Dallas should search for an immediate answer to contain the 7-foot-4 Frenchman if they want any chance to win the West while he's in it. The perfect time to form the Mavericks' core around Cooper Flagg is now, especially since he's still a teenager, making their hunt for a player to match Wembanyama's size pressing.

He already has the makings of one of the best players of all time if he can remain healthy and continue this ascent, and according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, teams aren't looking to stand pat. They want to crack the code (subscription required) to bring "The Alien" back to Earth.

Front offices are looking for ways to counter Wembanyama. A healthy fear exists in the NBA, and Dallas should look to get ahead of the curve this summer.

"The Thunder, who just seized a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals with a Game 5 win at home, certainly aren't alone out there with The Alien in San Antonio on their minds," Fischer reported. "Wembanyama's ascension has numerous front offices thinking about how to add more size to combat the Frenchman."

Why the Mavericks should make Mara their Wemby stopper

Rival teams know that Wembanyama is special. Anyone who has ever watched him play knows this. They also know that you have to be very strategic in the way you defend him. His height and length allow him to shoot over anyone in the league, and his dominance on both ends will help the Spurs remain one of the best teams in the West for years to come.

If the Mavericks want something to say about this, Mara could be their answer. One of the best way to combat size like Wemby's is with size of your own, and Mara has that.

He measured out at a massive 7-foot-3 barefoot at the NBA Combine with a 7-foot-9 standing reach. For context, Wembanyama measured 7-foot-3.5 barefoot after being drafted by the Spurs in 2023.

Mara has the pure size to battle with the Spurs' two-way star, but his game is much more than just height.

Mara brings more than size

The Spanish big man averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 66.8 percent from the field during his junior season. His interior presence helped Michigan win its first National Championship since 1989, and his dominance inside has NBA front offices intrigued.

His impressively swift movement and massive measurements during the NBA Combine certainly drew some eyes in Chicago, and he has what it takes to be an elite starting center in the NBA. His passing, defense, and lob finishing are all promising, with his potential as an offensive hub being a real possibility one day.

"Teams covet Mara's passing promise as much as his mobility and shot-blocking," Fischer said.

When the Mavericks are on the clock at nine, if Mara is still there, they're going to have to take a long, hard look at him and consider drafting him. Fans have been clamoring for the team to draft a point guard to pair with Flagg, such as Mikel Brown Jr. or Kingston Flemings, but a case can be made for Mara as well.

This isn't to say he's going to be an All-NBA player, given his offensive limitations and lack of touch at this point, but he's an intriguing prospect to say the absolute least.

Dallas' frontcourt problem could lead them to Mara

Dallas' center rotation struggled last season due to injuries, as Dereck Lively II only played seven games while Daniel Gafford only played 55 games. This isn't good enough if the Mavs want to have a bounce-back season. Solid big-man play is crucial, and they clearly need more reliability down low.

The Mavericks drafting Mara wouldn't only be to try to stop Wemby. They need real help inside, and their situation over the last two seasons proves this.

With Gafford constantly in trade rumors and Lively II in and out of the lineup, Mara would bring a sense of reliability and some more size to a frontcourt in need of answers. Dallas' backcourt isn't the only hole on their roster, and drafting Mara, moving Lively II to the bench, and later trading Gafford could be the best path forward for the Mavericks.

His size, defense, IQ, and swift feet give him a different look to throw at Wembanyama, and Dallas passing on him would be hard to justify. They clearly need guard help as well, but with every team needing someone to match up with Wembanyama in a playoff setting, Mara may be the answer.

Teams are already wondering how far Mara will climb in the lottery on draft night, and he could end up going ninth to the Mavericks. Everything is bigger in Texas, including The Alien, and Mara could be the guy who helps send him and the Spurs back to Area 51.

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