Wembanyama's rise is ripping Mavericks' potential 7-foot-3 draft target away from them

It is without question that Victor Wembanyama is one of the top players in the NBA, as he played a pivotal role in the San Antonio Spurs' advancement to the NBA Finals after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday. His rise in the league has many teams plotting ways to stop the 7-foot-4 center.

One solution to attempt to counter Wembanyama's dominance is in the draft, where Michigan center Aday Mara is the top big-man prospect. Teams have been eyeing the young center to stop Wembanyama, and he's bound to go early in the first round. This could spell bad news for Mavs fans, as the young Spurs star's rise is directly decreasing the Mavericks' chances of drafting Mara, meaning he'll likely be selected before the ninth pick.

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reports that many front offices expect Mara's draft stock to go up, as teams try to find a solution to stop the French big man.

"Wembanyama's ascension has numerous front offices thinking about how to add more size to combat the Frenchman. We've been writing about the leaguewide renaissance for big men all season, and it sounds as though Michigan's 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara is bound for the green room on the first night of the draft as an increasingly certain lottery pick," Fischer reported.

Aday Mara would solve the Mavericks' frontcourt issues

The Dallas Mavericks will have their hands full in the future, as Victor Wembanyama is set to dominate the NBA for years to come. Last season, the Spurs' All-Star dominated Dallas, beating them in all four matchups.

He recorded a double-double in the first game of the season, scoring 40 points and 15 rebounds. This was his first 40-point game, against Dallas. Wembanyama then outplayed Cooper Flagg in their second matchup. He had another double-double with 29 points and 11 rebounds.

It's clear Dallas has no solution to stopping "The Alien." He seems to have no issue with the Mavs' frontcourt, as their center position was their Achilles heel last season. It's a problematic position that got even worse with injuries. Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford struggled to hold down the fort.

Dallas will need a much more stable center to compete against the Spurs in the future, and it's possible someone like Aday Mara would be the perfect solution. Mavs fans can only hope he is still available at nine. However, it seems unlikely, as Victor Wembanyama's rise has teams plotting how to stop him, making Mara much harder to potentially draft.

Why Aday Mara is what Dallas needs

As mentioned, it's clear the Mavericks desperately need stability and durability at the center position. They need someone they can easily rely on. Plus, Dallas will also need a center who can make things difficult for Victor Wembanyama and their in-state rival.

Aday Mara would be the perfect solution. He could easily combat Wembanyama with his size. The Michigan center is 7-foot-3, which is only half an inch shorter than what Wembanyama measured at as a rookie. This means he has the size to battle Wembanyama, and Mara would be a long-term fix at a position Dallas struggled with last season.

One thing that stands out about Mara is his two-way capabilities. He can easily defend inside; his big presence allows him to grab rebounds and block shots. Last season, Mara averaged 6.8 boards and 2.6 blocks per game. This was evident during Michigan's Final Four matchup against Arizona, in which Mara recorded nine rebounds and two blocks.

Offensively, he is a beast down low. Mara can easily score from a variety of angles, including a fluid hook shot, lobs, and physical finishes. He can make defenders pay by elevating for high dunks or second-chance points. Mara showed off during the draft combine, shooting 48 percent in the spot-up 3-point drill. His potential to space the floor one day could be what the Mavs need.

Yet, the idea of Aday Mara in a Dallas Mavericks uniform seems highly unrealistic, as his draft capital continues to rise with Victor Wembanyama's dominance.

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