Dusty May Stuns College Basketball, Heads to Dallas and the No. 9 Pick Got Wild

Holy smokes, you guys! We are on the eve of the 2026 NBA Draft and the drama is already hitting harder than a Matty Beniers slapshot! Just when you thought you knew what was up, the Dallas Mavericks reportedly hired Michigan's Dusty May as their new coach. Can you even believe it? This isn't just a coaching change, this is a tremor through the league, and it means everything for the Mavs' No. 9 pick on Tuesday night.

National Champion Coach in Big D

Let's talk about Dusty May for a second. This guy is a certified winner. He only spent two seasons with the Wolverines, but he turned that program into a national powerhouse. He literally helped Michigan win the national title this season, transforming them back into top contenders. So, when a coach with that kind of resume jumps to the NBA, you know the stakes just went through the roof. Dallas isn't messing around, they brought in a champion, and now all eyes are glued to what they'll do next with that No. 9 selection.

What's the Play at No. 9?

With May in the driver's seat, the Mavs' draft strategy just got super interesting. NBA insider Marc Stein is already reporting talks about Dallas potentially trading down with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are sitting on picks No. 12 and 17 in the first round. That's a lot of draft capital to consider! But if the Mavericks stick at No. 9, get ready for a potential reunion. The buzz is they'll have a prime chance to draft a former Michigan player May coached just

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last season: Aday Mara. This dude transferred from UCLA to Michigan and was an absolute beast, one of the best shot blockers in college basketball. Imagine him bringing that defensive intensity next to a guy like Cooper Flagg! That's a serious defensive upgrade. And if Mara somehow slips away, Dallas could also be looking at Yaxel Lendeborg or Morez Johnson Jr. That trio absolutely wore down opponents during the NCAA Tournament, leading the Wolverines on a dominant run. Any of those guys would bring some serious energy.

Around the League's Top Picks

It's not just Dallas making headlines. This mock draft also has some wild projections at the top. We're talking Darryn Peterson, the guard out of Kansas, going No. 1 overall to Washington, bringing his 20.2 PPG and killer 38.2% from deep. Then at No. 2, Utah is eyeing BYU's AJ Dybantsa, a forward with 25.5 PPG. Memphis is projected to snag Duke's Cameron Boozer at No. 3, a power forward who had one of the best one and done seasons ever with 22.5 PPG and 10.2 RPG. Oh, and get this, the Milwaukee Bucks are picking up an extra first-round pick at No. 13 after a mock trade sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Seriously, the league is shaking! So, get ready, Seattle sports fam! The NBA Draft is Tuesday night, and with Dusty May's big move, everything is on the table. We're talking about the future of franchises here. Who's gonna make the boldest move? Who are these rookies going to be? This is just the beginning of what's going to be a wild offseason in the NBA, and we're here for every single second of it!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.