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Dusty May wasnt even officially named the Mavs coach until a few hours before the draft tipped off Tuesday, but he gave the organization an earful of which Wolverine he preferred with the ninth pick.
Sorry, Yaxel Lendeborg.
You, too, Aday Mara.
Looks like Morez Johnson Jr.
is officially the favorite child.
Before games back at Michigan, May told his new bosses, they used to brag they had Morez and the other team didnt.
Lendeborg and Mara could take consolation Tuesday in that they didnt have to wait long to have their names called, too, making the Wolverines just the third national champs since 1985 to produce three lottery picks.
On the age-old question of whether its the players or the coach in college basketball, the Mavs effectively came down on both sides of the debate Tuesday.
The question now: What, exactly, is the plan? Are the Mavs rebuilding? Reloading? Wait and see? We just added another really talented young player, general manager Mike Schmitz replied, and someone who fits the mentality that we want with that level of competitiveness, toughness and energy, so were really excited to have him here.
No comment, in other words.
For the record, with the best of the point guards off the board at nine, I had no complaints with Johnson, who, at 6-9 and 250 pounds, is just the kind of big, versatile wing Masai Ujiri was famous for taking in Toronto.
Schmitz said they were thrilled that he was available.
Fans will love Johnsons work ethic.
No, he wont do anything to create more running lanes for Cooper Flagg.
Wont light it up like Brayden Burries, who went a pick later to Milwaukee.
But, as ESPNs Jay Bilas notes, Johnson might be the most versatile defender in the draft.
Guards any position while still giving the Mavs a much-needed brute force at the four.
Of course, he plays the same position that an undersized P.J.
Washington assumed last year after Flagg took over at small forward.
My guess is Washington, who didnt mind accommodating Flagg, wouldnt be so deferential with Johnson.
Hes also making $22 million a year through 2030, a significant consideration in roster construction.
Ujiri currently has 11 players under contract through next season, but how many will still be on the roster when it starts? Flagg, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II, for sure.
Probably Max Christie, the best shooter among the non-starters.
Everyone else in last years rotation Washington, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall and Caleb Martin should stay close to their phones.
Doesnt mean theyll all be traded.
Maybe not even most.
But if it does, indeed, end up as a housecleaning, theres your answer about the franchises direction.
Maybe the way to go, too, what with a 20-year-old budding superstar, an aging point guard and not much in the way of draft picks in the immediate future.
Ujiri dropped his first clue by hiring a coach with no NBA experience.
Suggests a break-in period, to say the least.
May seems to have all the intangibles to make the leap from college to the pros.
Ujiri noted an innovative basketball mind.
Cited his work with teams that boasted size, pace, speed and toughness, a blueprint for todays NBA, as well as his ability to create a culture, a point Johnson echoed.
Direct in his messaging.
Holds players accountable.
Great at recognizing and developing talent.
Coach May is going to focus on defense, Johnson said from draft headquarters, and bringing defense to the Mavs.
Just the same, you have to expect growing pains with any coach making the transition from college to the pros.
Can he work well with an unfamiliar staff? Can he grow Flaggs game within the confines of an 82-game schedule? Can he command an NBA roster like he did in college? Can he get along with Irving? Speaking of which, Kyries an easy call to keep.
At least until the trade deadline.
Ujiri is on record that he wants to see what it looks like with both Flagg and a Hall of Fame point guard on the floor at the same time.
Along with Johnson, a healthy Lively and a couple of two-way players who could shoot 3s, May would have the makings of a pretty good core.
If its working at the deadline, make a couple of supplemental moves and give it a run.
And if its not working, and Kyries playing well, send him out and go full rebuild.
Schmitz may have dodged my question, but he was right about the first step taken.
One of the reasons Ujiri had so much success drafting wings in Toronto is because wings like Johnson are virtually foolproof.
Pretty much the lifeblood of the world champion Knicks.
And if Sergio de Larrea, the 20-year-old Spanish combo guard acquired late Tuesday, could develop into a sidekick for Irving, well, the Mavs will be better than they were Monday.
Will they be better come October? No ones answering that question just yet.