Every week during the college basketball season, and every other week during the offseason former Michigan Basketball standout Tim McCormick joins TMI’s Sam Webb for a podcast called ‘The Michigan Basketball Insider.’ Each show offers a deep dive into the X’s & O’s and statistical analysis from Michigan’s games, commentary on college basketball in the Big Ten and beyond, and interviews with subjects from Tim’s vast array of contacts.
McCormick spent 10 seasons playing in the NBA after being the no. 12 pick in the 1984 draft. Since completing his pro career, he has worked as a consultant with NBA players for the last two decades teaching strategies to improve performance and achieve greatness. Additionally, Tim also provides color analysis as a broadcaster for ESPN’s college basketball coverage and FanDuel Network’s Detroit Pistons coverage.
In this episode of The Michigan Basketball Insider, Sam Webb and Tim McCormick continue their discussion of the Wolverines offseason recruiting activities, focusing on the addition of Aday Mara, the latest on Yaxel Lendeborg, and the possible addition of more portal help. Tim shares his scouting report on Mara and discusses his fit on the floor with Morez Johnson, while Sam clears the air on negative reports about Mara coming out of UCLA. The conversation then shifts to Lendeborg where Tim shares the sentiment on the UAB transfer’s draft stock from NBA scouts. Next up is a conversation on LJ Cason’s development and projected role next year before it turns to the backup point guard spot and the possibility of an addition from the portal.
In the excerpt below Tim shares his thoughts on the odds of Yaxel Lendeborg matriculating to Michigan.
Sam Webb: “So, you mentioned Yaxel Lendeborg. If you’re looking for a guy who brings you the skillset, in baseball you would call it a five-tool guy, right? In Basketball (Lendeborg) can dribble, pass, and shoot. He can give you some back-to-the-basket. He can play defense. They talked about him blocking shots and rebounds. This dude, he gives you all the things. So, if you’re looking for a complimentary frontcourt player that can play with both (Morez Johnson or Aday Mara), Yaxel would seem to give you that.”
“But the rub is, as Dusty well knew… we sat down and talked to him about it (even though) he couldn’t talk about Yaxel explicitly at the time, but he said, “Hey, if I’m going to recruit the best guys in the portal, and that’s what I’m going to do, then I know I got to wait through this NBA thing. And I’ll have some contingencies, but I’m not going to skimp on recruiting these guys. This is what I’m expected to do at the University of Michigan. And I’m going to have a plan if it doesn’t work out.” But this is the guy he went for.”
“So, now this is where we sit… (a major commitment) who is going to visit Michigan this weekend, but then you have to wait through whether or not the NBA is going to offer him that first-round guarantee. And if the NBA does offer him that first-round guarantee, then he’s going to be out the door. So, the question is, what are you hearing?”
Tim McCormick: “So, Yaxel Lendeborg is a player that immediately makes you a Big Ten championship favorite. And I have talked to NBA scouts about him, and they’re intrigued. I think intrigue is a good word to describe the situation.”
“Sam, I’m reluctant to get excited about him. I think first-round money guarantees dwarf NIL payments. I would imagine that on his visit this weekend to Ann Arbor, he’s going to see a lot of Danny Wolf video. And what they’re going to do is they’re going to say, ‘Look, we took Danny Wolf as a fringe second-round pick, and we made him a lottery pick.’ When you go to the NBA, you want to be prepared. If not, you’re going to spend a lot of time on buses going around the G League, and it’s not an easy existence.”
“He also will benefit from playing in Mackey Arena and the Kohl Center and Assembly Hall and the Breslin, as opposed to road trips to East Carolina and Tulane and Rice. Playing big-boy competition is really going to help prepare him a great deal. That will be brought up as well.”
“But he’s an NBA prospect. I don’t think there’s any doubt. When he gets to the NBA, I could see him doing some Danny Wolf stuff. His resume is impressive. I’ve not watched him much at UAB, but I will say this: If you’re 6-9, you can shoot the ball, you can run the court, you can pass it – I think that Dusty looks at him and says, ‘I really think you’re worth chasing. We’re going to pay you a lot of money. Maybe not quite as much as the NBA, but we’re going to pay you very well. And we are going to do a great job of preparing you for the NBA.'”
“And Sam, the other thing that’s important to note is, yeah, he’s going to the draft combine. So, you won’t really get a final answer until May 28th. But what also happens on May 28th – there’s some really good players out there that think they’re NBA guys and they’re going to get told otherwise by the NBA scouts. And they’re going to say, ‘uh-oh, I need to go back to college. I don’t know where to go. Is there any NIL money out there?’ And there’s Dusty May with a big check. So, I think they’ll be okay. This team is nowhere near set, I don’t believe.”
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Contents and episode notes:
00:00 – Start of Show
- Sam Webb introduces the episode, noting Michigan’s offseason portal activity.
- Dusty May participated in the Michigan Softball Academy, hitting 3 home runs (outperforming Jim Harbaugh’s 0).
- Tim McCormick joins the show—former Michigan All-American, NBA veteran, and current Pistons/college basketball analyst.
03:15 – On Aday Mara’s Commitment
- Mara (7-3 UCLA transfer) commits to Michigan. Tim compares him to Zach Edey but notes he’s not as polished yet.
- Tim on Mara’s Strengths: Size, soft hands, footwork, passing. Weaknesses: Conditioning, consistency (averaged 6 PPG at UCLA).
- Tim on Mara’s Fit: Likely a 15 MPG backup to Merez Johnson (projected starter). Dusty May’s system could maximize his potential.
06:25 – Aday Mara vs. Zach Edey
- Tim’s comparison: Both dominate with size, but Edey is more refined. Mara has upside as a passer and scorer.
- Sam mentions Mara’s frustration at UCLA over limited role (highlight: 21 pts vs. Wisconsin).
10:11 – NBA vs. overseas for Mara
- Mara denied “outrageous demands” at UCLA; left seeking better fit.
- Tim: NBA money vs overseas money is a motivator. Michigan offers development for his draft stock.
14:48 – Can Mara and Merez Johnson Play Together?
- Tim: No! Skills clash. Morez is an athletic rim-runner (no 3PT shot), while Mara operates in the post.
- Sam notes Morez’s mid-range struggles at Illinois but sees possibility for improvement and praises his energy/rebounding.
18:06 – Yaxel Lendeborg Update
- Lendeborg (UAB PF) is visiting Michigan but may enter NBA Draft if he gets a first-round guarantee.
- Tim: He’d make Michigan a Big Ten contender but is likely NBA-bound. Fallback: Michigan could target other portal bigs post-draft deadline (May 28).
- Dusty’s pitch: “We made Danny Wolf a lottery pick—we can do the same for you.”
22:48 – Next year’s projected lineup
- Tim: Michigan’s guards were exploited vs. Auburn. Needs a backup PG behind Elliot Cadeau.
- Options: Target a mid-major transfer (e.g., Ivy/Patriot League) for depth.
- Sam suggests LJ Cason could grow into a secondary ball-handler but isn’t a true PG.
27:24 – L.J. Cason’s Potential
- Dusty May expects a “big jump” from Cason (USA Basketball invite, improved physique).
- Tim: Cason has “all-league upside” if his shooting improves (struggled as a freshman).
30:30 – Point Guard Depth; Portal solution?
- Elliot Cadeau projected as 30 MPG starter, but Michigan lacks a reliable backup.
- Tim rules out Nimari Burnett at PG: “Not his role.”
- Sam floats Trey McKenney (freshman) as a situational option but prefers a portal addition.
36:22 – Oscar Goodman’s Role
- Dusty May praised Goodman’s progress—versatile forward with “toughness” akin to Will Tschetter.
39:41 – Yaxel Lendeborg’s NBA Draft Outlook
- Tim: Mock drafts range from late 1st to 2nd round. NBA feedback will decide his path.
- Sam notes HoopsHype had him at No. 27 (first round).
40:10 – Closing Notes
- Pistons-Knicks series: Tim predicts Pistons win in 6 but laments their offensive struggles.
- Next episode: Deep dive on Oscar Goodman and more portal updates.
42:10 – End of Show
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