Aday Mara, the "most disappointing rookie" from this year's Summer League, could be in line for unimpeded opportunities in training camp and throughout the preseason to hone his craft and flash his potential with the OKC Thunder.
During Sam Presti's annual preseason media availability presser on Thursday, he revealed that 2025 first-round pick Thomas Sorber will be "limited" in camp due to missing all of his rookie year with a torn ACL and after undergoing a minor arthroscopic procedure in the same knee earlier this summer.
As Presti noted, this missed time makes a return to play "much more complicated," which, in turn, is forcing the Thunder to play it slow as they integrate the young big into on-court activities.
Now, while this is certainly unfortunate news for Sorber and Thunder fans, as both are eager to see what he can provide this team when fully healthy on the hardwood, for Mara, it's a sign that he'll be facing even fewer threats to him coming across substantial run over these next several weeks, as the Georgetown product has been widely believed to be his biggest competition heading into camp.
Aday Mara gains leg up on Thomas Sorber ahead of Thunder camp
Being a recently selected lottery pick already may have given Mara the slight edge in the pecking order heading into camp.
However, now, with the news that Sorber will be eased into the swing of things, it appears he may have been given another leg up when it comes to the battle to become a regular rotation big in the Thunder rotation.
Considering their first-round pedigrees, it goes without saying that both Mara and Sorber were brought on with the hope of serving as consistent contributors at the five.
Their size and innate defensive chops, coupled with Oklahoma City's perceived desire to solve their "Victor Wembanyama problem," only make it all the more obvious that Sam Presti and company are banking on at least one of these bigs to pay off rather quickly in the pros.
While many may have been hoping to see a competitive camp battle of sorts between these two youngsters, the 7-foot-3 Mara now seems to have a significant, built-in edge with the season now only weeks away from tipping off.
Since his underwhelming Summer League stint, where he posted mere averages of 8.7 points and 7.7 rebounds through three outings, the Michigan product showed some signs of life while suiting up for Team Spain during the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, showcasing his potential as an elite board gobbler and his surprising finesse with the ball in his hands.
Hopefully, he can now carry this momentum into his first training camp and preseason with the Thunder.
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