Ever since the conclusion of the Western Conference Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been linked to 7'3" center Aday Mara in 2026 NBA Draft discussions. The thought process is clear: Mara has the size and length to be one of the few players who can stand a chance against Victor Wembanyama.
For the sake of Mara's development and the Thunder's future as a team, however, they must have a reason better than Wembanyama to draft the Michigan Wolverines star.
Mara is an alluring talent who's more than just a 7'3" titan in the paint. He's a skilled passer, capable post scorer, and a surprisingly nimble athlete with impressive footwork and the mobility to move in space better than one might expect of a player his size.
As such, the Thunder have every reason to believe that he'd be an ideal fit for them—particularly with Isaiah Hartenstein only having a club option remaining on his current contract.
Unfortunately, most of the conversations surrounding Mara and the Thunder pertain to one subject: How Oklahoma City can slow Wembanyama down. The 7'4" San Antonio Spurs superstar overwhelmed the Thunder during the Western Conference Finals and Chet Holmgren failed to inspire faith in his ability to keep the pace.
That certainly makes it understandable to want the 7'3" center who's turning heads leading up to the 2026 NBA Draft, but the Thunder must value the full scope of his potential if they're going to bring him in.
Aday Mara needs chance to develop in a system that values his full game
Oklahoma City is perhaps the best organization in the NBA at developing its talent beyond the scope of a singular role or definition. That certainly inspires faith in its ability to potentially help Mara realize his potential as an all-around player.
If the Thunder draft him, however, his success and shortcomings will inevitably be measured by the general public in the terms of how he performs against Wembanyama.
To truly give Mara a chance, however, he must be featured on both ends of the floor in a role that suits him. Getting him post-ups, working the pick-and-roll with him as a targeted dive man, and even helping him continue to expand his range as a shooter must be focal points.
For that matter, Mara's passing should factor into how he's utilized and developed within the system, even if that means taking the ball out of perimeter players' hands from time to time.
Devleoping Mara's offensive game in any other way would not only limit the praise he receives, but stifle his growth as a talent. In that scenario, the likelihood of an up-and-comer holding their own against Wembanyama would be diminished.
The Thunder need to prioritize the strengths and weaknesses of the roster, of course, but if their only idea for Mara is to develop him into a Wembanyama stopper, then they'll be doing him a disservice.
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