A ton of controversy, along with mixed opinions, would be drawn towards the LA Clippers if they pivot from taking one of the guards expected to be available at the fifth spot, like Keaton Wagler or Darius Acuff Jr., to the 21-year-old center coming off a championship season for the Michigan Wolverines, Aday Mara.
Rightfully so, because Mara is projected to fall a bit later in the lottery, the Clippers' snagging him off the board at a very high spot would be questionable. However, from Lawrence Frank’s point of view, picking up the two-way beast before anyone else has a chance makes sense, as he can singlehandedly transform LA’s frontcourt.
That said, in the moment, the Clippers would face significant criticism, but if/when Mara lives up to the hype, their decision to roll the dice on him will be widely understood.
Taking Aday Mara fifth overall would immediately elevate LA’s frontcourt
In the people’s eyes, bringing in Aday Mara, who spent three years in college, which is a bit more than most of the top names in the draft, is a total risk. He’s older, cannot necessarily space the floor, and possesses some red flags that could transpire to the professional level, like quickness and free-throw shooting.
Conversely, though, the upside is what matters, and in Mara’s case, when examining his measurements, it’s hard not to believe that he won’t be a star in the NBA one day, very soon.
Mara weighed in at nearly 260 pounds, posted a height of 7’ 3”, wingspan of 7' 6”, and an absurd standing reach of 9’ 9”.
These numbers hint at some key facts: Mara is not fragile (important to note, as several players at his height have injury concerns related to their frame), has the tools to become one of the best rim protectors in the league, and could become an offensive cheat code from the jump.
In fact, Mara’s measurements are one of the primary reasons why his draft stock rose through the roof.
Additionally, Mara is not like any other seven-footer who can block shots and dunk; he has phenomenal playmaking abilities.
He demonstrated them in a variety of ways during Michigan’s title run, as he consistently made the right reads in some ridiculously tough passing lanes.
So, at the end of the day, at first glance, Mara at five seems like a stretch. On the flipside, when breaking down his strengths and the likelihood of them translating to the NBA level, he’s one of the safest picks the LA Clippers can make that would boost their frontcourt to the next level.
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