Michigan’s 7-foot-3 defensive anchor could provide Sacramento a towering rim protector and financial flexibility if the front office decides to pivot away from All-Star Domantas Sabonis.
The Sacramento Kings prospect pool with the seventh overall pick has grown after BlueBoodedPod host Ryan Hammer projected the team to select Michigan center Aday Mara in his mock on Tuesday.
Mara is a lottery pick -- ESPN's Jeremy Woo has the Atlanta Hawks selecting him at No. 8, and Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor has the Golden State Warriors drafting him at No. 11. The 7-foot-3 center is within Sacramento's range; Domantas Sabonis' future with the team could shift them toward Mara.
He played a crucial role in the Wolverines' pursuit of the national championship. Mara is an elite shot-blocker, has a solid post-up game, can pass and is a legitimate lob threat.
His 7-foot-3 frame makes all of these traits slightly unfair because he has such a height advantage. Mara possesses good footwork to play in the post, and often spins off his defender for an easy basket.
He rarely has to put effort into converting layups because the ball is at the rim from one small jump. The Zaragoza, Spain native set solid screens that created space for a downhill attack for Elliot Cadeau.
Even when teams attempted to break up a lob pass, Mara's height would tower over them, and he'd finish the dunk regardless of the contest. He may not be a playmaking initiator, but the former Wolverine can pass the ball.
Mara can pass out of the post or at the perimeter. Coaches can run sets that feature heavy off-ball movement, which Mara will recognize and pass to the cutter.
The 7-foot-3 center averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in his junior campaign at Michigan. He had a dominant performance against the Arizona Wildcats in the Final Four.
Mara scored 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting, grabbed nine rebounds, had three assists and two blocks. His outing helped the Wolverines advance to the national championship game against UConn, which they won.
While Mara is within Sacramento's draft range, the team must figure out Sabonis' future. The three-time All-Star will be the second-highest paid player on the team with one more year left on his contract.
Matthew Feldman of the KingsRoundtable highlighted three trade candidates for the Eastern and Western Conferences. If traded, selecting Mara would fill Sabonis' role, adding more size and defensive prowess to the lineup.
The Kings would become younger and have more financial flexibility, which general manager Scott Perry is working toward. However, a Mara selection is heavily influenced by what happens with Sabonis.
Mara is a good fit, even as a non-shooter with limited defensive activity on the perimeter. Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler are some of the favorite Kings prospects, but Mara has now entered the fray.
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