Sam Presti reveals the reason why it was easy to select Aday Mara in the 2026 NBA Draft

After questions were asked about the Oklahoma City Thunder center rotation in the 2026 Playoffs, it seems general manager Sam Presti is being proactive with his decisions in the NBA Draft.

That is why he was adamant that he would select Aday Mara out of Michigan and Spain in the first round. He was one of the best centers in the class, so getting a 7'3" defensive phenom could be a game-changer for the Thunder.

Sam Presti gives a rave review of Aday Mara

After losing to the San Antonio Spurs led by Victor Wembanyama, it is a natural reaction for any team to get more size. The Thunder already had Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, but they felt improving through the NBA Draft was also a good solution.

Now that they have Mara, they could have a player who has the physical profile and defensive instincts to match up well against a fellow giant like Wembanyama.

MORE: Aday Mara is ready to embrace being the Victor Wembanyama stopper

Apart from his size, which can match up well against the Thunder's newfound rival, it seems Mara has all the traits that Presti loves to see from his players. Even if he is playing behind some players, Mara has all the tools to be a contributor. 

"We're always focused on how to internalize how to make us the best team. Not necessarily trying to follow what other teams are doing, but at times, relative to his skill set to have that feel for the game, that also presents a level of rim protection on the other end," Presti said about Mara in a press conference.

Presti also highlighted that Mara is comfortable with any situation, especially if he is contributing to wins. He might be a bit of a raw prospect at the moment, but his defensive instincts are undeniable.

Putting him with the likes of Holmgren and Hartenstein will only improve him in the long-term future. That is a good sign because even if Mara plays limited minutes, his size and defensive ability could turn him from a fringe rotation player to a key contributor moving forward.

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