There are definitely question marks around the big man room of the Milwaukee Bucks. Michigan Wolverines big man Aday Mara has found himself flying up the draft boards, and him speaking with the Milwaukee Bucks at the NBA Draft Combine could signal changes coming in the frontcourt.
Aday Mara is an intriguing move for the Bucks
Mara already has three great years under his belt at Michigan, but the NBA Combine tape and measurements have seen him really rise on mock drafts. A 7-foot-3 big man with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and 9-foot-9 standing reach has caught the eye and firmly cemented his spot as the best center in this year's draft class.
Any center at that size will always attract attention with their imposing rim presence and finishing ability, but Mara is more than that. His passing and playmaking can go under the radar due to his size, yet he can dissect defenses and thread passes to open shooters. He likes an outlet pass from a defensive rebound and is really comfortable in the post and finding his teammates.
This National title-winning season with the Wolverines, the Spaniard averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 2.4 assists on shooting splits of .668/.300/.564.
Mara's shot blocking is clearly impressive, but he is so imposing that he makes opponents reconsider their shots, and that can be a huge benefit to a team. The Bucks were awful defensively this year. His ability to anchor a defense from the paint could sway Milwaukee his way, and it would be a selection that may indicate him as the new starting center.
Bucks may have eyes on frontcourt restructuring if they draft Mara
If the Bucks do go with Mara, that could signal a lot of movement in the frontcourt. Giannis Antetokounmpo's future will be in the headlines, even if he says he is staying and signs an extension; those rumors will likely never go away. Myles Turner's first year as a Buck didn't go as planned, Bobby Portis had a solid year but is a tradeable contract, and Jericho Sims has a player option but may look elsewhere.
Turner is, of course, the big talking point here as the Bucks moved so much to sign him as the long-term center. His first season didn't go to plan, and if rumors are to be believed, Giannis leaving may then signal a complete reset for the roster regardless of their tenure. Trading Turner's contract would allow the Bucks to stock up on assets.
Taking him with the 10th pick for him to largely be a backup with Turner and Portis still on the roster would be a risky move, so it could be a sign of further roster change.
Milwaukee has cast its net wide when it comes to the combine. At the 10th overall pick, some players could drop to them, but they also have a chance to find any risers, such as Mara. The Michigan big man is certainly an intriguing pick, and there is a lot of upside to him.
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