With the NBA Draft set for June 23 and the Los Angeles Clippers holding the No. 5 pick, Aday Mara has been floated as a potential target—but the path to getting him could hinge on whether the Clippers trade down.
The Los Angeles Clippers are preparing for the NBA Draft, which gets underway on June 23, and the big decision sits right at the top of the board.
Los Angeles owns the number five pick after last season’s trade with the Indiana Pacers, a deal that sent out big man Ivica Zubac in return.
Now, as the draft approaches, one name has started to surface in connection with that No. 5 slot: Aday Mara. He’s a big man out of Michigan who recently won a national championship with the Wolverines.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic reported that he “heard Aday Mara’s name associated with the Clippers,” though the framing comes with an important complication. It’s “difficult to tell if that would be at No. 5 or in a potential trade down.”
Mara’s appeal is clear enough. He impressed scouts at the recent NBA combine with his versatility. But there’s also a glaring issue in the story scouts have been weighing: his outside shooting touch “left quite a bit to be desired.”
Still, the pitch—if the Clippers do end up selecting Mara—is that he could be more than a project. Vecenie reported Mara would likely be the Clippers’ opening day starter if drafted. sliding in to replace Zubac in the middle. In that role, Mara is expected to immediately become one of the league’s best shot blockers.
That makes the draft math feel tight. If the Clippers are keeping the pick, Mara is presented as a plug-and-play starter. If they’re willing to move down, the door opens wider—but it comes with the trade catch Vecenie flagged: the uncertainty around whether Mara is even attainable at No. 5.
The Clippers are weighing options for a reason. There’s another name on Vecenie’s radar as well: combo guard Keaton Wagler out of Illinois. Vecenie said Wagler would be the best fit for the Clippers in his eyes. writing that he “can play both on and off ball and has enough positional size to play next to Darius Garland.”.
Garland’s season in Los Angeles was a roller coaster. He had an up and down tenure with the Clippers last year after being sent there from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for James Harden.
Wagler’s rise, meanwhile, came fast. He “skyrocketed up draft boards” this past season because of his playmaking and silky smooth outside shooting touch, along with his positional size.
Put together, the Clippers’ situation looks like a choice between two very different immediate needs: a center who could step in as an instant shot-blocking starter, or a guard who can stretch the floor and share the court alongside Darius Garland.
Either way, the clock is ticking. With just over two weeks to figure out what they want to do, Los Angeles has to decide whether No. 5 is the right address for Aday Mara—or whether the better route involves that potential trade down where his name still keeps resurfacing.
Los Angeles Clippers NBA Draft June 23 No. 5 pick Ivica Zubac Indiana Pacers Aday Mara Michigan national championship NBA combine shot blocker Keaton Wagler Illinois Darius Garland James Harden Cavaliers trade down
Clippers really might draft another dude who can’t shoot? Lol
So they have the 5th pick and we’re just like “maybe” Aday Mara… but also trade down?? I’m lost. If he’s the starter day one then why does the article say his shooting is bad.
I read “Zubac out” and automatically thought they’re tanking again. But it says Mara could start right away and be a shot blocker, which sounds good, unless he can’t hit a 3 at all. You can’t be a “best shot blocker” and also brick every time.
Trade catch?? Like the Clippers can’t just pick whoever they want? Also “Aday Mara from Michigan” sounds familiar like he was already on some highlight reel I saw. If they trade down then yeah okay maybe, but if they keep 5 then seems like a weird risk considering the outside shooting thing.