Jason Burgos
A new NBA mock draft points to the Oklahoma City Thunder using their first of two picks in Round 1 of the NBA Draft on a prospect meant to replace Isaiah Hartenstein and serve as a better matchup against Victor Wembanyama.
The Thunder are still getting over their 2025-26 season coming to a frustrating end in the Western Conference Finals. Despite having the best record in the league again this year, OKC was unable to overcome the youth and talent of the San Antonio Spurs.
Now they must pivot to the offseason and make the adjustments necessary to beat the Spurs if they see them again in next year’s playoffs. However, before they look to add to the roster, they have to decide whether they are bringing back certain members of their rotation. One of the most notable is center Isaiah Hartenstein.
He has a $28.5 million club option for next season. The Thunder can either pick it up and let him play out the final year of his deal, or opt out of it and pursue a multi-year deal for a lower AAV in free agency. If they did pick up the option, the Thunder must find a replacement, and Bleacher Report’s new NBA mock draft suggests they will get that player in this month’s event.
Will OKC Thunder draft Aday Mara in 2026 NBA Draft?
In the outlet’s latest mock, they predict the Thunder will use their selection at 12th overall to select Michigan’s 7-foot-3 big man Aday Mara.
“After measuring 7’3″ barefoot with a 9’9″ standing reach, Aday Mara has started to look unique with nearly unmatchable advantage-creating physical traits,” the outlet wrote. “The numbers at Michigan backed up that idea—Mara finished fourth in the nation in box plus-minus with a rare combination of 12.0 block percentage and 19.0 assist percentage.
“Mara separates himself from the other unicorns his size with high-level passing to complement the rim protection, high-percentage finishing, and sound footwork.”
If the Thunder are looking for better answers to deal with Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, the Spanish teenager would be an intriguing matchup option in the years ahead.
