With the draft cycle quickly approaching, no big boards have shown much consistency outside of the top four. Once those expected selections are made, anything can happen. It's what makes this year's class so intriguing.
The Hawks will have a plethora of options available to choose from with the eighth-overall pick. Michigan center Aday Mara has been linked to the organization ever since lottery night, but after he stunned scouts at the combine with his impressive play, people began to speculate he wouldn't fall past five.
Of course, it seemed like a long-shot at the time, but it made plenty of sense. The Los Angeles Clippers are slated to make their first selection at pick five, and they've been in desperate need of a big man since trading away Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers before last season's deadline.
Hawks will have a chance to steal Mara if Clippers reports are true
According to Law Murray of The Athletic, there's "virtually no chance" Los Angeles would use their top-five pick on a center, effectively eliminating the chance of Aday Mara being off the board by the time Atlanta makes their initial selection.
If Mara's their guy, the Clippers could always trade down, and the Hawks would be a prime suitor if they're enticed by the way the top four shakes out. If both organizations stay put, though, Atlanta will have a chance to land a franchise-altering prospect at pick eight.
There is “virtually no chance” that the LA Clippers use a top-5 pick on a center, per @LawMurrayTheNU.
— APHoops (@APH00PS) May 15, 2026
(via https://t.co/NqY9JSsnbO) pic.twitter.com/ukEOtzwsn2
He wasn't seen as a prospect of this level until recently. In fact, as the regular season was coming to a close, the idea of selecting him at eight felt like a major reach. That couldn't be further from the case now, as he displayed everything scouts needed to see at the combine.
He measured 7'3" barefoot, while locking in a 9'9" standing reach, the second-highest in NBA Draft Combine history. He looked smooth in the agility drills, as well, confirming he won't carry the burden of being the usual slow-footed big man.
Mara is everything the Hawks need in a long-term answer at center
They've been searching for his archetype for quite some time, and now they'll likely have a golden opportunity to bring him in. He does all the little things that would make his presence invaluable in a Quin Snyder offense.
On top of the ideal size he possesses, he's a quality rebounder, shot-blocker and playmaker. He was one of the NCAA's best playmaking bigs last season, proving he'd thrive in a movement-heavy scheme at the next level.
His three-ball is a work in progress, but he showed there's some real potential there with an impressive combine performance from the outside. Atlanta is a stretch big factory, so there's no reason to think he won't be able to put it all together once he arrives.
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