Now that the dust from the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery has settled, 14 franchises can start planning for their best possible outcomes on June 23rd. This includes the Atlanta Hawks, who need a multitude of things to guarantee they make the postseason again next spring.
It starts with their inferior size down low, and luckily for the Hawks' front office, Aday Mara could be theirs for the taking.
The 7'3" big man could give them everything they're missing
Fresh off a championship run with the Michigan Wolverines, Mara’s name is circulating the league at an all-time high, and it’s for good reason. His post playmaking and interior defense played a crucial role in Michigan’s first championship in 37 years.
Both of these skills would benefit the Hawks greatly in their quest to rise up the rankings and become Eastern Conference contenders. He averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and defended the hole with 2.6 blocks per game.
He could be a perfect fit next to Jalen Johnson, who always needs help on the defensive end when they face stars in the frontcourt. The Eastern Conference is littered with star big men, including the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Hawks defeated all of these teams during the regular season, and starting center Onyeka Okongwu was a major part of that. He had a great season, averaging 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and an impressive 37.6% from three. Although Okongwu has improved in every facet, Atlanta's potential will forever be capped with a 6’9 center defending the rim.
Onsi Saleh is willing to do anything needed for his team to rise to the next level, and it’s apparent after trading Trae Young in his first season at the helm. Drafting Aday Mara solves a massive long-term issue, but it could ruffle the feathers of the current Hawks’ frontcourt.
It'll be interesting to see if Mara and Okongwu can work together
Drafting Mara allows the Hawks to find a cheaper alternative, rather than hitting free agency for a seven-footer. He's also shown recent flashes of three-point shooting, finishing 30% on the year.
The Spaniard continues to improve his game, and his skillset should work wonders in the starting lineup. Unfortunately, this could cost Okongwu his starting spot after years of playing behind Clint Capela during the Trae Young era.
It’s a small price to pay for a championship, and depending on what happens with CJ McCollum in free agency, the starting lineup could be altered. Since McCollum became the starting point guard near the end of the season, Nickeil would move there. Dyson Daniels would become the shooting guard, and Jalen Johnson would become the starting small forward.
This leaves Okongwu and Mara to protect the paint side by side. On paper, it could work, especially if they trust Mara’s post playmaking. He finished five games with five or more assists, and the Hawks will have plenty of tools for his disposal, from cutters to shooters.
If they’re able to make this frontcourt pairing work, Atlanta will finally have a reliable frontcourt for the future. Either way, they must add more size this offseason or suffer the consequences next spring. We’ve seen how it’s gone with Okongwu as the starting center, and it’s obviously not enough.
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