Aday Mara has taken the draft world by storm. Outside of the first four selections, nobody knows exactly what's going to transpire once June 23rd rolls around. It's coming up quickly, and people are starting to finalize their mocks, as well as draw prospects' comparisons to those in the league today.
The Atlanta Hawks have a few key adjustments to make this summer, with the most obvious being at the center position. They absolutely need to get bigger, but they need follow the same formula that allowed them to climb up the Eastern Conference standings so rapidly last season.
If Aday Mara's recent player comparison is accurate in the least, Atlanta would be foolish to let him fall past eight. That is, if he's still on the board, of course.
Mara was recently compared to a proven successful modern big
In a recent article by ESPN's Jeremy Woo, Mara's high-end NBA comparison is "Brook Lopez with more passing." It doesn't get better than that for what the Hawks need long-term at the center position.
Lopez stands at 7'1", while Mara stands at 7'3". The idea of a seven-footer alone is obviously intriguing due to what Atlanta's experienced over the last several years. Onyeka Okongwu's done an incredible job for what it's worth, but he's only 6'8", allowing the Hawks to consistently get broken down in the paint.
Offensively, though, Okongwu has been an ideal fit. Whoever they bring in to address the center position this summer, they'll need him to be able to force defenses into uncomfortable positions like their current center already does. It could create an incredible one-two punch in the frontcourt.
Well, "Brook Lopez with more passing" fits that mold, and then some. The only difference, though, is the size and developing outside jumper.
The two-way potential is what's most intriguing about Mara
Okongwu's role as an offensive hub has given Atlanta a sneaky advantage over the last couple of years. Mara, at his fullest potential, would ideally be able to act in a similar way offensively, all while being the rim presence they've long-needed.
The biggest advantage Okongwu has over Mara right now is range. He's developed into a proven stretch big, allowing for more offensive creativity. Mara could, and likely will, follow a similar trajectory to Lopez, becoming more of a deep shooter midway through his career.
If he's able to do that, the potential of his long-term fit outweighs any immediate success, and Atlanta should prioritize bringing him in later this month.
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