Aday Mara may have just found a clearer runway with the Thunder.
After a rough Summer League showing that earned him the label of the "most disappointing rookie" from this year's Summer League, the 7-foot-3 big now appears positioned for a better chance to prove himself in Oklahoma City. That shift comes thanks in part to the situation surrounding Thomas Sorber, the 2025 first-round pick who will be "limited" in camp after missing his entire rookie year with a torn ACL and then undergoing a minor arthroscopic procedure in the same knee earlier this summer.
Sam Presti laid that out during his annual preseason media availability on Thursday, and he made clear the team is taking the long view with Sorber. As Presti noted, the missed time makes a return to play "much more complicated," which means the Thunder will ease him into on-court work rather than rush the process.
For Mara, that changes the picture. Sorber had been viewed as his biggest competition heading into camp, so the news gives Mara fewer obstacles in front of him as he tries to carve out real minutes over the next several weeks.
Being a recent lottery pick already gave him a small advantage in the pecking order. Sorber’s limited workload could widen that gap.
The Thunder brought both bigs in with a similar hope: that one of them could become a reliable contributor at center. Their size and defensive upside, along with Oklahoma City’s apparent desire to address its "Victor Wembanyama problem," make it pretty obvious what the organization is betting on here. Presti and the front office are looking for at least one of these young centers to hit sooner rather than later.
That leaves Mara with a real opening as camp and preseason approach. What many expected to be a head-to-head battle between two young bigs now looks tilted in Mara’s favor, at least for the moment, with the season only weeks away from tipping off.
His Summer League line wasn’t much to brag about - 8.7 points and 7.7 rebounds over three games - but he did show flashes of a surprising feel with the ball in his hands. That’s enough to keep the door open. And with Sorber set to be brought along carefully, Mara may have a little more room to make his case.
In Other News...
Presti Just Clarified How Thunder See This New-Look Contender
The Thunders offseason looked different almost immediately when longtime starter Luguentz Dort and rotation pieces Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins were moved in a series of cost-cutting deals. On the surface, it was a jarring shift for a team that had built its identity on continuity and depth, but Sam Presti framed the moves as part of a longer financial plan rather than a retreat from contention.
Presti made clear Oklahoma City still believes its championship window is anchored by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, and he pointed to the teams position as one that should keep it in the mix in 2026/27. The part that matters most for what comes next is what the front office does with the flexibility it created, because the Thunder have signaled those savings are not meant to disappear into the ledger forever. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Fans Can See A Russell Westbrook Tribute Coming
Sam Presti used a 2026-27 preseason press conference to salute Russell Westbrooks retirement and Hall of Fame career, and the message from the Thunder front office was clear enough: a formal tribute is coming. Westbrook remains one of the defining figures in franchise history, and Oklahoma City is already thinking through how to recognize the nine-time All-Star for the impact he had on the organization and the city.
The details are still being shaped, but the possibilities under discussion show just how significant the honor could be. Retiring No. 0 and even a statue outside the new Continental Coliseum have been mentioned as ideas, though nothing has been finalized. Presti said the team is working with great intention, which suggests this is more a matter of when and how than if. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Offseason Looked Brutal But Sam Presti Protected The Bigger Picture
The Thunders offseason looked harsh on the surface, with a handful of familiar rotation pieces moved out as the front office worked to reset the books. But the broader plan is familiar for Oklahoma City, which has long treated roster churn as the cost of keeping a contenders window open, even when it means saying goodbye to players who helped stabilize the roster.
Sam Prestis approach was about more than subtraction, though. Oklahoma City is trying to refill those minutes with a younger wave that includes Cason Wallace, Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell, Bennett Stirtz, Jaylin Williams and Otega Oweh, while also reinforcing the front line with Isiah Hartenstein and spending its first draft pick on Aday Mara. The result is a lineup that may look different, but one the Thunder believe can still support the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]