The Thunder’s center picture could get complicated fast.
Oklahoma City used its lone lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Aday Mara, a choice that made plenty of sense on paper. He was the top center in the class, and his size, shot-blocking and massive wingspan give him real long-term appeal next to Chet Holmgren. But the pick came with obvious risk, and the Thunder may not have to wait long to feel it.
Mara’s best offensive trait is his passing from the paint, but he still has real work to do as a scorer inside and on the glass. Conditioning is part of the equation too. During his final college season at Michigan, he only logged 30 or more minutes four times.
That matters because Oklahoma City already has other options in the mix. The Thunder brought Isaiah Hartenstein back on a team-friendly deal this offseason, and second-year center Thomas Sorber is expected to get a chance as a rotational piece before the organization makes any final call on the position.
Still, the Thunder are also set to have a sure-fire lottery pick from the Los Angeles Clippers in next year’s draft. If that pick lands in the right range, another big man could put the Mara decision back under the microscope before he has even played much NBA basketball.
Mara is going to need time. Oklahoma City knew that when it took him 12th overall.
The team also has the flexibility to let him grow, whether that means minutes in the G League or another developmental route. But the upside comes with a low floor, and by the end of his rookie season the Thunder may still not have a full read on what they have.
Sorber is part of that same uncertainty. He’s working back from the ACL tear that wiped out his rookie year, and he could also end up shifting to the four spot. How much Oklahoma City learns about both young bigs this season will be one of the key storylines to watch.
That’s where the Thunder’s draft capital becomes such a weapon. They can afford to keep taking swings at the position, and Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wassermann recently projected them to do exactly that in the 2027 NBA Mock Draft, sending Patrick Ngongba II to Oklahoma City at No. 7.
Ngongba was one of the most promising young centers at Duke as a sophomore last season, and his defensive profile is right there with Mara’s in terms of consistency and athleticism.
Before the Thunder make another move like that, though, they need clarity on Mara and Sorber. Mara was always the kind of luxury pick Oklahoma City could afford to make because of its depth and patience.
But it was also a gamble, and if his weaknesses show up early, the downside could be obvious. If the Thunder walk into the 2027 draft with a top-10 pick, Ngongba or another center such as Motiejus Krivas could force the issue sooner than expected.
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