The Los Angeles Lakers are no longer incompetent on the defensive end. In fact, during their recent hot streak, they've been well above average keeping opponents from scoring. But rim protection is still not a strength of this team — something that could change this summer.
Our guy Christopher Kline over at Fansided.com just released a mock draft in which the Lakers snag Michigan center Aday Mara with the No. 25 pick in June's draft, saying, "The ceiling here as an All-Defense caliber interior anchor." Mara is averaging 2.7 blocks per game this year for the Michigan Wolverines, who will look to keep their March Madness run alive later this week. A Rob Pelinka connection (he played for the Wolverines from 1988 to 1993) doesn't hurt, either.
It's not just Mara's shot-blocking ability that could entice the Lakers into taking a swing at Mara (which I wholeheartedly approve of, for the record, not that that means anything). It's also his facilitation ability; a center who can protect the rim and make plays for his teammates is always alluring, especially on a Lakers team that will get so much of its passing production from Doncic and Reaves.
Adding a big man who can see the floor at a high level could be a fun wrinkle for JJ Redick. Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, the team's two current centers, probably aren't a league-average passer even if you combine both of their abilities.
Mara might not be the kind of center Lakers fans are expecting
Rim-running big men are important to have on a team with Luka Doncic. They're also, in my opinion, much easier to find on the trade market or free agency scrap heap. Jaxson Hayes, for all the slander he's gotten, is a fine backup center who fits that archetype well.
Plus, if the Lakers have to sacrifice a little speed and vertical ability in their center for the sake of getting a real rim protector and paint deterrent, I think they would take that trade-off every day of the week.
This, even with Mara being more of a physical force than the freak athlete center that Lakers fans might envision next to Luka and Austin Reaves for years to come, he might be exactly how the Lakers can shore up their interrior defense and unlock