Luka Doncic needs a center behind him who can protect the rim. Deandre Ayton is not that guy. If he were Clint Capela, he might have been. Regardless, the Los Angeles Lakers will need a permanent solution to address the center position. One of the avenues that can be explored is the NBA Draft.
The Lakers passed up the opportunity to take someone like Maxime Raynaud last year when they moved up in the second round. Perhaps given a do-over this year, they will look at a big man in the 2026 draft class. That is what NBA Draft expert Christopher Kline believed would happen.
Kline had Michigan's Aday Mara heading to the Lakers with the 21st overall pick in his latest mock draft. Rob Pelinka's connection to the school stands out as something that could make this selection realistic when the day arrives. Another reason Mara stands out? His ability to anchor a defense.
Kline wrote, "Mara is one of the most dominant interior defenders in college basketball. He will need to stay out of foul trouble at the next level, but he moves smoothly in drop coverage and presents a significant deterrent at the rim."
Aday Mara can lock down the paint behind Luka Doncic for the Lakers
Ayton's shot-blocking and rim protection leaves so much left to be desired. A team that is expected to feature Doncic and Austin Reaves as the figureheads of the franchise moving forward will need a capable paint defender. That is what the Lakers would be hoping for with Mara.
The Wolverines center is averaging 2.6 blocks per game in just 22.5 minutes played during this current NCAA campaign. To go with that, Mara has also posted 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 67.7 percent from the field.
Kline did admit that offensively this is not the traditional Doncic center in terms of lob ability. Mara would need to rely more on his finesse than his athletic ability to be a pick-and-roll partner for the Lakers superstar.
However, there is added offensive upside with the Michigan center that goes beyond being an outlet for Doncic's playmaking. Mara is a talented passer at the frontcourt spot. That could open up an extra avenue for the Lakers to punish opposing defenses.
Los Angeles will not be lacking in bigs that can be had via the NBA Draft. Even so, Mara should get strong consideration for the selection here if the Lakers hold onto their pick on draft night.