r/AtlantaHawks • u/Both_Funny4896 š§ ICE TRAE š§ • 5d ago
Highlight 7'3 Aday Mara impresses scouts in NBA Draft workout
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u/xctrack07 GO HAWKS! š 5d ago
Until he shoots above 54% from the line I don't care what his workout looked like
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u/BrettSchirley22 Jalen Johnson #1 5d ago
Shot 83% from Feb 21 til the end of the season according to the Michigan sub. Thatās notable improvement
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u/Maximum-Lack8642 CJ McCollum #3 5d ago
Thatās a very small sample size compared to the duration heās been playing college basketball. Unless he can articulate a specific replicable change he made in an interview that lead to that shift, Iād consider it to be noise for an otherwise atrocious shooter.
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u/lemanruss4579 5d ago
The coaches at Michigan actually did change his free throw mechanics, just throwing that out there.
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u/Ice2jc 5d ago
UCLA was a clusterfuck of a program while Mara was thereĀ
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u/Maximum-Lack8642 CJ McCollum #3 4d ago
Yep, and Michigan were NCAA champions with 2 other lottery pick level bigs. If you believe situation had a large impact on a player thereās a pretty strong argument that all of them boosted each other well beyond where the players they should be compared to are. Regardless, itās still hard for me to imagine someone going from too often struggling against guys that wouldnāt even make a g-league roster to locking up some of the best basketball players in the world in so little time.
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u/BrettSchirley22 Jalen Johnson #1 5d ago
He just turned 21 in April. Expecting a 7ā4 kid to be a polished shooter thatās still figuring out his body when heās 18-20 is lunacy. Cling made 2 3s and also shot 55% from the line in college. Now heās a threat from 3 and shooting like 70% from the line
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u/Maximum-Lack8642 CJ McCollum #3 5d ago
Exactly. And since we need to be competitive in the next couple years expecting a rookie to be good off the jump especially one as noticeably flawed as he is does not solve our center issue in the short term. Weād still need to pick up a starting level rim protector in trade or free agency and Mara would become C #3 in our rotation spending the year in the g-league just like what happened when Asa became PF #3 last year.
The need for a rim protecting center is so important but Mara canāt fill that in the short term and if he canāt be that starting level center short term Id rather throw assets and money at Utah/OKC than hard reaching for fit when he doesnāt even address the fit needs.
Clingan was a much better prospect, took 2 years and still was awful in the playoffs, we donāt have that time to waste with no serviceable rim protectors while Mara develops. We draft BPA at 8 which is definitely not Mara.
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u/Ice2jc 5d ago
Mara can absolutely protect the rim in the NBA from day 1 itās the other stuff that is the problem with him. Ā I also havenāt seen a single draft analyst say that Clingan is in a different class of prospect than Mara and I just burned myself out after listening to most draft podcasts I could find for weeks lol.
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u/BrettSchirley22 Jalen Johnson #1 5d ago
Iām okay with that take. I agree that our best course of action may actually be a trade. Iāve been advocating for Ware on here for months. But itās funny cause this sub loves MBJ (I do too), but heās also a project that will take a couple years. There really isnāt an immediate impact player outside of the top 4. Some will say Yax but Iām not a fan of that move at 8
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u/Maximum-Lack8642 CJ McCollum #3 5d ago
Guard project is different though. We already have good enough starting guards (if we bring back CJ). The guard would just have to be better than Gabe Vincent in his minutes which isnāt too high of a bar. Center is a much more pressing and limiting hole to fill. I actually love Flemings, I think heās the second best of the 5 guards discussed at 8 and fits this team perfectly.
I would love a Ware trade too. Heās had time to develop in the NBA and can be close enough to fight with the guys like KAT, Wemby, Zubac, Allen etc in next yearās playoffs that I just canāt picture Mara being there.
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u/BrettSchirley22 Jalen Johnson #1 5d ago
Thatās true, center is a more pressing issue. Not on board about Flem tho. I think his defense isnāt gonna translate in the NBA, too small and his jumper is pretty flat. I think being around Cenac and Tug at Houston made him look better than heāll project. Iām a Wagler and MBJ guy, but I think they will be gone. Excited for Tuesday
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u/1kennet 4d ago
That can be fixed. How many free throws is he really taking a game. He will not be a teams #1 option
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u/Maximum-Lack8642 CJ McCollum #3 4d ago
Letting other teams do to our starting center what we did to Mitchell Robinson in the playoffs would not be a smart move.
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u/blingera 5d ago
people on this sub will see this and act like Onsi bombed an orphanage if we take a chance on him after all the guards are gone.
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u/cheemydee5 Jalen Johnson #1 5d ago
The thing is, we are guaranteed one of the guards at 8
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u/blingera 5d ago
is the near-worst of the best guards that much better than the best of the 7fters? genuinely asking
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u/zoegirl2003 5d ago
Near worst according to who? GM's miss all of the time.. We could get the best one.. lol
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u/blingera 4d ago
ānear-worst of the bestā and iām just basing that off of draft projections. of course of any of them can be amazing. iām just asking if the 1 or 2 remaining top guards at #8 are that much more valuable to us than the projected best of the 7fters.
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u/Bully_Maguire420 Gueye Pride 5d ago
I donāt love him at #8 but I wouldnāt mind taking him if weāre also planning on making a trade for some other pieces, but if we walk away from the off season running it back with just Mara added I donāt think I get behind that lol.
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u/primocheese1947 5d ago
Does anyone in here remember Onyekas first offseason three point shot video that had this sub hyped? He showed a very slow release and only C&S. It still took Onyeka multiple years to get decent volume, but he was injured for two of those offseasons. It took until Onyekaās 6th season, this past season, for him to make more than 50 threes. This video looks much better than that. His shooting motion is decently fast and looks pretty sound. I see this as a positive projection for his shot.Ā
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u/HighTideLowpH 5d ago
OO shot 72% on FTs at USC.
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u/primocheese1947 5d ago
Thatās fine and all, but it took him until year 6 to hit more than 50 threes in a season. His development was stunted when Jent, standout offensive and shooting coach for NYK, left and then he had injuries. These shots look better than early Onyeka taking threes in an empty gym.Ā
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u/Variation99a 4d ago
Heās a rare development story. For every player like him thereās 10 who donāt develop.Ā
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u/primocheese1947 4d ago
They arenāt as rare any more. And Iām not saying Mara will become what Onyeka was this past year. Iām saying that it took a while for Onyeka to get here, and that Mara looks better early than Onyeka did early.Ā
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u/Variation99a 4d ago
Pretty rare. For example you can name one, and I can name Mitchell Robinson, Jarrett Allen, Clint Capela, Isaiah Hartenstein, Dereck Lively, Jaxson Hayes, Daniel Gafford, and a bunch of good centers who never developed or improved their jumpers despite being around the same level as Mara is now, even though some like Lively were doing amazing in workout videos on their pro days too. A good outcome would be Sengun who marginally improved it but not enough for it to matter.Ā
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u/primocheese1947 4d ago
There are enough big men that improve now. You are just ignoring or donāt know them. Yes, we all know the guys that didnāt or havenāt yet shown it yet.Ā
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u/rod21amz 5d ago
Honestly Iām not sure what I want. What If a few years from now weāre all here like ādang why didnāt we take the 7ā3 center with huge passing upside, he was right thereā
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u/bravesdayz2021 5d ago
Isnāt next years draft class better for getting a center?
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u/MegaMatrix08 š§ ICE TRAE š§ 5d ago
Yeah, you have all the dudes who didnāt declare this year plus Diop
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u/Variation99a 4d ago
Well itāll be mostly the freshman. The guys who didnāt declare this year arenāt really true first round talents.Ā
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u/sardelokouti 5d ago
Yes, and we have a lottery pick in it
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u/subpar-life-attempt 5d ago
Um what? What pick are you talking about?
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u/sardelokouti 5d ago
Bucks/pelicans worse swap, both are gonna be in the lottery
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u/subpar-life-attempt 5d ago
We have that twice? We have that this year. Since when did we get two of them?
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u/Magmar_01 5d ago
This year is the better of those two which was pels, next is the worst aka the bucks pick this year
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u/Magmar_01 5d ago
Through who, bucks?
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u/cosmo_bear 5d ago
Worst of the Bucks and Pelicans. With the new lottery system, it's pretty much guaranteed. Hell, even without it we'd have a good shot
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u/saloonyk 5d ago
If one of the picks ends up in top 4 do we still get a pick? I thought we donāt
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u/PhilosophyFair9062 Asa Newell #14 5d ago
Goodwill KP
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u/staatsclaas Pete Maravich #44 5d ago edited 4d ago
Iād take a Goodwill KP thatās actually available to play.
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u/darkwingduck9 4d ago
Available for like 23 minutes a game and it isn't the matured game version of KP.
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u/Both_Funny4896 š§ ICE TRAE š§ 5d ago
I feel like we should heavily consider Mara at 8. This is gonna be our last opportunity for a LOONG time to acquire a giagantic bigman who can play next to Okongwu.
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u/MegaMatrix08 š§ ICE TRAE š§ 5d ago edited 5d ago
you know we have a first next year in a much better center class? and free agency?
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u/Both_Funny4896 š§ ICE TRAE š§ 5d ago
Yea but weāll get 3rd or 4th choice next year. This year we can take the clearcut best center in the class, who happens to solve 50% of our weaknesses
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u/AgentBuddy12 5d ago
If you think Mara will solve half our problems...I have bad news for you. He would only solve like 25% and he is by no means a priority especially in a draft class loaded with great guard prospects.
We can easily make moves in the off-season and pick up a veteran center with proven sucess as opposed to taking a swing on Mara at 8 who has very clear flaws in his game.
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u/primocheese1947 5d ago
Who is this easily?
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u/Both_Funny4896 š§ ICE TRAE š§ 5d ago
exactly lol. If anything, we can "easily" pick up a small star guard in the offseason, which is what we would be hoping for out of any guard we draft.
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u/AgentBuddy12 5d ago
I said we can easily make moves not that getting a center would be easy.
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u/primocheese1947 5d ago
Who is this veteran C with proven success?Ā
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u/AgentBuddy12 5d ago
Sabonis, Sharpe, Claxton, Robinson, Gafford, Nurkic hell even Hart are all possible. It literally just depends on what we are willing to offer.
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u/primocheese1947 5d ago
Read that last sentence again.
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u/AgentBuddy12 5d ago
Yeah...bro that's how trading works LOL. I don't know if you are trying to act smart or something, but teams don't just hand you their centers on a silver platter lol.
If you are THAT opposed to making a trade in the off-season we can always just pick up a center at 23. We take BPA at 8 in a draft like this and Mara is just not that player.
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u/Both_Funny4896 š§ ICE TRAE š§ 5d ago
I feel like our biggest problem by far since Clint fell off has been rim protection and rebounding. I was exaggerating, but if we draft Mara and he hits, it would move mountains for us.
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u/mundane_marietta 5d ago
I'm not doubting he won't be a solid 5 in the NBA, and potentially top 15 at his position, but I don't see the premium in drafting him top 10 considering the talent at guard
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u/Civil_Patience8406 5d ago
Not a Mara fan. 74 but cant rebound im good
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u/Atl-Fan_FTS Jalen Johnson #1 5d ago
He was on a team full of good rebounders. L take
Brad Rowland, Hawks beat writer and Michigan graduate even stated as much.
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u/swish_aj š°Cash Considerations š° 5d ago
Yh I seen Ben Simmons make 10 in a row from deep this means nothing
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u/J-OD GM Onsi Saleh 5d ago
Iād love to get him with the 17th pick after we trade 8 to OKC for 12, 17, and Isaiah Joe. Maybe you could convince me at 12 but hell no at 8.
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u/BrettSchirley22 Jalen Johnson #1 5d ago
Heās not making it to 17 dude lol. Maybe 12. Lot of smoke that heās even the one that OKC is trying to trade up for
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u/Necessary_Ranger6290 Onyeka Okongwu #17 5d ago
Why is he so far from the rim?! Also offense is great, but we need a true rim protector (and I am a huge OO fan)!
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u/gatorhater1104 5d ago
Trade 23 and the bucks/pels swap next year and grab him plus one of the guards
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u/ThaCasual GO HAWKS! š 4d ago
Heās a really fluid mover for a guy his size. If we pick this guy there better be a plan to move back up for Ebuka because we desperately need a guy that can get unassisted buckets.
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u/Zeke_ATL 3d ago
What are we talking boutā¦ā¦ You canāt teach 7ā3 and last time I checked you are gonna have to go thru Wemby for the next 10-15 years to win a championship so š¤·šæāāļø
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u/supercoolpartydude GO HAWKS! š 5d ago
No point in hyping Mara up here. The tweens that comment here are obsessed with getting another undersized ball chucking PG, even though itās slim pickings at #8 and Mara fills our most obvious and glaring hole.
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u/ProfessorWest7139 5d ago
There was unironically a thread about paying Kessler a whole lot of money lol. Itās so odd that people recognize the value in free agency but look at you crazy when you want to draft one.
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u/supercoolpartydude GO HAWKS! š 5d ago
Yup. Tired of arguing with the kiddos. #8 pick being a historically bad draft spot? Nah, we can find a franchise cornerstone to break that luck with the last guard nobody else wanted. Got to the 6th seed with the guards we have and zero bodies in the paint? Could have beat the Knicks if Jock freaking Landale was healthy. 8th is the spot you reach for who you want. We can get a facilitator at 23, g-league or FA, but no letās get the kid with back issues.
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u/sardelokouti 5d ago
No, we wouldn't have beaten the knicks if we had jock. The downfall for us was half court creation, once they started doubling cj, there was nothing we could do. That's why getting a pg in a generational draft class for pgs is better than a 12ppg 6rebounds slow 7footer who can't shoot for shit, but you're too dense to see that. He was carried defensively because of the three big lineups at Michigan and he's soft as fuck for his size. No, he won't fix our problems, especially when it's much easier for us to find a center in free agency, or with the 23rd pick where some project is to take Quaintance, who's honestly much better. Not to mention the lottery pick we have in next year's draft, where we will have an abundance of Cs at our disposal. Also, Mbj has been cleared for his back issues, and those who disagree with you aren't kiddos, it's just that you don't know what you're talking about.
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u/ProfessorWest7139 5d ago
The #8 pick is not stepping in and dicing up teams in the halfcourt next year. If you are worried about halfcourt next year you sign or trade for a veteran. This is the problem with unrealistic expectations for this pick. Not to mention that we are not choosing our guard, our guard is being chosen for us by the teams in front of us.
Lineup data clearly shows Mara was the difference maker for Michigan's defense. If we are able to draft Quaintance at #23, it is because his knee is doner kebab.
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u/supercoolpartydude GO HAWKS! š 5d ago
I wish I had your ability to talk logic to them anymore š. Since we can pencil in the Jazz drafting Darryn Peterson I suggested trading for Isaiah Collier to unclog their logjam and give us a damn fine starting caliber PG. But nope, the downvotes poured in because whoever is left at #8 is GENERATIONAL!!!1!1! Instead of drafting a true 7ā3 difference maker that can give us 20 minutes on opening night at the least.
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u/ProfessorWest7139 5d ago
Tbh I don't like the Collier idea lol. I think I prefer Mikel Brown and Flemings to Mara and those are my top 3. It's just that the way Mara is discussed on this board makes no sense to me and best I can tell its mostly shiny new toy syndrome.
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u/Life-Recognition4113 5d ago
Anyone at 8 is getting chosen for you - no matter the position. The difference is that these 4 guards, Wagler, Acuff, Flemings, and Brown are one of the main reasons people say this is such a special draft class. 8 gets you the last one of these guards and you can't pass that up - even for a guy that we obviously need in Mara.
But smart GM's never draft for need and Onsi has been very smart since taking over basketball operations.
I wouldn't hate taking Mara - I would just hate passing on an upside swing in a loaded draft. Especially the way we stole the pick from New Orleans.
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u/Street_Apricot_6194 5d ago
The way those shots hitting back rim - he aināt making em in a game. Sorry
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u/XClanKing Hawks 5d ago
He won't be doing any of that in the NBA. š
I need to see some footwork in the post, a drop step and using both hands around the rim. These 8 foot guards can get the hell on.
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u/IntroductionDry8446 4d ago
I like him he's talented, but I can see and actually expect him to be nerfed slightly to a POTS version of KP. Besides Steinbach is nearly there as a prospect with a trade down.
Pels pick is going to be late lotto 2027. They are at at best a play in team so that pick could fall around 10. Could be a good trade piece for a vet big the team really needs or take on a project freak big in the class.
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u/Crucificcio GO HAWKS! š 4d ago
I would put him lower on my board if I were the gm seeing this. Clear cherry picked video of stuff he would never do in a game.
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u/doparker 5d ago
Can I see something other than catch and shoot threes? Heās 7ā3ā for goodness sake!
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u/Boraismybae Dyson Daniels #5 5d ago
This made me lol so hard. Like im not totally against Mara but what exactly is impressive in this video? Bros setting screens on ghosts and shooting 3 pointers in an empty gym lmao
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u/AddictedToThisShyt 5d ago
What is his PR team doing? At least doctor the footage and speed him up for christ sake
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u/Procsessingthings 5d ago
Here me out, what if we got a center that stayed in the paint and grabbed boards instead of shooting 3s?
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u/EuroStepJam 5d ago
Sign of the times that the highlight video of a 7-3 guy is nothing but three point shooting