Deandre Ayton is a serviceable starting center for the Los Angeles Lakers, but has struggled at times, especially on the defensive end. This season, he is averaging 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds on 67.2% shooting through 63 games.
Given Ayton has a player option for the 2026-27 campaign, the 2026 NBA Draft could be the perfect opportunity for Los Angeles to find a long-term solution at center.
Lakers Projected to Select Michigan Center Aday Mara
The Michigan Wolverines are focused on their upcoming matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16, but for center Aday Mara, there’s more on the line.
Mara is undoubtedly looking to boost his draft stock against Alabama, but the odds are he’ll remain a late first-round pick regardless of what happens in March Madness. Christopher Kline links the Lakers to Mara in his latest 2026 NBA mock draft for FanSided, projecting that L.A. will select him with the No. 25 pick.
“Some matchups give Aday Mara more trouble than others,” Kline wrote. “This weekend he did nothing but impress. Michigan’s 7-foot-3 anchor was dominant against Howard (19 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST, 3 BLK in 21 MIN), which he backed up with a similarly impressive outing against a more talented Saint Louis frontcourt (16 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 4 BLK in 26 MIN). It’s hard to find centers with Mara’s intersection of size, defensive instincts and passing IQ.”
The junior big man is in his first season with the Wolverines, averaging 12.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks on 67.4% shooting in 36 appearances.
“Lakers fans probably envision an explosive run-jump athlete anchoring the frontcourt next to Luka Dončić, but Mara is worth a swing,” Kline added. “He needs to foul less and prove his durability, but the ceiling here as an All-Defense caliber interior anchor.
“Mara can finish lobs, facilitate on the short roll and provide L.A. with rim protection they simply will not receive from Deandre Ayton, now or ever. You can never have too many good passers on the floor.”
It’s time for the Lakers to begin building around Dončić. While Mara will be 21 years old at the time of the draft, he still holds plenty of upside on both ends of the floor.
Although he’ll never be a pick-and-pop threat for the Slovenian superstar to work with, he has the ability to dominate the interior. Dončić is accustomed to working alongside big men who aren’t able to stretch the floor, namely on the Dallas Mavericks when he played alongside Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
All this is to say Dončić is capable of playing alongside almost any center, so why not draft one with the potential to become a defensive anchor?
