SerpApi.Org
2 hottest Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz overreactions from 2026 Thunder Summer League appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Oklahoma City Thunder did some roster remodeling over the offseason, trading away three key players of their 2025 title-winning squad in Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins with the goal of getting underneath the second apron. The Thunder were confident in their ability to remain not just competitive in the West, but one of the fiercest challengers for the title across the association, even though they had to trim some salary, as they have some solid young players still on their rookie deals to lean on.
Two players the Thunder will be integrating into their core this coming season will be Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, their first-round selections in the 2026 NBA Draft. Mara is listed at 7’3″, giving OKC even more size in what is perhaps a reaction to the Victor Wembanyama matchup, while Stirtz is going to fight for minutes in a crowded Thunder backcourt, with the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Alex Caruso, and Jared McCain all being ahead of him on the depth chart.
Of course, the Thunder didn’t necessarily draft the two so they can contribute for the upcoming campaign. Anything they can give OKC’s big-league squad is going to be gravy. Fans should temper their expectations.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
Nonetheless, here are a few overreactions to how Mara and Stirtz will fare considering how they performed during Summer League play.
Aday Mara is two years away from being two years away
Mara’s size means that he will always have a place in the NBA. And with the Thunder not needing to fill any position necessarily, they beefed up a position of need at center by drafting the big man out of Michigan, as over the past few postseasons, they have recognized that winning the frontcourt battle typically means winning the game since Gilgeous-Alexander can carry the team to great heights.
It’s become clear that Chet Holmgren needs help against some of the beefier frontcourt matchups in the NBA. The Thunder brought Isaiah Hartenstein in for that express reason, and OKC decided he was way too important to the team that they re-signed him to a new contract that would pay him handsomely for the next three seasons.
But with OKC always having to mind the second apron (Wallace will be up for a huge contract extension), they will have to make some tough roster decisions again soon. Perhaps there are some among the OKC contingent who are hoping that Mara could emerge as the guy for them at center while he’s on his rookie contract so they could move Hartenstein if push comes to shove on the second apron front.
However, it was evident during Summer League that Mara is a ways away from contributing in the NBA. He’s 21 years of age, so he has time to get up to speed, but the main concerns for Mara during the draft process became all the more glaring in Vegas.
Mara’s motor came and went, and his defensive mobility was lackluster. And it’s not like he’s facing the stiffest of competition whatsoever. Nonetheless, opposing teams targeted him, drew him out on the perimeter, and his impact is going to be muted, especially on the NBA level, if he can’t at least hold his own.
Of course, the Thunder are going to use Mara situationally. Putting him on the court against other paint-bound centers would be wise to make the most of his rim protecting skills. Even then, there were moments during Summer League where the Michigan alum looked a bit lethargic, and almost allergic to contact in the paint, preferring to drift around the high post area to facilitate offense instead of being a monster in the middle.
OKC fans, Mara is not going to be a Wembanyama stopper. It’s not even going to be close. And he’ll need time to acclimate to the speed of the NBA game, although the good news is that the Thunder have the luxury to bring him along slowly anyway.
Bennett Stirtz is a future starter in the NBA
As mentioned earlier, Stirtz is facing stiff competition for minutes in the Thunder backcourt. But OKC has been careful in managing the minutes of their players anyway throughout the 82-game regular season slog, so Stirtz should get plenty of opportunity to prove himself. And during Summer League, Stirtz was far and away the best player for OKC.
His smarts were in full display, and he was as composed as it gets in managing the Thunder offense. His athletic tools won’t blow anyone away, but that hasn’t stopped the likes of Mitchell and McCain from being impactful players for OKC. The Thunder have prioritized getting players who know their roles, keep the ball moving around, and ingrain themselves in the system, and Stirtz is going to be that player for them.
In three Summer League games, Stirtz averaged 17.7 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, which goes to show that he can get to his spots while running the offense, almost being an extension of the head coach every time he’s out there on the court.
Players who don’t try to do too much, are selectively aggressive, all while having the skill to remain impactful despite not commanding heavy usage will always be beloved by NBA teams. Stirtz is that guy to a T. It’s not too difficult to imagine him being a 15 and 7 player at his best, complementing more of a scoring-oriented partner in the backcourt while providing reliable floor-spacing (37.2 percent clip from deep in college).
He did record a 10:8 assist to turnover ratio, but that should improve once he plays alongside more talented teammates.
It will take some time for the Thunder to fully lean on Stirtz, but his composure and maturity beyond his years should help him flourish for a long time in the NBA. The defensive question marks are going to be there, but he works hard on that end of the floor, and effort is always helpful in making up for whatever athletic shortcomings one may have.
Like ClutchPoints’ content? Be sure to follow us.
Related: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s dad doesn’t expect him to ‘ever leave’ Thunder
