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The Oklahoma City Thunder made two picks in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
With the 12th pick, the Thunder selected Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 Spanish center out of Michigan. With the 16th pick, OKC traded with Memphis to select Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz.
The Thunder still holds the 37th overall pick in the second round, which starts on Wednesday evening.
Here is a roundup of post-draft grades for the Thunder's first-round selections:
More: How many draft picks do the Thunder have? Here's a full list for OKC in NBA Draft
The Oklahoman: B, B+
The Oklahoman columnist Joe Mussatto gave high grades to the Thunder's first two round picks, but questions where they will fit in an already deep rotation.
"Mara’s passing is his most intriguing skillset," Mussatto wrote. "He doesn’t so much read the floor as he has an overhead view of it. There’s a flair to his passing a la Isaiah Hartenstein. (By the way, I still expect Hartenstein to sign an extension with the Thunder).
"It’s going to be fascinating to see what Stirtz looks like as an off-ball guard. He shot 36% from 3-point range at Iowa on a high volume of difficult looks. He’ll have a much steadier diet of catch-and-shoot 3s in the NBA."
USA TODAY Sports: A
USA TODAY rated both Thunder picks with an A.
"The Thunder got someone who should fit perfectly with their franchise identity with big man Aday Mara, offering a low usage rate but significant upside with a higher assist percentage. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has deterred opponents from even attempting anything near the basket when he is on the court. While he might only play short spurts for Oklahoma City, every team could use more frontcourt depth, and he should provide valuable minutes whenever he is on the floor for the Thunder.
"Bennett Stirtz is a great value and should fit well with OKC on a rookie-scale contract, and he should feel ready to contribute for a contender compared to other prospects who were available in this range. Stirtz has long held one of the better analytical profiles, so it’s no surprise that Oklahoma City was infatuated with this impressive floor general and pick-and-roll ball handler."
Yahoo! Sports: A+, A
Yahoo! Sports gave the Thunder's No. 12 pick the highest grade, and went just under it for the No. 16 trade.
"(Mara) reads the floor like a guard, finishes with both hands, and swats shots with elite timing. The complication is he doesn't shoot from outside, makes below 60% of his free throws, and opponents are going to attack him on the perimeter. The Thunder seemingly have a way of turning shaky shooters into reliable shooters though. If Mara figures out how to shoot, it'll be a nightmare for the NBA. Even if he doesn't, well, the Thunder are already a nightmare.
"Stirtz feels the game at a different frequency than everyone else on the floor, and yet still makes scouts squint because he doesn't look the part athletically. The question isn't whether he can play, though. After transferring from Drake to Iowa, he kept cooking with bull's-eye passes, pump-fakes and shooting touch off the dribble from NBA range. If he adjusts to the physicality and speed of the NBA, he could thrive as both a floor general and off-ball connector."
More: Aday Mara eyes fit with Thunder alongside Chet Holmgren: What to know about NBA Draft pick
SB Nation: A-, B+
SB Nation went a little lower on their grades for the Thunder's two first-round picks, but still praised the selections.
"Mara was the single biggest stock-riser of March Madness, showing off his elite passing ability and trusty rim protection in drop coverage on Michigan’s run to the national championship. He’s not a shooter at the moment, and there are questions about his quickness on the perimeter, but I’m willing to bet on Mara’s size, passing, and shot-blocking. The Thunder just got another big body to throw at Victor Wembanyama in future playoff matchups.
"(Stirtz is) a high-level pick-and-roll operator who can splash shots all over the floor. He’ll be insulated defensively in OKC, and he gives them another ball handler who threatens the defense with his scoring and passing. I think he can be pretty deadly off the ball, too, with the best jumpers in the class."
The Athletic: B, B-
The Athletic's John Hollinger questioned whether Mara would fit on the OKC roster and thinks this could be a future trade.
"He’s a curious fit on an Oklahoma City roster that already has two other accomplished centers (Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren), a reliable backup in Jaylin Williams and just used a mid-first-round pick a year ago on center Thomas Sorber.
"(Stirtz) gives the Thunder a true point guard to play next to their more scoring-oriented guards. I had him rated lower than this and think the Thunder could have waited among Stirtz, Labaron Philon and Ebuka Okorie, but they decided to jump up for their guy. This pick is also not a great omen for 2024 lottery pick Nikola Topić."
CBS Sports: A-, B+
In his analysis, CBS Sports' Adam Finkelstein highlighted Mara's size and possible matchups with Victor Wembanyama. He also praised Stirtz's game intelligence, but questioned his physical tools.
"Mara is a giant, even by NBA standards, and a tremendous rim protector. He's also got sneaky mobility, good hands, real passing ability, and provides vertical spacing. Mara is a defensive anchor who alters or discourages as many shots as he blocks thanks to his timing and massive size.
"Stirtz has solid positional size, but otherwise lacks overwhelming or ideal physical tools for NBA standards. Perceived lack of rim pressure and separation at the next level given his lack of elite burst. There are questions about how Stirtz will match up with elite playmaking guards at the point of attack defensively in the NBA."
More: Bennett Stirtz's 'fit couldn't be better' with Thunder: What to know about NBA Draft pick
Bleacher Report: A-, B-
Once again, Mara's height came into play in this analysis, especially with Isaiah Hartenstein's future still in question. However, Bleacher Report questioned Mara's scheme versatility. Similarly to CBS, Zach Buckley spoke about Stirtz's intelligence but limited physical tools.
"Mara is massive, even for someone entering this larger-than-life league. He stands 7'3" without shoes and can almost dunk without jumping (9'9" standing reach). He does everything you'd expect of someone with this size: walling off the basket, finishing with force and competing on the glass. He also does things you don't always see from people with this much mass, like processing and passing like a guard.
"Stirtz might be the best thinker in this class. He always seems to be a step ahead of defenders, which is no small feat considering his actual first step is nothing special. He not only knows where everyone is at all times, but he also has a good feel for where they're going to move, so he can sense openings before they're actually open. He has a real case for being this draft's best shooter."
Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How NBA Draft experts graded Thunder picks Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz
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With the 12th pick, the Thunder selected Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 Spanish center out of Michigan. With the 16th pick, OKC traded with Memphis to select Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz.
The Thunder still holds the 37th overall pick in the second round, which starts on Wednesday evening.
Here is a roundup of post-draft grades for the Thunder's first-round selections:
More: How many draft picks do the Thunder have? Here's a full list for OKC in NBA Draft
The Oklahoman: B, B+
The Oklahoman columnist Joe Mussatto gave high grades to the Thunder's first two round picks, but questions where they will fit in an already deep rotation.
"Mara’s passing is his most intriguing skillset," Mussatto wrote. "He doesn’t so much read the floor as he has an overhead view of it. There’s a flair to his passing a la Isaiah Hartenstein. (By the way, I still expect Hartenstein to sign an extension with the Thunder).
"It’s going to be fascinating to see what Stirtz looks like as an off-ball guard. He shot 36% from 3-point range at Iowa on a high volume of difficult looks. He’ll have a much steadier diet of catch-and-shoot 3s in the NBA."
USA TODAY Sports: A
USA TODAY rated both Thunder picks with an A.
"The Thunder got someone who should fit perfectly with their franchise identity with big man Aday Mara, offering a low usage rate but significant upside with a higher assist percentage. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has deterred opponents from even attempting anything near the basket when he is on the court. While he might only play short spurts for Oklahoma City, every team could use more frontcourt depth, and he should provide valuable minutes whenever he is on the floor for the Thunder.
"Bennett Stirtz is a great value and should fit well with OKC on a rookie-scale contract, and he should feel ready to contribute for a contender compared to other prospects who were available in this range. Stirtz has long held one of the better analytical profiles, so it’s no surprise that Oklahoma City was infatuated with this impressive floor general and pick-and-roll ball handler."
Yahoo! Sports: A+, A
Yahoo! Sports gave the Thunder's No. 12 pick the highest grade, and went just under it for the No. 16 trade.
"(Mara) reads the floor like a guard, finishes with both hands, and swats shots with elite timing. The complication is he doesn't shoot from outside, makes below 60% of his free throws, and opponents are going to attack him on the perimeter. The Thunder seemingly have a way of turning shaky shooters into reliable shooters though. If Mara figures out how to shoot, it'll be a nightmare for the NBA. Even if he doesn't, well, the Thunder are already a nightmare.
"Stirtz feels the game at a different frequency than everyone else on the floor, and yet still makes scouts squint because he doesn't look the part athletically. The question isn't whether he can play, though. After transferring from Drake to Iowa, he kept cooking with bull's-eye passes, pump-fakes and shooting touch off the dribble from NBA range. If he adjusts to the physicality and speed of the NBA, he could thrive as both a floor general and off-ball connector."
More: Aday Mara eyes fit with Thunder alongside Chet Holmgren: What to know about NBA Draft pick
SB Nation: A-, B+
SB Nation went a little lower on their grades for the Thunder's two first-round picks, but still praised the selections.
"Mara was the single biggest stock-riser of March Madness, showing off his elite passing ability and trusty rim protection in drop coverage on Michigan’s run to the national championship. He’s not a shooter at the moment, and there are questions about his quickness on the perimeter, but I’m willing to bet on Mara’s size, passing, and shot-blocking. The Thunder just got another big body to throw at Victor Wembanyama in future playoff matchups.
"(Stirtz is) a high-level pick-and-roll operator who can splash shots all over the floor. He’ll be insulated defensively in OKC, and he gives them another ball handler who threatens the defense with his scoring and passing. I think he can be pretty deadly off the ball, too, with the best jumpers in the class."
The Athletic: B, B-
The Athletic's John Hollinger questioned whether Mara would fit on the OKC roster and thinks this could be a future trade.
"He’s a curious fit on an Oklahoma City roster that already has two other accomplished centers (Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren), a reliable backup in Jaylin Williams and just used a mid-first-round pick a year ago on center Thomas Sorber.
"(Stirtz) gives the Thunder a true point guard to play next to their more scoring-oriented guards. I had him rated lower than this and think the Thunder could have waited among Stirtz, Labaron Philon and Ebuka Okorie, but they decided to jump up for their guy. This pick is also not a great omen for 2024 lottery pick Nikola Topić."
CBS Sports: A-, B+
In his analysis, CBS Sports' Adam Finkelstein highlighted Mara's size and possible matchups with Victor Wembanyama. He also praised Stirtz's game intelligence, but questioned his physical tools.
"Mara is a giant, even by NBA standards, and a tremendous rim protector. He's also got sneaky mobility, good hands, real passing ability, and provides vertical spacing. Mara is a defensive anchor who alters or discourages as many shots as he blocks thanks to his timing and massive size.
"Stirtz has solid positional size, but otherwise lacks overwhelming or ideal physical tools for NBA standards. Perceived lack of rim pressure and separation at the next level given his lack of elite burst. There are questions about how Stirtz will match up with elite playmaking guards at the point of attack defensively in the NBA."
More: Bennett Stirtz's 'fit couldn't be better' with Thunder: What to know about NBA Draft pick
Bleacher Report: A-, B-
Once again, Mara's height came into play in this analysis, especially with Isaiah Hartenstein's future still in question. However, Bleacher Report questioned Mara's scheme versatility. Similarly to CBS, Zach Buckley spoke about Stirtz's intelligence but limited physical tools.
"Mara is massive, even for someone entering this larger-than-life league. He stands 7'3" without shoes and can almost dunk without jumping (9'9" standing reach). He does everything you'd expect of someone with this size: walling off the basket, finishing with force and competing on the glass. He also does things you don't always see from people with this much mass, like processing and passing like a guard.
"Stirtz might be the best thinker in this class. He always seems to be a step ahead of defenders, which is no small feat considering his actual first step is nothing special. He not only knows where everyone is at all times, but he also has a good feel for where they're going to move, so he can sense openings before they're actually open. He has a real case for being this draft's best shooter."
Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How NBA Draft experts graded Thunder picks Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz
Continue reading...
