A new report suggests the Sacramento Kings or Los Angeles Clippers could take a risk with their top 10 selection in June and go after a star from national champion Michigan. But this is not Yaxel Lendeborg.
Over the weekend, both the Kings and Clippers found out where they will select in next month's NBA Draft. The results were very different for the pair of California teams. Despite having strong chances to make the top four, Sacramento finished seventh overall. LA got a rare run of luck and won with the fifth overall pick.
The Clippers reached such a critical spot despite being playoff contenders this spring because of the bold trade they made that sent Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for a top-four protected pick. When Indy finished with the fifth overall pick, the selection went to LA.
In the days since, various draft speculations have linked the Kings and Clippers to star prospects such as Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings, and Keaton Wagler. However, according to CBS Sports draft expert Adam Finkelstein, both teams could go in surprising directions with their picks at five and seven, respectively.
Finkelstein claims that after looking impressive at the NBA Draft Combine this week, Michigan big man Ade Mara is rapidly moving up draft boards, and the Clippers and Kings have the most obvious need for a center in which the Spaniard has "incredible size, rim protection, deceptive mobility, passing and touch."
“It remains to be seen whether someone will pull the trigger at 5 or 7, but it is no longer viewed as unlikely, especially in that latter scenario,” Finklestein noted about the player who was originally projected to go much later in Round 1.
If any Michigan star advanced to the event, most basketball fans would assume it would be top star Yaxel Lendeborg. The senior was first or second to the national champions in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
But Mara is a beast at 7-foot-3 and 259 pounds. Its wingspan is 7 feet 6 feet and height is 9 feet 9 inches. Mara is a shot-blocking specialist who led the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks last season.
