NBA Draft: Where Michigan’s prospects are projected in mock drafts

His offensive versatility has been on NBA radars for years; after starring at UAB, he transferred to Michigan and helped the Wolverines win a national title, validating his production against the highest level of competition.

An improved shooter and defender who passes and rebounds, Lendeborg should look highly adaptable and easy to fit for most NBA teams. **USA Today (Bryan Kalbrosky): No. 6 to the Memphis Grizzlies** By far the highest we’ve seen him on a mock draft, Kalbrosky of USA Today sees Lendeborg as easily a Top 10 pick. He cites how prone Memphis is to not be worried about the age of their draft picks, with a recent example being Purdue’s Zach Edey. Keep an eye on the Grizzlies as a potential suitor for Yaxel Lendeborg, who showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. **ESPN (Jeremy Woo): No. 12 to the Oklahoma City Thunder** Woo points out that Lendeborg would fit perfectly on a team like the Thunder, who in a normal year wouldn’t be in the lottery at all. The Thunder are clearly in their championship window, so taking a player who is NBA ready and on the older side is right up their alley. The Clippers falling out of the play-in means the 64-win Thunder, who own this pick, have a long-shot opportunity on lottery night. The Thunder also own the 17th pick and will have an incentive to try and consolidate some of their assets, with minimal roster-spot wiggle room in the offseason. Lendeborg would be a ready-made addition to their frontcourt, and his size and versatility would be valuable immediately on a contender. **CBS Sports (Adam Finkelstein): No. 16 to the Memphis Grizzlies** Like USA Today, Finkelstein has Lendeborg falling to the Grizzlies. He has Lendeborg falling behind a handful of younger power forwards who are being drafted more on potential than immediate production like Tennessee’s Nate Ament and Arizona’s Koa Peat. **CBS Sports (Cameron Salerno): No. 9 to the Chicago Bulls** Salerno disagrees with his CBS counterpart, as he has Lendeborg going well before the developmental bigs. In fact, Salerno has Lendeborg as the first non-underclassmen to be drafted. The Bulls could certainly use his plug and play potential from day one.

C Aday Mara

**Bleacher Report: No. 14 to the Charlotte Hornets** Wasserman has Mara going just one pick after Lendeborg. He compares Mara to Andrew Bogut as situational-type center.

Michigan’s NCAA tournament run shone a light on Aday Mara’s defensive impact, advantageous finishing tools and unique skill level. Aside from the constant shot-contesting around the paint and rim, he provided the lineup significant offense as a lob target, low-post player and passer.

Turnovers, limited switchability and dreadful free-throw shooting will turn teams off, but he’s established himself as too rare of a player, even if he winds up being more of a situational center. **USA Today: No. 12 to the Oklahoma City Thunder** While Lendeborg is the more popular pick to go to the Thunder, USA Today has Mara joining the juggernaut. Oklahoma City certainly enjoys having monstrous centers, as Chet Holmgren and Mara both possess excellent court vision and passing ability for big men. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim. **ESPN: No. 14 to the Charlotte Hornets** The Hornets have developed rapidly in recent years with the emergence of Lamelo Ball and Kon Knueppel. However, they lack true size, as former Wolverine Moussa Diabate is their starting center. While Diabate himself is a great story, he stands just 6-foot-10. Adding five inches in Mara would help anchor the Hornets defensively for years to come. **CBS Sports (Finkelstein): No. 23 to the Denver Nuggets** Finkelstein has Mara the lowest of any of the mocks, but the Nuggets may just be the ideal fit. With Jonas Valanciunas set to be a free agent, Denver could use a center to backup Nikola Jokic. While Mara is obviously more slender than Jokic, they both play with size and excellent passing. **CBS Sports (Salerno): No. 14 to the Charlotte Hornets** Like ESPN, Salerno has Mara going to the Hornets at 14. He credits Mara with one of the largest rises in draft projections during the NCAA Tournament.

F Morez Johnson Jr.

**Bleacher Report: No. 23 to the Atlanta Hawks** Wasserman comps Johnson to Montrezl Harrell, which seems spot on in my opinion. He harps on the role that Johnson will have in the NBA and how his skillset is already exactly that of a rim-running, defensive-minded power forward.

At 6’9″, 250 pounds, his combination of strength, leaping and coordination should continue to work well finishing rim runs, lobs, putbacks and low-post opportunities.

There should be equal expected value (or more) tied to his defensive projection, given his toughness inside and foot speed away from the basket. **USA Today: No. 25 to the Los Angeles Lakers** Kalbrosky credits Johnson as being the key piece to Michigan’s identity during the title run. I can’t say I disagree. Johnson’s shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level. **ESPN: No. 20 to the San Antonio Spurs** Like the Thunder, the Spurs are blessed with a higher draft pick this offseason thanks to a trade with Atlanta. The Spurs are loaded with guard talent and obviously have Victor Wembanyama playing center. An athletic power forward like Johnson would pair perfectly in the San Antonio front court with Wemby. **CBS Sports (Finkelstein): No. 21 to the Philadelphia 76ers** Johnson had been a center at Illinois before transferring to Michigan. In Ann Arbor, Dusty May had him predominantly play the 4 with Mara at the 5. Finkelstein loves Johnson’s versatility next to Joel Embiid. He projects Johnson to be Embiid’s backup center and a jumbo 4 when Philadelphia wants to play big. The fit is extremely neat with the 76ers. **CBS Sports (Salerno): No. 21 to the Detroit Pistons** Like Finkelstein, Salerno has Johnson going 21st overall. However, he projects the Pistons to have that spot. While Detroit doesn’t need a backup center, the power forward spot has been a revolving door after Tobias Harris. With Harris aging, it would behoove Detroit to take a young, long-term option in this draft.