The Oklahoma City Thunder are absolutely convinced rookie center Aday Mara is cleared to play for them, even as his former Spanish club is trying to throw a wrench in everything by claiming he’s still under contract. This isn’t some minor dust-up; it’s a full-blown contract dispute that could sideline a lottery pick right when the 2026-27 NBA season is about to kick off for the Thunder.
The Spanish Club Isn’t Playing Around
Casademont Zaragoza, Mara’s old Liga ACB team back in Spain, is straight-up claiming they still hold his playing rights through 2027. They’re making a huge stink, saying they need a “financial settlement regarding his departure” before the 7-foot-3 center, who the Thunder grabbed with the No. 12 overall pick in June’s draft, can even think about suiting up for another club. Heraldo de Aragón, a Spanish newspaper, dropped this bombshell on Friday, with Eurohoops’ Johnny Askounis reporting on it. Zaragoza even put out a statement, saying they “wish Aday Mara the best of luck” but also that they have an “obligation to protect its rights, ensure compliance with existing contracts, and defend the interests of Basket Zaragoza, taking all necessary legal action.” Yikes. They really mean business.
Thunder’s Rebuttal & History Repeats Itself
The Thunder, for their part, aren’t backing down an inch. A spokesperson told Yahoo Sports that Zaragoza’s claims mean nothing for Mara’s eligibility. Why? Because “Aday last played three years of NCAA college basketball and therefore, as advised by the NBA, no clearance from the Spanish team is required for him to play in the NBA.” This isn’t the first time Zaragoza has pulled this, either. Mara made his first-team debut with his hometown club in 2021 when he was just 16. But when he came over to the U.S. in 2023 to play for UCLA as a five-star recruit, Zaragoza contested his eligibility then, too. They claimed he was still under contract and couldn’t play elsewhere. Zaragoza general manager Jose Artigas even blasted UCLA in an email to the Los Angeles Times, saying, “The message that a prestigious university like this sends is that contracts between parties do not have to be fulfilled.” They sued Mara for breach of contract, demanding over $600,000 to release him, with Artigas writing, “We want him to fulfill the contract. And if he wants to leave, he must pay.” Mara was eventually cleared to play for the Bruins, so there’s precedent here.
From National Champ to NBA Drama
After being cleared to play for UCLA, Mara averaged 5.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 11.5 minutes per game over two seasons. Then he transferred to Michigan for the 2025-26 season, and that’s where he absolutely exploded, hitting more than two-thirds of his field goals and snagging Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors as the starting center for a Wolverines squad that went 37-3 and won the national championship. Dude’s got skills: a scoring touch inside, elite shot-blocking, and a deft passing touch, all wrapped up in a 7-foot-3, 255-pound frame with a 7-foot-6-wingspan. That’s why the Thunder made him a lottery pick. He’s been turning heads in preseason, too, averaging 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.4 blocks. So, with the Thunder’s season opener coming up, everyone’s watching to see if Mara, this 21-year-old national champ, will actually be on the court or if this contract drama will keep him sidelined. Zaragoza’s making a big play here, and the NBA is about to find out how this all shakes out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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