Michigan big men Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara discuss future plans
Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara played integral roles in coach Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines winning the national championship this season. Now, after successful first years in Ann Arbor, both big men have big decisions to make in the next month or so.
Mara and Johnson, along with fellow Wolverine Yaxel Lendeborg, are projected to be first-round picks in this summer’s NBA Draft. Mara is expected to be selected late in the lottery, while Johnson is expected to go late in the first round.
Announcement
The goal for all kids entering the NBA Draft is to receive a guaranteed contract. If you are selected in the first round, you will receive a guaranteed contract for two years; the remaining two subsequent years are controlled by the team. The higher you are chosen, the more money you will earn.
Turning down the NBA isn’t easy, but Johnson recently told NBC5 in Chicago that he wouldn’t mind doing it if it was best for him.
“There’s no rush because if I can’t get (a guaranteed contract) this year, I know I can get it next year and I have no problem coming back to Michigan and trying to repeat,” Johnson said.
Johnson is ESPN’s No. 27 prospect on their board this year. Just as an example, let’s say 27 overall is exactly where he lands in this year’s draft. Last year’s 27th overall pick was former Wolverine Danny Wolf. According to Spotrac, Wolf makes $2,801,280 as a first-year NBA player. Let’s say that the figure rises slightly this year and stands at 2.9 million dollars.
Announcement
With all of this information in mind, the question then becomes whether or not Michigan would be able to match or exceed the $2.9 million, bring Johnson back for another year and help boost his draft stock. Michigan is by no means a poor program, so it wouldn’t be surprising if this scenario became a reality. I’m sure May and his staff wouldn’t mind having a veteran big man with experience in the system in Ann Arbor.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with a Spanish news outlet, Mara spoke as if he had already decided to come out in favor of the draft. But it also appears he will maintain his collegiate eligibility just in case.
“There’s still the whole summer ahead of me, during which I have to prepare for the draft, talk to the teams, train with the teams and see what position I will play,” Mara said. “I’m lucky enough to be able to decide what to do; both options are good, whether I stay or go.”
May already has an insurance policy in case one or both of the bigs leaves for the draft, as the Wolverines acquired the commitment of former Tennessee center J.P. Estrella on Thursday. However, having one or both Johnson and Mara return would be incredible for Michigan’s chances of returning back-to-back.
Announcement
At this point, I expect both to come out in favor of the draft while maintaining college eligibility. Mara seems more likely than Johnson to remain in the draft, but both could very well be ready to move on regardless of where they end up being selected. The deadline to withdraw from the draft is May 27, so there’s plenty of time between now and then for Michigan’s big men to finalize their plans.
What do you think Mara and Johnson will do? Going to the NBA? Returning to Michigan? Let me know what you think in the comments section below!