NBA Mock Draft 2026: Complete 2-round edition includes Aday Mara to Bulls, Bennett Stirtz to Thunder
The latest 2026 NBA mock draft paints a fascinating picture of how front offices might be thinking two years out, highlighted by Aday Mara projected to the Bulls and Bennett Stirtz landing with the Thunder in a full two‑round exercise.
Mara, the skilled 7-foot-plus big man, is slotted to Chicago as a potential long-term answer in the middle. For a franchise still searching for a clear post‑DeRozan, post‑Vucevic identity, a center with his blend of size, touch, and passing vision represents a philosophical pivot. Rather than chasing another high-usage guard, this projection suggests the Bulls could lean into a hub-style offense that runs more actions through the elbows and high post, betting on Mara’s feel to elevate everyone around him.
Defensively, the mock leans on Mara’s length as a deterrent at the rim. The question, as with most modern centers, is whether he can move well enough in space to survive against spread pick‑and‑rolls. Chicago’s player-development infrastructure would be tested, but the upside of pairing an offensive connector with a potentially elite paint presence is the kind of swing a mid‑lottery team often needs to take.
Further down the board, Bennett Stirtz to the Thunder fits Oklahoma City’s established profile. Long, versatile, and comfortable with the ball, Stirtz projects as another multipositional piece who can dribble, pass, and shoot in a read‑and‑react system. The Thunder have built around length and skill on the perimeter, valuing players who can seamlessly toggle between roles rather than occupy rigid positions.
Slotting Stirtz into that environment underscores how the league is trending. Teams are prioritizing decision-making and positional flexibility over traditional archetypes. A franchise already rich in playmaking wings and jumbo creators would not be drafting for immediate star power, but for another high‑IQ connector who keeps the ball moving and the floor spaced.
Across both projected picks, the mock draft reinforces a broader league reality: front offices are hunting size with skill, betting that feel for the game will age better than pure athleticism as the NBA continues to emphasize spacing, versatility, and five‑man offense.
Mara, the skilled 7-foot-plus big man, is slotted to Chicago as a potential long-term answer in the middle. For a franchise still searching for a clear post‑DeRozan, post‑Vucevic identity, a center with his blend of size, touch, and passing vision represents a philosophical pivot. Rather than chasing another high-usage guard, this projection suggests the Bulls could lean into a hub-style offense that runs more actions through the elbows and high post, betting on Mara’s feel to elevate everyone around him.
Defensively, the mock leans on Mara’s length as a deterrent at the rim. The question, as with most modern centers, is whether he can move well enough in space to survive against spread pick‑and‑rolls. Chicago’s player-development infrastructure would be tested, but the upside of pairing an offensive connector with a potentially elite paint presence is the kind of swing a mid‑lottery team often needs to take.
Further down the board, Bennett Stirtz to the Thunder fits Oklahoma City’s established profile. Long, versatile, and comfortable with the ball, Stirtz projects as another multipositional piece who can dribble, pass, and shoot in a read‑and‑react system. The Thunder have built around length and skill on the perimeter, valuing players who can seamlessly toggle between roles rather than occupy rigid positions.
Slotting Stirtz into that environment underscores how the league is trending. Teams are prioritizing decision-making and positional flexibility over traditional archetypes. A franchise already rich in playmaking wings and jumbo creators would not be drafting for immediate star power, but for another high‑IQ connector who keeps the ball moving and the floor spaced.
Across both projected picks, the mock draft reinforces a broader league reality: front offices are hunting size with skill, betting that feel for the game will age better than pure athleticism as the NBA continues to emphasize spacing, versatility, and five‑man offense.
