Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara played a pivotal role in head 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 important 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 projected to be selected in the late portion of the lottery, while Johnson is expected to go in the late part of the first round.
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The goal for all guys that enter 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 years after that are controlled by the team. The higher you get picked, the more money you make.
Turning down the NBA isn’t easy, but Johnson recently told NBC5 in Chicago he wouldn’t mind doing it if that’s what’s 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 issue coming back to Michigan and trying to repeat,” Johnson said.
Johnson is ESPN’s No. 27 overall prospect on their big board this year. Just for the sake of example, let’s say 27 overall is exactly where he goes in this year’s draft. The 27th overall pick last year was former Wolverine Danny Wolf. According to Spotrac, Wolf is making $2,801,280 as a first-year NBA player. Let’s say the number goes up slightly this year and is right at $2.9 million.
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With all that 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 one more year and help raise his draft stock. Michigan isn’t a poor program by any means, so it wouldn’t be surprising if that scenario were to be reality. I’m sure May and his staff wouldn’t mind having a veteran big man that has experience in the system back in Ann Arbor.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with a Spanish media outlet, Mara was speaking as if he already had his mind made up as far as declaring for the draft. But it also sounds like he will retain his collegiate eligibility just in case.
“There’s still the whole summer ahead, during which I have to prepare for the draft, talk to teams, train with teams, and see what position I’ll play,” Mara said. “I’m lucky enough to be able to decide what to do; both options are good, whether I stay or leave.”
May already has an insurance policy in the event that one or both big men leave for the draft, as the Wolverines acquired the commitment of former Tennessee center J.P. Estrella on Thursday. However, getting one or both of Johnson and Mara to come back would be incredible for Michigan’s chances of going back-to-back.
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At this point, I expect both of them to declare for the draft while retaining their college eligibility. Mara seems more likely than Johnson to stay in the draft, but both of them very well could be ready to move on regardless of where they end up getting selected. The deadline to withdraw from the draft is May 27, so there is a lot of time between now and then for the Michigan big men to finalize their plans.
What do you think Mara and Johnson will do? Go to the NBA? Return to Michigan? Let me know what you think down in the comments section below!
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