- Aday Mara, the 7-foot-3 Michigan center and 2026 NCAA champion, has signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for NBA Draft representation, with Aaron Mintz leading the deal.
- Mara, projected as a top-20 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, set a Michigan single-season record with 103 blocks in 2025–26 and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors.
- CAA Basketball has been on an active signing streak in 2026, adding several first-round prospects ahead of the draft.
- This marks Mara's first professional representation deal as the Spanish-born big man enters the NBA Draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility.
Aday Mara, the 7-foot-3 center out of the University of Michigan, has officially signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for on-field representation, with veteran NBA agent Aaron Mintz set to guide his pre-draft process. The signing makes Mara’s entry into professional representation official as he prepares for the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Spanish big man had a breakout 2025–26 season with the Wolverines, averaging 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game while earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and helping Michigan to both a Big Ten and NCAA Tournament title.
Mara set a Michigan single-season record with 103 blocks in 2025–26. Previously, Mara spent two seasons at UCLA before transferring to Michigan, where he blossomed into a full-time starter and defensive anchor. Before college, he played professionally in Spain with Basket Zaragoza.
Mintz, one of the most powerful agents in basketball, counts a superstar-studded client list including Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Zion Williamson, and Julius Randle.
CAA Basketball has been aggressive in securing top draft talent this cycle: Davion Mitchell previously returned to CAA for representation, and Caleb Martin also signed with CAA as the agency continues to build its basketball roster.
Mara is projected by most outlets as a top-20 pick and could even reach the lottery. He measured 7’3″ barefoot with a 9’9″ standing reach at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine.
Takeaways
Landing Aaron Mintz is a massive get for Mara. Mintz doesn’t just negotiate contracts, he has built careers for franchise players, and that kind of infrastructure matters enormously for a 21-year-old Spaniard navigating his first NBA Draft.
With CAA also handling marketing and brand development at the highest level, Mara isn’t just hiring an agent, he’s plugging into an entire ecosystem designed to maximize his value on and off the court.
Could Mara’s CAA signing push him even further up draft boards heading into June? Does CAA’s aggressive 2026 draft class recruitment signal a broader strategy to dominate the post-draft rookie market?
