Michigan center Aday Mara may be gone by the time the Chicago Bulls are on the clock with the 15th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but his former Wolverines teammate, Morez Johnson Jr., would hardly be a consolation prize; he would be an ideal piece of the Bulls' new-look frontcourt.
Stranger things have happened, but based on mock drafts, rumors, rankings, and general logic, North Carolina's Caleb Wilson is the likely choice for Chicago at No. 4. But the Bulls' second top-15 selection isn't as straightforward.
New executive VP of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, won't draft for need. There are way too many holes to fill. Taking the good ol' best-player-available approach is the smart play.
But those two strategies could merge if Johnson is available at 15.
Bulls should be locked in on Morez Johnson Jr., not Aday Mara
After measuring 7-foot-3 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and a 9-foot-9 standing reach at the NBA Draft Combine, Mara went from borderline lottery pick to top-10 prospect. But that should suit the Bulls just fine, because Johnson would look better in the Windy City anyway.
The 20-year-old had a standout combine performance of his own. Johnson measured 6-foot-9 (without shoes) and 250 pounds with a 7-3 wingspan, the third longest among all forwards who tested. His 39-inch max vertical was eighth among all forwards, and he finished second in that group in the lane agility drill.
Johnson — an Illinois native — is strong, long, explosive and agile. Seems like a good base for a modern-day center.
By the way, he went 17-for-25 in the 3-point star drill, which was tied for fifth at any position, just one behind 3-point specialist Alex Karaban and tied with Duke sharpshooter Isaiah Evans.
Morez Johnson Jr. would bring elite defensive versatility to Chicago
If his 3-point stroke comes around and he becomes even an average threat from distance, Johnson's value in the league would skyrocket.
But that would be a bonus, because his defensive skill set is truly exceptional.
Johnson is big enough, strong enough and long enough to bang with big guys down low, but it's not just his size that makes him an intimidating defender. He can slide his feet on the perimeter (see the lane agility drill mentioned above) and switch comfortably on screens. He's legitimately capable of guarding 1 through 5.
That versatility helped the Wolverines win a national championship.
Johnson often played as a third big sandwiched between Mara and Michigan's other potential lottery pick, Yaxel Lendeborg. Mara is a ground-bound rim-deterrent, while Lendeborg is more comfortable as a perimeter defender; Johnson's ability to guard any position in any situation allowed coach Dusty May to wear down opponents with size and power.
That adaptability would be perfect next to Matas Buzelis, who's better suited as a jumbo wing. If Wilson were also in the mix, the Bulls' next head coach would have a trio of supremely athletic forwards who all bring something different to the table.
And Johnson would be the skeleton key to unlock all of it.
Add us as a preferred source on Google