Portal Pulse v29: The Mara Fallout & UCLA's Plan B – Ranking Top Transfer Bigs by Fit, Upside & Cost
By all accounts, Aday Mara loved UCLA—his teammates, the program, and playing for Mick Cronin. But negotiations collapsed over unprecedented demands that went far beyond NIL. While UCLA was understood to have been prepared to meet Mara in the 3M range, his camp is said to have pushed for 5M alongside a list of extraordinary stipulations—control over practice schedules, playing time decisions, private training mandates, and travel restrictions. These conditions made the deal a non-starter for Cronin, who refused to compromise program standards.
Now, the Bruins must pivot. Mara’s future remains uncertain, but UCLA can’t wait. Here are the top big men in the portal who could fill the void—ranked by talent, fit, and upside.
Tier 1: Elite Upside (1.2M–2M+ NIL Range)
Flory Bidunga (Kansas) – 1.8M–2M
Why: 99th percentile shot-blocker, elite lob threat, NBA athleticism at 6'9".
Risk: Offensive game raw (5.6 PPG).
Magoon Gwath (San Diego State) – 1.5M–1.7M
Why: Elite rim protector (2.6 BPG), fits Cronin’s defensive identity.
Risk: Limited offensive skills.
Xavier Booker (Michigan State) – 1.2M–1.5M
Why: 6'11" stretch big, switchable defender, untapped potential.
Risk: Inconsistent motor.
Zvonimir Ivišić (Arkansas) – 1.5M–2M
Why: 7'2" with shooting touch, high offensive ceiling.
Risk: Defensive liability, questionable fit in Cronin’s system.
Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) – 1.2M–1.8M
Why: Dominant per-minute stats (7 PPG, 6 RPG in 17 MPG), young.
Risk: Left Illinois under murky circumstances, worth the risk?
Tier 2: High-Impact Starters (750K–1.5M Range)
Noah Williamson (Bucknell) – 800K–1M
Why: Proven mid-major producer (17 PPG, 7 RPG).
Risk: Untested vs. high-major competition.
Henri Veesaar (Arizona) – 1M–1.3M
Why: 7-foot stretch-4 (9 PPG, 5 RPG), skilled passer.
Risk: Needs to add physicality.
Christoph Tilly (Santa Clara) – 1M–1.2M
Why: Floor-spacing big (12.5 PPG, 17 threes), high IQ.
Risk: Below-average defender.
Quincy Ballard (Wichita State) – 750K–1M
Why: Double-double threat (10 PPG, 9 RPG, 2 BPG), physical.
Risk: Limited offensive game.
Efton Reid III (Wake Forest) – 600K–1M
Why: Reliable P5 starter (9 PPG, 7 RPG), polished post-game.
Risk: Low upside (senior).
Tier 3: Rotation Pieces (500K–1M Range)
Dishon Jackson (Iowa State) – 600K–1M
Why: Strong finisher (8.5 PPG, 5 RPG), experienced.
Risk: Injury history.
Ante Brzovic (Charleston) – 500K–1M
Why: Skilled high-IQ big (12 PPG, 6 RPG, 3 APG).
Risk: Lacks athleticism.
Nick Pringle (South Carolina) – 500K–800K
Why: Energy big (9.5 PPG, 6 RPG), elite rebounder.
Risk: Limited skill.
Patrick Wessler (Virginia Tech) – 400K–750K
Why: 7'1" project with upside.
Risk: Minimal production (4 PPG, 3 RPG).
Best Value Picks
Efton Reid III – Proven, affordable, and fills immediate need.
Quincy Ballard – Elite rebounder at a discount.
Flory Bidunga - Bona athletically with more offensive upside.
Good stuff, Kris. Thanks. What a huge bummer. It sounds like Iago is whispering into Mara(s)'s ear. Beyond the overwhelming disappointment(s), oh, wait, there is no beyond the disappointment.
Fiddlesticks!
My irrelevant vote at this point is to get a rebounding defender. We need toughness, size, and smarts more than potential. And a lights-out shooter, too. Maybe we already have a few. Better tempo, decision making, and passing will help.
I hope Chef Cronin has a strong InstaPot game. The pressure and heat must be put to use, quickly.
thank you for this list for us. all the attention this post-season has gone to the drama positions. First PG and now Center, both for obvious reasons. Wing isn't being mentioned much at all. If that is more design than focus, could Mick see the top needs as vital (first landing Dent, now replacing Mara) and thinking if need be he can cover wing with a combination of Dailey, Perry and Freeny?