OKC Thunder rookie center Aday Mara could be blocked from playing for the team this season

[u/PastaCheed]

Spanish team Basket Zaragoza officially states it will oppose Aday Mara's international transfer to the Thunder, arguing the No. 12 pick remains under contract through 2026-27 despite already signing with Oklahoma City and impressing in preseason. In an official statement, Zaragoza said it has not yet received a request for Mara's international transfer but warned that it will formally oppose one if such a request arrives."

Zaragoza added that it intends to protect its contractual rights and is prepared to take "all necessary legal action."

Via: BasketNews

[u/GoGreeb]

Do the Thunder just need to pay a buyout of some kind?

[u/AttitudeDismal3817 → u/GoGreeb]

I believe it's only 700k

[u/Saucy_Totchie → u/AttitudeDismal3817]

That's one whole Kawhi fine.

[u/N1SMO_GT-R → u/Saucy_Totchie]

lmao this is now an official unit of measurement

[u/Dazzling_End8412 → u/N1SMO_GT-R]

like 2 pounds being a Chet gain

[u/yuhanz → u/Dazzling_End8412]

Or a Shaq poop

[u/atze33 → u/N1SMO_GT-R]

Anything but metric.

[u/automaticgainsaying → u/Saucy_Totchie]

I mean, they could pay that much in a matter of days. Probably in less than 1 Zacharia or .5 of a Mooch.

[u/Jupenator1 → u/automaticgainsaying]

Two Zachs make a Mooch, which is 1/5 of a Truss.

[u/TheFatmanRises → u/AttitudeDismal3817]

Don’t worry I’ll handle the check send me the bill Presti

[u/Common-Locksmith-235 → u/TheFatmanRises]

take out the kid's college fund to help out sam

[u/shinbreaker → u/AttitudeDismal3817]

Might as well save the money and send the league one of their future picks.

[u/Kirktwotimes → u/shinbreaker]

Nah we want that Clips pick swap for next year my boy.

[u/nowhathappenedwas → u/AttitudeDismal3817]

Where did you see that?

Edit: lots of people blindly upvoting an unsourced (and made up?) number

[u/ByDrAxX032 → u/nowhathappenedwas]

It's not made up, it's literally been the same number for years, it was published in Spanish media time ago

[u/amazinglover → u/nowhathappenedwas]

https://www.todoalicante.es/english/aday-mara-debut-hangs-20261016071001-nt.html

[u/Common-Locksmith-235 → u/AttitudeDismal3817]

I'll cover it

[u/Coded_Lyoko → u/AttitudeDismal3817]

iirc that’s about the max the Thunder are allowed to pay, if the buyout is more than that, Mara has to cough up the difference himself.

[u/Common-Locksmith-235 → u/AttitudeDismal3817]

I'll cover it

[u/Grand-Spring66 → u/GoGreeb]

It depends on whether or not Mara has a buyout clause in his contract.

[u/the_che → u/Grand-Spring66]

As far as I know, every player in Spain legally needs to have such a clause in his contract.

[u/SantosCalzonesBatman → u/the_che]

Nope

Its just that a player (of any sport) can go in front of a judge and get the judge to give them a number to pay to break the contract if they dont have a buyout clause.

Thats why teams just put a buyout clause.

[u/viktorfbg9 → u/SantosCalzonesBatman]

In football(soccer) thats definitely a rule only in the spanish league, every player is required to have a release clause. The big teams’s workaround is making the release clause smth like 500mln or 1 billion so no one can match it for players that they think are untouchable

[u/Puzzleheaded-Arm3155 → u/viktorfbg9]

I remember psg triggering Neymar’s clause shit was cinema

[u/Ais3 → u/viktorfbg9]

they clubs dont make the release clauses, they negotiate with the player

[u/SantosCalzonesBatman → u/viktorfbg9]

Again, no

Its a spanish law that lets atheltes break a contract for a fee impossed by a judge if they dont have a clause.

For example Unai Simon playing for a spanish team doesnt have a release clause, if those clauses were mandatory for the league then his contract wouldnt be legal

Now if this dude turns heel he can go in front of a judge to get his contract terminated by a fee way lower than they would get with an actual negotiation

[u/YanksForTheWin → u/SantosCalzonesBatman]

Wdym "no" Real Decreto 1005/1985 states that players need a release clause. So it is a rule there are just exceptions. You choose a guy who plays for one of the weirdest clubs in the world btw. Both player and club have to agree on no release clause, as Unai Simon did.

[u/KafkarrabiaS → u/viktorfbg9]

No, that's a lie. There are footballers that don't have a release clause in Spain. And the amount of the release clause has to go in relation of the wages of the players. If someone puts a obscene number and the player goes to a judge the judge can just recalculate It and lower It.

[u/zaviex → u/KafkarrabiaS]

Functionally you might as well say they all do. Yes you can have a contract that doesn’t explicitly state one. You can sign that contract without one but legally you can’t bind someone to a contract in Spain without one. Not having one in the contract just means it will be decided in arbitration by a judge. It’s really not materially different for the sake of a transfer.

[u/viktorfbg9 → u/KafkarrabiaS]

Yes, but the club works with the player in order to agree to a certain number. The cases in which they go to the judge to recalculate it are extremely low, most teams don’t bother with going to a judge in the first place.

And even the cases that they dont have a release clause, they can still cancel the contract by paying a clause determined by the judge. So either way, a player will have a release clause, the only difference being the very rare cases where it’s undetermined how much.

[u/KafkarrabiaS → u/viktorfbg9]

Yes, that's what the other guy answered you.

[u/Sanders058 → u/the_che]

Yeah I know on the soccer side the big clubs put big figures just so you’re forced to negotiate.

[u/414wtk → u/GoGreeb]

I’d imagine none of this is news to the OKC front office

[u/Katesburneracct → u/414wtk]

It’s a pre season nothing burger. I guarantee you Sam Presti did his due diligence and is fully protected here. He’s arguably the smartest gm in league history, he’s not about to get hemmed up over an international contract a guy signed when he was 16 years old.

[u/Jason-Smith168498 → u/GoGreeb]

Can they pay in balmer bucks tree stock?

[u/GoGreeb → u/Jason-Smith168498]

They can do anything if they put their minds to it

[u/GunstarGreen → u/GoGreeb]

This is just a stick-up. They've brought it up now to extract value. Nobody wants a drawn out legal fight. Just pick a number and write a cheque.

[u/dedfrmthneckup → u/GunstarGreen]

I mean if he has a buyout, he has a buyout. They are right to ask for it.

[u/indoninjah → u/dedfrmthneckup]

Even if he doesn't, do the Thunder really care about the Spanish court system? Is this a "he goes to jail for it" or "they settle for some amount that the Thunder pay and never look back"?

[u/chizzmaster → u/indoninjah]

I don't think it's just the Spanish court system. Iirc, the NBA also has rules about European player contracts.

[u/I_like_squirtles → u/chizzmaster]

The NBA is involved in this already and it sounds like they believe it is bullshit as well. The guy went to college for 3 years before the NBA Draft.

[u/07bot4life → u/I_like_squirtles]

NCAA isn't part of the FIBA transfer system, so it's sort of irrelevant when he still has a active contract in Spain.

It's like Bron playing in amateur summer leagues meaning a Euroleague team can approach and sign him.

[u/find_anewslant → u/07bot4life]

Definitely not irrelevant, was an issue when he first transferred to UCLA.

[u/UpvoteIfYouAgreee → u/indoninjah]

im sure hed like to go back home every once in a while

[u/whowasonCRACK2 → u/GunstarGreen]

They say they brought it up around the draft

[u/MudddButt → u/GoGreeb]

Basket Zaragoza is now the official sponsor of the Oklahoma City Thunder and will be getting a patch on their jerseys!

[u/wetwetson → u/[deleted]]

Okc can only pay a certain amount per the cba

[u/captainkhyron → u/GoGreeb]

"Just sign the check" was the first thing that came to mind. Why is this only coming out now when the first game is next tuesday?

[u/hahatrees → u/captainkhyron]

Basket Zaragoza said its position was formally communicated to FIBA, the Spanish Basketball Federation, the NBA and the Thunder after Oklahoma City selected Mara with the No. 12 pick in June's draft.

I think OKC just ignored it.

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/GoGreeb]

Probably

[u/GoGreeb → u/Headlesshorsman02]

Maybe

[u/CantaloupeCamper → u/GoGreeb]

Allegedly 

[u/timberwolvesguy → u/CantaloupeCamper]

Supposably

[u/MrBuckBuck → u/GoGreeb]

Usually, top players (and top young players) who play for basketball teams in Europe have an NBA clause.

Either the team allows them to void their contract in the summer once they get an NBA offer (sometimes during the summer), or their team gets compensation (money, sometimes a lot) once they get such an NBA contract.

Whether it is to be the case here is uncertain, though.

[u/Chupete94]

As a Spaniard I can tell you Zaragoza was really mad when Aday left to NCAA. When he arrived to the first team with 17yo he was supposed to be a growing figure in the team but his coach didn’t gave him too many minutes (also he was on a small contract) so then he decided to play for UCLA. Zaragoza said he couldn’t since he was under contract and if he wanted to play for another team he or the new team had to pay the transfer. But the regulations didn’t apply to that because college basketball isn’t a professional league (even though players now are paid huge amounts). For me is simply that Zaragoza GM is pissed they lost Aday years ago and didn’t have more money for that. OKC or the agent will get things right by Tuesday I guess.

[u/SurpriseInitial6202]

Buyout his contract with some "cash considerations" on top and I'm sure they change their tune.

[u/DynastyInProcess → u/SurpriseInitial6202]

Wonder if the NBA gets involved here a bit since they’re trying to work to essentially “absorb” the Euroleague.

The NBA wanted unilateral control of the Euroleague and they said no. Then this happens. The NBA probably(?) doesn’t just ignore the club like the NCAA teams did since they hope to be partners in some regard in the near future.

[u/Zenetto1 → u/DynastyInProcess]

Zaragoza is not even an Euroleague club.

[u/Grand-Spring66 → u/DynastyInProcess]

The NBA has an agreement in place with FIBA for exactly this situation.

[u/Veryfreakingbored]

Chet Holmgren is gonna wake up from a sudden unexpected long nap with his face shaved into a goatee in Zaragoza Spain.

[u/nowhathappenedwas]

Press release from Zaragoza when Mara decided to go to UCLA in 2023:

Player Aday Mara has informed Basket Zaragoza of his desire to unilaterally terminate his contract with the Club, citing reasons that this entity cannot share.

From day one at Basket Zaragoza, as we do with all our youth players and especially in the case of Aday, we have made available to the player all the means available to develop his complete academic, sporting and human development.

We respect their decision, just as we believe contracts must be respected. This has been the case with all players developed in our youth academy, and for the good and protection of the Club, we will be obliged to take the necessary steps to ensure that this continues.

I assume unilaterally terminating a contract isn't a thing.

And from today:

BASKET ZARAGOZA communicates, in relation to the international transfer of Aday Mara, whose processing and resolution corresponds exclusively to the FEB and FIBA ​​as competent bodies, and the NBA as receiving body, that it has not received any request and that, in case it does, the Club will formally oppose the granting of the transfer, as the player has a contract in force for the 2026/2027 season with Basket Zaragoza 2002 SAD.

This position was already formally communicated by Basket Zaragoza, after the NBA Draft held in June 2026, to FEB, FIBA, NBA and Oklahoma City Thunder, and has been reiterated to the competent bodies, so it constitutes a fact known to all parties involved.

FIBA regulations do not require an international transfer to play in the NCAA, which does not recognize it. Therefore, when the player joined UCLA (NCAA) in 2023, the club did not make his departure contingent on the granting of a transfer, but rather defended its rights in court. This does not mean that his departure terminated his contract or that he was excluded from the FIBA ​​system.

Basket Zaragoza wishes Aday Mara the best of luck in his new sporting endeavors and remains committed to developing players in its youth academy. At the same time, as an organization, the Club has an obligation to protect its rights, ensure compliance with existing contracts, and defend the interests of Basket Zaragoza, taking all necessary legal action.

[u/yazzywa → u/nowhathappenedwas]

You can't unilaterally terminate unless there's something baked into the contract allowing you to. You can, however, unilaterally breach a contract. Just be ready to pay up for doing so.

[u/eternali17 → u/yazzywa]

Every contract in Spain is supposed to have a buyout clause as far as I know. Some of them get set to a billion or something in football because why not but they have to be there.

[u/OilOfOlaz → u/nowhathappenedwas]

I assume unilaterally terminating a contract isn't a thing.

Every employee in Spain, including athletes has the right to unilaterally terminate their contracts. This is why pretty much all athletes have release clauses.

[u/nowhathappenedwas → u/OilOfOlaz]

He didn't pay a release clause. That's the whole issue.

Zaragoza maintained that to settle the dispute, Mara had to pay his release clause in full—stipulated at roughly €700,000. However, the player refused on the grounds that the contract was strictly developmental and that the club could not guarantee his sporting progression. With no settlement reached between the two parties, the matter was taken to court and, to date, remains awaiting a definitive ruling.

https://www.todoalicante.es/english/aday-mara-debut-hangs-20261016071001-nt.html

[u/OilOfOlaz → u/nowhathappenedwas]

He didn't pay a release clause. That's the whole issue.

obviously, its still a piece of information relevant to your comment.

[u/Intellectual_Mango]

Spurs put in a call to their Euro contacts to delay the Wemby stopper one more season

[u/WayofHatuey → u/Intellectual_Mango]

You mean Tony Parker as euro contact

[u/BcT_g → u/Intellectual_Mango]

I'm a Spurs fan and okc hater, I want to see Mara play against us. If he's any good bring it on we'll crash him

[u/asasasasasassin → u/BcT_g]

Can't wait to watch Wemby elbow him in the throat

[u/andres7832 → u/Intellectual_Mango]

Top class organization, another type of Euro-Stash

[u/SnooDonuts9227 → u/Intellectual_Mango]

Thank you ettore Messina or Claudio crippa

[u/medieval7]

I assume they just want money? What's the price?

[u/Powerful-Context416]

Question would be how much. Assuming the foreign team wants more money it can be an issue towards OKC’s cap.

Quote: The Excluded International Player Payment Amount (EIPPA)
The NBA allows teams to pay a direct fee to an international team to clear a player’s contract. [1]
The Exempt Limit: This allowed limit (the EIPPA) increases slightly each season and sits around $875,000 to $900,000. As long as the buyout fee stays under this amount, it is entirely excluded from the team's salary cap and does not impact their payroll flexibility.
Exceeding the Limit: If a player has a massive buyout (which is common for top-tier European prospects) and the NBA team chooses to pay more than the maximum allowed limit, any money exceeding the EIPPA limit counts against the salary cap. The excess is treated as a signing bonus given to the player, which the player then uses to cover the rest of the buyout.

[u/Powerful-Context416 → u/Powerful-Context416]

Looks like they're 5-6 mill under the 2nd Apron with Cason Wallace still to be extended. Might be a problem.

[u/CMYGQZ → u/Powerful-Context416]

Wallace extension doesn’t matter as it won’t kick it this year, and Mara buyout (if it goes over the limit into the cap) will go in this year.

[u/Powerful-Context416 → u/CMYGQZ]

True. You’re right

[u/GorillaX → u/Powerful-Context416]

https://www.todoalicante.es/english/aday-mara-debut-hangs-20261016071001-nt.html

That says €700,000

[u/RedditUsersCrying]

oh no! We've been warned!!!

[u/badaccentdoer → u/RedditUsersCrying]

tony soprano "we're with the vipers" voice

we're with basket zaragoza!

[u/ffordedor → u/badaccentdoer]

What is that? Your AAU team?

[u/joebreezy12 → u/ffordedor]

You gotta watch the sopranos bro

[u/ffordedor → u/joebreezy12]

Some people are so far behind in the race that they actually believe that they're leading

[u/ashwinr136 → u/ffordedor]

Listen to him, he knows everything

[u/badaccentdoer → u/ashwinr136]

nba expansion is an addictive substance!

[u/Apprehensive_View575 → u/badaccentdoer]

Lmao!

[u/PastaCheed → u/RedditUsersCrying]

🤣🤣 fr theres no way they actually stopping aday from playing

[u/PotatoFarmar → u/PastaCheed]

So why phrase the title like you did when we all know he’s gonna play?

[u/KennySmithsKnees → u/PotatoFarmar]

Because that's the headline thats been reported. Dudes just the messenger 

[u/nbaistheworst → u/PastaCheed]

A judge certainly could.

[u/A_Milford_Man_NC]

Sounds like Zaragoza just want a bag.

[u/SnooPies6274]

Chet was making some calls

[u/HealthyCheesecake643]

Zaragoza are totally in the right to seek a return on their investment in Mara. OKC will just write a check for a fraction of what they are paying Mara anyway and everyone will be happy. Might seem weird to some but it's just how the European academy system works. 

[u/thisguy161]

Damn, a lot of ignorant statements without understanding contracts and rights because people dont want to read the article and just jump to thinking the Spanish team are big bad perks bc they are NBA fans

[u/WildcaRD7 → u/thisguy161]

Right? So many hot take artists that clearly have no understanding of contracts/buyouts saying nonsense without taking a minute to understand what's going on. No, playing in the NCAA did not terminate his contract. Yes, it is a breach of contract to not bilaterally terminate the contract. Yes, the NBA has a growing partnership with Euro Leagues and FIBA.

His old club will get paid, it's just a matter of figuring out the dollar amount. 

[u/GlossySalad → u/WildcaRD7]

Max EIPPA for 26-27 is $900k, so my guess would be that. Beyond that number it counts against OKC’s books and gets mega expensive due to the luxury tax

[u/jesuschin → u/thisguy161]

It’s just a bunch of dumb kids who don’t understand how contracts work

[u/thisguy161]

Read the article folks. It explains the questions you keep asking.

[u/Gryphon999 → u/thisguy161]

This is reddit. All we care about is the headline, and making it into a meme.

[u/spliffhuxtabIe]

Bro went to college and got drafted, why bring this up now?

[u/MrShake4 → u/spliffhuxtabIe]

Think of it like draft rights.

If he wants to play for another basketball club he needs to get bought out.

FIBA doesn’t consider UCLA a basketball club, but does count OKC/the NBA

[u/th0rbj03rn → u/spliffhuxtabIe]

Because Zaragoza invested in his development while he was under contract with them, in which a buy out clause was included. Pretty normal stuff for youth players in Europe. Why should they forgo the return of those investments? The reason they bring it up now is the fact that his switch to the ncaa does not count as an international transfer. His transfer to the nba does.

[u/tomhalejr → u/spliffhuxtabIe]

I wod assume they want a buy out.

[u/Certain_Egg2699 → u/spliffhuxtabIe]

They were bringing it up while he was in college. They tried blocking him from playing at UCLA. This has been an ongoing battle

[u/BenShelZonah → u/spliffhuxtabIe]

Because college isn’t professional ball I know that’s shocking to find out

[u/Main-Swimmer6511 → u/BenShelZonah]

It kind of is now that NIL is a thing.

[u/Kevin_Jim → u/spliffhuxtabIe]

Because he wasn’t in a professional league after he left. The ban only applies now because, I assume, he still has another year left on his contract with Zaragoza.

Although, I assume that’ll go away with the buyout since those are almost always triggered by the player.

[u/MrBuckBuck]

They won't block him from playing.

It will be settled one way or another.

[u/solonharmony → u/MrBuckBuck]

It's a shakedown, essentially lol

[u/Bildad__ → u/solonharmony]

Contractual disputes aren’t shakedowns. I don’t know the terms they’re relying on, but there is probably some basis for their claim. Just because fans want him to play in the NBA doesn’t mean there isn’t some financial consideration that needs to go to the euro club.

[u/1shmeckle → u/solonharmony]

The guy is violating his contract with a professional sports team. How is that a shakedown? Think about all Euro players in the NBA - very few of them end up in this situation because they aren't blatantly violating their agreements.

[u/200koipondfranchises → u/solonharmony]

It's not really a shakedown if Mara broke his contract lol, that's just paying for the consequences of your actions. Dude is gonna make that money back fast as shit in OKC anyways tho

[u/psytrax9 → u/solonharmony]

This isn't a shakedown, the guy is already under contract. Same reason why Luis Scola never played for the Spurs.

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/solonharmony]

Pretty much lmao this is a pay up if you want the player scenario

[u/nbaistheworst → u/MrBuckBuck]

Seems right.

[u/Sad-Percentage-992]

They’re playing hardball to aggressively negotiate a buyout, he will play

[u/TarkovBirdman]

Does anyone know the penalty for ignoring it? I assume they can’t kidnap him in a black van and take him to Spain.

[u/bughidudi → u/TarkovBirdman]

There are agreements between the NBA and FIBA. They are different bodies but it's not the wild west. If the NBA allows them to ignore the contract with Zaragoza, other than an international lawsuit, then nothing is stopping Euroleague clubs from signing guys that fall out of rotations or want to come back to Europe even if they still have a contract in the NBA (see Valanciunas last year)

[u/surreptitioussloth → u/bughidudi]

I don't see anything wrong with that

[u/trustabro → u/TarkovBirdman]

They are gonna need a Humvee limousine.

[u/Eric_T_Meraki]

They'll buy him out or pay whatever transfer fee is needed. He's playing this year 100% lol.

[u/poopiepants131]

He’ll be playing in the NBA this season guaranteed

[u/External-Fox-5488]

They just know there's an opportunity to get paid to break the contract and be done with international legal battle. This will be settled.

[u/IrvAndDorisSmith]

Ive already heard so many podcasters talk about how they dont see it in Aday Mara that I forgot he still hasn't played a minute in the nba yet

[u/AffectionateDouble43 → u/IrvAndDorisSmith]

I don't remember a 12th draft pick getting that much attetion ever both from the media and fans

[u/IrvAndDorisSmith → u/AffectionateDouble43]

Seriously how many times this summer did I hear "Aday Mara" and "Wemby Stopper" in the same sentence

[u/kor001]

Dude's been in college last 3 years. How the heck does a Spanish team still have him under contract? Did they even pay him a cent last 3 years? This Euro contract thing is complete bullshit.

[u/nbaistheworst → u/kor001]

Obviously he was under contract while playing in college. Zaragoza wouldn't just put out a lie in a press release. My guess is that he WAS being paid under the teams of the contract and they were allowing him to play college ball for development.

[u/EnJPqb → u/nbaistheworst]

No, they were pretty mad when he left, but they couldn't do anything to defend their rights. Now they can

[u/thisguy161 → u/kor001]

Read. The. Article.

[u/CartoonsAndAppleJack]

I mean not like the Thunder will be that devastated but damn. Why they go forward with this without at least clearing this?

[u/franchiseplayerCJ → u/CartoonsAndAppleJack]

money solves everything 

[u/RFFF1996 → u/CartoonsAndAppleJack]

Mara was in michigan when drafted, not zaragoza so i wouldnt be surprised if no one assumed there was anythingh pending to do witj zaragoza 

[u/Dangerous_Ad5039 → u/RFFF1996]

They said in the article Fiba said something pre and post draft about this. So someone knew.

[u/mojo-jojo-was-framed → u/CartoonsAndAppleJack]

I don’t see how/why the Thunder would not play him because of this. It’s not like the NBA will make them ineligible or anything. This seems like Zaragoza just trying to get a check

[u/TempAcct724 → u/mojo-jojo-was-framed]

The NBA would absolutely make him ineligible.

Written into the CBA is a mutual recognition of contracts for all FIBA-affiliated leagues. So if Zaragoza has a legitimate contract for Mara then the league would be obligated to honor it until the teams and Mara come to an agreement to release him.

[u/dontgetitwisted_fr → u/TempAcct724]

This sub loves downvoting facts

[u/KoupDetat]

How could this go under the radar at OKC/The draft?

If Mara doesn't have a buyout clause (he probably doesn't) it could become a mess.

Such a weird story.

[u/Imaginary-Hyena2858 → u/KoupDetat]

I doubt it did and it's probably more than likely OKC/NBA didn't care. At worst they have to pay what amounts to chump change for them. There's no possible scenario where an NBA team doesn't win in this scenario

[u/EnjoyWolfCola → u/Imaginary-Hyena2858]

Pretty sure any NBA owner could just buy Real Zaragoza like we buy a coffee

[u/skj458 → u/KoupDetat]

At least in football (soccer) contracts are required to have a release clause in Spain. Usually that money has to be paid by the player in the contract. Its not a big deal for football players because theres no salary cap and the new club just sends the player the money for the release. Im curious how it works in the NBA. I dont know if the rookie salary cap enables the Thunder to give Mara the extra money for the release clause. 

[u/joshdej → u/skj458]

I remember that Luka's release clause was higher than the allowed amount Dallas could pay for it. I forgot how they resolved it though.

[u/foggy01]

What a move from Zaragoza. You are probably gonna to scare most of the young talented Spanish youngsters away from your Academy.

[u/thisguy161 → u/foggy01]

Hey look, we helped develop a player into an NBA lottery pick!

[u/Sensitive-Pool-7563]

Nice clickbait title

[u/imnotknox]

zaragoza need cash fast

[u/badaccentdoer → u/imnotknox]

they should call joao tiago wentworth from CAB madeira

[u/Sweaty-Ability7365 → u/badaccentdoer]

ES MI DINERO Y YO LO NECESITO AHORA

[u/SwizzGod]

Bad for him, them. Good for the rest of us. Dude looked like a beast

[u/FuqueMePapi → u/SwizzGod]

More talented players in the league is good for basketball. Bring them on.

[u/thebranbran → u/FuqueMePapi]

This is the right mindset

[u/Weak-Bid2774 → u/SwizzGod]

I assume he will play in the nba this year

[u/SwizzGod → u/Weak-Bid2774]

Yea probably

[u/435rouhnj234_209u → u/SwizzGod]

At most, it'll come down to paying a fine that's a fraction of his rookie scale contract. The team can chip in too I assume.

[u/celcel77 → u/435rouhnj234_209u]

Exactly -- Zaragoza just wants a cut of the action. NBA will fight, though, because they don't want the precedent that is common in soccer, where every team ever connected to a player gets a cut throughout their career.

[u/stragen595 → u/celcel77]

Not every team gets a cut. Just the team he has a contract with and teams that helped developing players in their youth.

[u/NonNewtonianResponse → u/SwizzGod]

I ain't scared, I want to see him play

[u/SwizzGod → u/NonNewtonianResponse]

He looks good for sure

[u/marshmallowbeatz]

If they piss him off he can refuse to play for team Spain in the future

[u/AffectionateDouble43 → u/marshmallowbeatz]

Casademont Zaragoza is a basketball club that has nothing to do with with the national team or Spanish federation. Why would this make him not want to represent his country?

This drama has been going on since he left in 2023 and he was in the NT last month

[u/stayfrosty]

This is a non story..OKC will pay some cash and buy his contract out

[u/Weary_Restauranter]

Cash considerations will solve this pretty quickly

[u/WayofHatuey]

Lol OKC is the NBAs Dodgers, stop them at all costs

[u/ItsAlwaysSmokeInReno → u/WayofHatuey]

11 teams let them draft Mara. Most were clowning on the pick. Unlike the Dodgers, this wasn't inevitable, the rest of the league pets this happen.

[u/uncleoptimus → u/WayofHatuey]

Dodgers done been stopped (and stomped)

[u/Kirktwotimes → u/uncleoptimus]

They swept the Brewers last year and the Brewers got their get back. Sucks to get swept but it’s easier to deal with when you won back to back chips. Just wasn’t their year.

[u/Kirktwotimes → u/WayofHatuey]

Bruh we only won one chip and we got knocked off last year in the WCF 😭. Definitely ain’t comparable.

[u/snowlarbear]

sounds like Zaragoza wants a deal to plant more trees in Spain.

[u/kumilini]

Bro didn’t get his letter of clearance

[u/hairhelmoot]

This is probably just a negotiating tactic to get more buyout $

[u/wise_afro]

Damn, but this will be sorted. Bro has looked like the real deal this pre-season.

[u/Specbot2001]

Will everyone support their operation?

[u/judah249]

Sounds like the Dom Malonga situation with Fenerbache

[u/ObiOneKenobae]

Can't say I know the backstory, but it's not the first time I've seen these types of comments. Then the NBA team pays some fee and it all works out.

[u/j_melo_ver_0]

Chet’s somewhere smiling about this. 😂

[u/bigdracco23]

He can’t throw a bounce pass

[u/mcstruber]

0% chance he doesn’t play for the Thunder

[u/lilDogbert]

That was Chets last ditch effort to keep his spot

[u/EvilHwoarang]

Except the NBA already said he won't be blocked

[u/uco-b]

Why wait until now? This feels and smells like extortion.

[u/nbaistheworst]

I'm pretty sure this will get re$olved.

[u/AuroraPo]

Music to everyone’s ears

[u/PostItToReddit]

So I'm super ignorant on how this works, but what legal recourse would Zaragoza actually have if Mara and the Thunder just ignored it and played?

[u/nbaistheworst → u/PostItToReddit]

Filing suit in a NY court (where the NBA's business is located)

[u/bosshoss276 → u/PostItToReddit]

Not much recourse at all really. If anything, he would have to pay some money to break the contract but I doubt he’ll even have to do that. He signed that contract years ago and was already playing for Michigan while making money for the last couple years so I don’t think the NBA will worry too much about it