"BASKET ZARAGOZA announces, in relation to Aday Mara's international transfer, whose processing and resolution fall exclusively to the FEB and FIBA as the competent bodies, and to the NBA as the receiving organization, that it has not received any request and that, should one be submitted, the Club will formally oppose the granting of the transfer, as the player has a valid contract for the 2026/2027 season," the first paragraph states.
?? Official statement ?? https://t.co/jSY9NgW8HZ https://t.co/ooyX22Pphu — Casademont Zaragoza (@casademontBZ) October 16, 2026
The red-and-black club says this position was communicated after the Draft held in June to the competent bodies and the Thunder. Therefore, all parties involved are aware of a legal dispute that has been ongoing since 2023, when Mara moved to the United States.
"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 conditional on the granting of a transfer, but instead defended its rights in court. That does not mean that his departure terminated the contract or that the player was outside the FIBA system," the club added.
"Basket Zaragoza wishes Aday Mara the best possible career in his new sporting challenges and remains fully committed to continuing to develop players in its academy. At the same time, as an organization, the Club has an obligation to safeguard its rights, ensure compliance with valid contracts and defend Basket Zaragoza's interests by taking the necessary legal measures," the statement concludes. It remains to be seen what happens, given that the NBA season begins on October 21 and the Aragonese player is expected to be a significant contributor for the Thunder.
THE NBA'S CBA
The NBA has a collective bargaining agreement, known as the CBA, with the players' union. It specifies that players coming from international leagues do not need a transfer to play in the North American competition. In fact, the agreement itself states that signing a contract with an NBA franchise does not require a transfer.
Therefore, the need to clarify whether Aday Mara has a valid contract with Casademont Zaragoza is not regulated by the CBA and does not affect his ability to sign with or play in the NBA.
