Could Maokai's ult get some work?

It's simply too slow to be at all effective, has the silly gimmick where if it actually lands on someone, it consumes the root preventing anyone in that line from being hit and is extremely inferior to every ult that's even remotely similar in function (engage and disengage). it doesn't feel satisfying to cast or land. It's merely "thank god it hit something".

So for a comparison I'll grab rectangular crowd control ults used to engage and/or disengage. First what we're working with: Maokai summons a colossal wall of 5 thorny brambles that slowly advances forward, each stopping at the first enemy champion they collide with. Each thorny bramble deals magic damage and Root icon roots for 0.6 - 2.4 (based on distance traveled) seconds. Damage: 150 / 225 / 300 (+ 75% AP)

Now the competition: Azir calls forth a phalanx of soldiers from behind him, charging forward in the target direction. WIDTH: 5 / 6 / 7 soldiers Enemies impacted by the charge are dealt magic damage and Airborne icon knocked back. When the soldiers finish their charge, they stand as a wall for 3 seconds, acting as impassible terrain for enemies. Allies and Azir can freely pass through the wall. Damage: 150 / 250 / 450 (+ 60% AP)

Braum leaps into the air and slams his shield into the ground, creating a fissure in the target direction that deals magic damage to enemies as well as those around him. Braum leaps into the air and slams his shield into the ground, creating a fissure in the target direction that deals magic damage to enemies as well as those around him. A field of ice then remains at the fissure's location for 4 seconds, Slow icon slowing enemies within, persisting for 0.25 seconds. Damage: 150 / 250 / 350 (+ 60% AP)

Hecarim summons spectral riders and dashes in the target direction with them Unstoppable icon unstoppably, dealing magic damage to all enemies in their path. Enemies within range of where Hecarim stops are also made to Flee icon flee from him for 0.75 - 1.5 (based on distance traveled) seconds, also gradually Slow icon slowing them by up to 99% over the duration. This slow cannot be reduced. Damage: 150 / 250 / 350 (+ 100% AP)

Nami summons a tidal wave that surges forth, dealing magic damage to all units it hits, Airborne icon knocking them up for 0.5 seconds and then Slow icon slowing them for 2 - 4 (based on distance traveled) seconds. Damage: 150 / 250 / 350 (+ 60% AP)

FIRST CAST: Ornn summons an elemental at maximum range in the target direction that stampedes toward him, dealing magic damage and Slow icon slowing enemies hit for 2 seconds, as well as applying Brittle icon Brittle for 3 seconds. SECOND CAST: Ornn dashes forward in the target direction. If Ornn collides with the elemental, he headbutts it, sending it stampeding again in the new direction and empowering it to Airborne icon knock up enemies hit. Call of the Forge God can affect enemies twice. Damage: 125 / 175 / 225 (+ 20% AP) per cast + potentially 2 brittle procs

FIRST CAST: Poppy channels for up to 4 seconds, retaining the ability to move but Slow icon slowing herself by 15% for the duration. Keeper's Verdict's cooldown is set to 30 seconds if its channel is canceled. SECOND CAST: Poppy smashes the ground, sending out a shockwave that travels in the target direction. When it hits an enemy champion, a massive hammer erupts, dealing physical damage to all enemies around it. Enemies impacted by the hammer are Airborne icon knocked back an incredible distance towards their fountain. Damage: 200 / 300 / 400 (+ 90% bonus AD) No where near as wide as the other ults here but it can have very similar impact by taking someone out of the fight

The biggest difference between Maokai and the rest of them, is damage, speed and for the most part, the type of crowd control. In regards to speed, all but ornn and nami are pretty much the same (very freaking fast). Next in line would be nami and after that ornn. But even then, ornn EASILY! has enough time use both casts of his ultimate before a maokai ult can hit someone. Next in line is the type of crowd control. All but hec use displacements. Meaning they won't be reduced by tenacity (even if it's pretty much useless) but even Hecarims fear is better because the enemy champions are disabled and unable to attack or control their movements, unlike in Maokai's case where they can hit back (if it even lands at all). Next, damage. Now honestly I don't care about it's damage, but I'm bringing it in purely to display how weak this thing is compared to everyone else. It's almost impossible to land on anyone, is extremely easy to out run or block (either with body or with a braum/yas wall) and yet, it deals the lowest unreliable damage out of them all.

In my opinion. Drastically alter the ultimate. Natures Grasp: Removed Fury of the Forest: new First cast: Maokai roots himself in place and sends thorny brambles surging out in all directions, rooting+damaging champions they come into contact with, revealing and marking them as caught for the root duration. I'm thinking this will travel at the speed off Ornns ultimate (not sure which one though, as ornns second cast is faster than the first. But maybe too fast for this.)

Second cast: Maokai brings his branches to a halt and hauls all "caught" enemies towards him. Stopping halfway between Maokai and the point at which they were caught (this animation will be super quick, so like blitzcrank quick. Not urgot quick). If it wasn't clear, second cast stops the ult in it's tracks (so no more people will be rooted after this) Damage: unchanged so 100/200/300. Will deal no damage on second cast. Range: I'm thinking 2/3 of an Ornn ultimate The ult will be so you need to go "I WANT THAT ONE!". So the root duration will be short enough that by the time the branches reach the middle of range, the inner rings will be un rooted. Same with the outter rings, the middle will be un rooted by the time the branches reach them. This means that unless their team is standing in a line, it will be difficult to land this on multiple people AND! be able to pull every single one of them. So maybe 0.8-1 second root duration?