2022 NBA Draft Thread

[ThunderBolt]

Anyone following the draft close enough to know who would be a good fit if we fall 8-12 range?

[Devilanche]

Not yet started but hoping for Gradey dick at this stage .

[Zagor]

If we finish in 7-10 range, most of good available prospects will be guards. And none of them is a good fit.

Gradey Dick is a great shooter but I see him just as a role player.

[ThunderBolt]

A good or great role player would be a huge win. Shai, Chet and J Dub can be the stars.

[BlazersBroncos]

Gradey is the exact type of elite role player archetype that would fit well. Can score w/ efficiency w/o the ball, deadeye 3PT shooter, great size (WS may be lacking), surprising athlete, super smart / unselfish player (Which Sam clearly is targeting).

If you think J Dub can be a low tier star, you can start looking for guys in R1 that have high tier role player ceilings. Only 1 ball after all.

[kdthunderup]

I feel like Cason Wallace is the type of player Presti would look to draft. He reminds me of Dort with slightly higher offensive upside.

He is aggressive defensively and racks up steals. He would pair really well with Chet defensively.

Would love a Scoot or Amen though as I do feel like we lack an explosive guard who can give us different types of looks. Shai, Giddey and JDub are all super crafty guys but they are rarely beating guys with pure speed and quickness. Having that one guy who can make defences scramble at a moments notice would be nice.

[oreojenkins]

Wanted JDub in the draft last year, want Bilal Coulibaly this year.

[Dadouv47]

Wanted JDub in the draft last year, want Bilal Coulibaly this year.

Coulibaly will like end up being in the 20's? Could get him moving up.

[Dadouv47]

I barely watched 2023 prospects but Hendricks impressed me a lot and the fit would be pretty good. Doubt we can get him without moving up at least 4 spots though

[Zagor]

Unfortunately, best players available at 11th pick will be guards. A lot of guards.
And Thunder mostly needs big wing or forward.

We know that Presti in this new rebuilding looks for young players that can dribble, shoot and/or pass.
I think in the end, he will choose best available player no matter position.
Kobe Bufkin is very interesting, very smooth guard. Cason Wallace because of his energy and defense.

[Devilanche]

Wanted JDub in the draft last year, want Bilal Coulibaly this year.

Coulibaly will like end up being in the 20's? Could get him moving up.

I think he probably might be a riser .

With the current mocks , 1-2 of the wings may rise if they show more .

[Devilanche]

Asked Chatgpt who we should draft…

Spoiler:

As an AI language model, I don't have the ability to predict the future, so I cannot say for certain who the Oklahoma City Thunder should draft in the 2023 NBA draft.

The draft order is also not yet determined, so it's difficult to speculate which players will be available when it is the Thunder's turn to pick.

That being said, the Thunder's decision on who to draft will depend on various factors such as team needs, available talent, and the team's overall strategy. The Thunder's management will likely evaluate potential draft picks based on their skill sets, physical attributes, and potential fit within the team's culture and long-term vision.

Spoiler:

Will revisit once draft order is set.

[Mr Thunder Nick]

Sam Presti to represent Thunder in 2023 NBA draft lottery drawing room.

I think he will immediately take contact to trade up (including some future draft picks) perhapsly 6-8th spot.

[Clav]

Sam Presti to represent Thunder in 2023 NBA draft lottery drawing room.

I think he will immediately take contact to trade up (including some future draft picks) perhapsly 6-8th spot.

OKC didn't move with their selection in the Lottery, so it's No. 12 for us. I think a move up makes sense, not sure just yet who OKC would be targeting, maybe Whitmore, maybe even one of the Thompson brothers or Hendricks. I think wing / forward is probably what OKC will select if aiming for a specific player. If left to BPA at 12 it will probably boil down to who is left on the board.

[kdthunderup]

Hawkins has apparently already met with the Thunder. He is one of the best movement shooters I've seen come through in a while and we desperately need spacing. I could see him pairing really well with SGA and Giddey. He is an average passer and scorer at the rim which might mean Presti will overlook him but spacing he will open up on the floor will more than make up for it imo.

Would be keen to take him at #12 if he is still on the board.

[Big nick]

I would be suprised if Sam drafts a guard at 12. We need some size at forward. But if Mann is traded maybe. I still think we will move up and get Grady dick or hendricks.

[BlazersBroncos]

I would be suprised if Sam drafts a guard at 12. We need some size at forward. But if Mann is traded maybe. I still think we will move up and get Grady dick or hendricks.

IDK if Hendricks is enough of a ball mover for Presti - at least consitering the guys he has targeted recently.

Jarace on the other hand fits the Presti mold in absolute terms - but I think he is gone by 6/7 - would take alot of the OKC war chest to get that high.

If Jackson-Davis could shoot, he would be a pretty great fit. Similar frame to JRE but far bouncier, great passing this past year, consistently elite rebounder. Still think he would be worth a look at 37 - wild to me that if he could hit a 3 he probably would be a mid 20's pick, or higher.

[Dadouv47]

ugly gap between 11 and 12

Read on Twitter

[Big nick]

Just me but I would take hendricks over walker any day.

[Devilanche]

ugly gap between 11 and 12

Read on Twitter

Really seems like the earlier tier end at 11.