Thunder in the 2014 Draft

[Rondo2Hondo]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/re ... /year/2013

I only just realized that if the Raptors end up with the 4th to 14th pick in the 2014 draft, it goes to the Thunder (Kyle Lowry trade, and James Harden trade).

They could end up with a really good player to eventually plug into their line-up. They could have three very good prospects on their bench ready to contribute in a couple of years time in 2014 pick, Jones III and Lamb. Scary.

I asked Chad Ford what the Thunder may do in the draft if they end up with the 4th pick. I'll post his answer if he answers.

Here's Chad's current top 14. The Thunder could potentially have the 4th pick of those guys, and any of the top 3 could slide. Otto Porter might actually be a nice fit, or Carter-WIlliams as a pure point guard behind and beside Westbrook.

Nerlens Noel
Cody Zeller
Shabazz Muhammad
Alex Poythress
Alex Len
Rudy Gobert
Anthony Bennett
Archie Goodwin
Otto Porter
Michael Carter-Williams
Mason Plumlee
Isaiah Austin
James Michael McAdoo
C.J. McCollum

[bbms]

I don't like any center in this year's draft.

I like Shabazz skillset and athleticism, wet jumpshot, can get to the line, is aggressive off the ball, long and has defensive potential... He's a fit imo. but imo he looks too much like Jeremy Lamb, and I have faith on Lamb. Would he be available at 4th pick?

Overall imo Shabazz is the most intriguing talent imo, along Dario Saric, if the scouting reports are accurate, he can be a great NBA offensive PF.

I'd rather move the pick and assets for a better rounded center.

[Rondo2Hondo]

I don't like any center in this year's draft.

I like Shabazz skillset and athleticism, wet jumpshot, can get to the line, is aggressive off the ball, long and has defensive potential... He's a fit imo. but imo he looks too much like Jeremy Lamb, and I have faith on Lamb. Would he be available at 4th pick?

Overall imo Shabazz is the most intriguing talent imo, along Dario Saric, if the scouting reports are accurate, he can be a great NBA offensive PF.

I'd rather move the pick and assets for a better rounded center.

If Zeller slides, I think they would have to seriously consider pairing him with Ibaka. That's a quick frontcourt, and multi-dimensional.

[Balkman32]

Take the BPA!

[Rondo2Hondo]

Take the BPA!

Brian Paul-Anderson. He's gonna be good.

[comingbacktousa]

With the toronto pick, I think they should take a center or trade into next years draft. If they take a center, Len would be the best choice. Then 2nd tier would be Gobert and Austin.

With OKC's pick. I'd like for them to package it with the cha pick and move up and get Trey Burke. He could come in and compete with jackson for the back up pg spot, and the loser would be the 3rd pg every team needs.

The thunder already have a young backup sg in Lamb and a sf/pf tweener in PJ3 that are both very talented so I think itd be dumb to take a wing. And with Durant playing pf effectively. It would be better to take a center rather than a pf.

[Devilanche]

I would seriously consider trading the pick down and pick up current productive players on good contract or future picks if we aren't impressed with any of the center at the time.

The guy would be 4th/5th option if he eventually starts and if we resign martin, he'll be 5th option when we close out games, We don't NEED a high pick to do that. If that pick is a game changing center sure, but if the pick has huge probability of busting, i rather trade down and a get a lesser player.

[Balkman32]

Jack Cooley in the 2nd round Please!

I don't think there are any centers worth that top pick. Orton and Thabeet are both young guys, the Thunder should just let that ride.

[bbms]

Cody Zeller doesn't have the range to play away from the basketball, nor bulk to play under the rim on NBA. Doesn't have lenght to keep defensive boards. Yeah, he's a terrific offensive prospect and seems a very active pick and roll defender, I'd compare him to Al Horford, but right now he's just a project. Even if I hate his 6'8" wingspam.

He intrigues me, but I'm sure he won't be able to make an instant impact.

There's still the risk to Toronto get the top3 pick. What would Thunder do? Cry?

[Devilanche]

There's still the risk to Toronto get the top3 pick. What would Thunder do? Cry?

Hope like mad they keep their current GM + Bargnani. should still be a top 10 pick in 2014 then.

[Rondo2Hondo]

There's still the risk to Toronto get the top3 pick. What would Thunder do? Cry?

They can always wait until next year..... top 2 protected and 15-30 in 2014.
BC should be fired for trading that pick. Quite easily the NBA's worst GM.

There is an outside chance of Noel sliding, and he would be great on the Thunder. Imagine in 3 years time....
CT: Noel/
PF: Ibaka/ Jones III
SF: Durant/
SG: Lamb/ Martin (?)
PG: Westbrook/ Maynor or Jackson

A lot of lottery talent right there.

[comingbacktousa]

There's still the risk to Toronto get the top3 pick. What would Thunder do? Cry?

They can always wait until next year..... top 2 protected and 15-30 in 2014.
BC should be fired for trading that pick. Quite easily the NBA's worst GM.

There is an outside chance of Noel sliding, and he would be great on the Thunder. Imagine in 3 years time....
CT: Noel/
PF: Ibaka/ Jones III
SF: Durant/
SG: Lamb/ Martin (?)
PG: Westbrook/ Maynor or Jackson

A lot of lottery talent right there.

Maynor will almost certainly be gone by then. Maynor is playing terrible this year, and if jackson isn't better, backup pg is a bigger need. Martin would be alot more effective with a better pg as would the entire 2nd unit.

I think noel is more of a pf than a center and doesn't have much of an offensive game. Austin and Len would be great fits with this team. Len provides low post offense and Austin would be a high post offense but both would make the Thunder offense more lethal but in different ways.

[Sinant]

I think it'd be a really bad idea for the Thunder to use the pick.

Trade it at the deadline to some team (maybe the Cavs?) for a big guy.

[tstej]

Ben Mclemore could get a look if the Thunder keep the pick.

[wiff]

I actually like Kelly Olynyk from Gonzaga. I know big surprise considering I live in Spokane, but I think I'm actually overly critical because I don't want to be a Homer. His freshman year he showed a lot of potential and going into his sophomore year I thought he was going to erupt. But the kid took a step back fell in love with the 3pt shot and that took him out of the paint, he's a legit 7" has no business camping out there, so his production and confidence took a hit.

Somehow Mark Few convinced him to red shirt his junior year which was last year. He has come back this year with about 25 pounds worth of muscle on him and a good motor in the paint. Even though the guy is white he can get up and down the floor well and has very nice hops for a guy his size. I'd say the biggest luxury is the kid can really shoot the 3ball. He might only take one a game but it's in the flow the game now, he is no longer camped out at the 3pt line waiting for someone to pass him the ball.

I think like always the Thunder need to address the C spot yet again. Perk is their weakest link. It would be nice to get a kid on a rookie contract who could simply earn Perks minutes.

Here is the second half of Gonzaga vs WSU, Olynyk pretty much dominates the second half. Start this clip at the 3:50 mark.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtXxG0z3nvg[/youtube]

Here's Olynynk in high school again he's 7ft. I'm pretty positive he wanted to be Dirk. This gives you an idea on how the guy can shoot.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RYfHUkEmG0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjwLTYRF_hk[/youtube]

I think it'd be a really bad idea for the Thunder to use the pick.

Trade it at the deadline to some team (maybe the Cavs?) for a big guy.

I'd be fine with trading the pick for Varejo, not sure who else is available but I'm open to that too. Mostly the Thunder need someone who is actually productive at C, and isn't an offensive liability.

[spearsy23]

I'd hate to see us go offensive big, we need a guy who produces what Perkins is supposed to. Rebound, d up, screen. The pick needs to be traded if we want to win right now, but if we got a legit c prospect we could be talking multiple championships in a row a few years from now.

[bbms]

Most of this year's draft players won't even be able to crack our rotation.

[comingbacktousa]

Center
Alex Len and Noel would both crack the rotation as the back up center at the minimum.

I'm not liking Gobert and Austin as much as i did before. I was completely off on the Ibaka comparison with Austin. Hes a good shooter but nowhere near the defensive impact. I though with his length and athleticism he'd be blocking a lot more shots at the college level. Just 1 bpg at 7-1 at the college level is pretty bad, especially when combined with 3 fouls per game. I still like him as a prospect due to his range and size combination. He has a long way to go on defense though.

Gobert seems to be falling down draft boards. Hes too raw and skinny to make an immediate impact. Defensively he'll be a good help defender due to his length and shot blocking, but is going to get bullied in the post. Offensively as raw as Thabeet.

Pf
Not really a need at all for the thunder so I have a hard time seeing them draft one. Ibaka/collison/PJ3 are all on contracts for the next 2 seasons atleast. Not to mention Durant being able to play the 4 in small ball.
Sf
Not really a need either. Obviously Durant. But with Sef and PJ3. If Sef isn't in the plans past next seasons it'd make sense to draft one. Dario Saric could be a nice draft and stash. Polythress and Potter would be nice too.
SG
This really depends on the organization if this is a need. Obviously Lamb will be around. But Martin and Sef have expiring contracts. The wildcard would be Jackson ability to play sg at times.
If they take one Goodwin or McCollum would be the obvious choices. I dont know much about either one but I think the thunder really need to hang on to Sef.
PG
a 12-15 minute back-up/3rd pg. I doubt Maynor is on the team past this season. Trey Burke is by far my favorite for the thunder as a backup. He shoots a really % and has a 3.5 TO-Assist ratio. Pretty much exactly what you want for a back up pg. I would actually like it if they packaged jackson, their own 1st, and cha 2nd to move up and get him if he falls out of the lottery.

So pg and center being the only need. Center is the bigger need requires a higher pick so I think they'll take a center with the first pick (hopefully Len) and a pg later.

[SantaMenon]

Didn't Presti go to OSU to scout Marcus Smart / LeBryan Nash?

Marcus Smart would certainly fill a void at SG if Sef/Martin aren't in the long term plans. Smart is a combo guard from what I hear.

No idea on LeBryan Nash.

[OKCThunderUp35]

Marcus Smart is very good, guy is a winner.

PG/SG at Oklahoma State