The Thunder are not in a position to reach in the lottery. The Thunder ended up jumping in the lottery after entering the night with the fourth-best and 12th-best (via the LA Clippers) odds. The loser will play the winner of the second play-in game, between New Orleans and San Antonio. The idea is to build around the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey from within. Read the full article . Duren is the most-talented true center in the 2022 NBA Draft. With Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander established as the backcourt of the future, Thunder general manager Sam Presti will be looking to add at least one more piece to his young core on Thursday night. Houston has been firing bets on upside dating back to the 2021 draft, and this is another example. 2023 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Arkansas backcourt, SEC prominent in lottery. While Holmgren can struggle to create in the half court, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram and Williamson would ease the burden. 10. The Magic could use a productive forward such as Murray, who can find ways to score off the ball by getting out in transition, cutting, shooting and crashing the glass. 22 The Thunder will ultimately find out where theyre selecting in the draft on May 16 when the 2023 draft lottery results are known. Agbaji isnt quite big enough or good enough on defense to be a No. In games it was an underdog in by 2.5 points or more so far this season, Oklahoma City has gone 27-11-1 against the spread. News. The following teams in the Top 10 have obvious needs at a quarterback Houston Texans (No. It may hurt to land at No. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. Lets see what the final versions of mock drafts have the Thunder taking with the franchises three picks as the draft season is almost over. Keon Johnson #45 of the Tennessee Volunteers drives to the basket. DRAFT: June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. NBA mock draft 2022:Who will the Thunder select with three first-round picks? 1 choice in Jabari Smith) but, for now, were rolling with Chet. The ideal next team-building step for the Oklahoma City Thunder would be to upgrade a frontcourt that featuresDarius Bazley, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Isaiah Roby. More:Will Thunder's Josh Giddey make All-Rookie first team? Whether its at one of the two guard spots or out on the wing, best player available should be the name of the game at 12. Everyone will cite the fact that scouts voiced similar concerns about Kevin Durant when he was coming out of college, and indeed the NBA has become much more about skill than physicality. He could play to his strengths as a play-finisher around the basket or behind the arc. 10 in this mock draft to the Orlando Magic. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. He's going to be a good player. Im probably a touch lower on Murray than most, but this is a totally reasonable spot. Of course, it is fair to point out that there is not a definitive No. Griffin. In particular, wed love to see Oklahoma City target fomer Duke wing AJ Griffin if hes available at 12. 2: 4), Las Vegas Raiders (No. Picturing Chet Holmgren shooting threes and blocking shots next to Zion Williamson could be too tempting for the New Orleans Pelicans to pass on. 2023 NBA mock draft: Who ESPN has the OKC Thunder selecting. Presti will have to determine how much fit should matter when assessing options at No. Jun 23, 2022 at 8:33 pm ET 2 min read Getty Images With the No. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 6 overall pick Josh Giddey as the core of a Thunder franchise that remains stocked with future draft capital just waiting to be cashed in. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ochai Agbaji (Kansas, SG/SF, Senior). LOS ANGELES The Pacers and Pistons had already lost by the time Dennis Schroder scored 26 points as the Lakers, without LeBron James, Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell, pulled out a crucial 123-117 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nobody is at that size. All rights reserved. Considering how productive Jalen Williams has been this season, he mightve already outgrown summer league participation. Perhaps, a team like the Houston Rockets picking at 17 might make sense. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Sports (6/20), No. The top prospects in this class are guard Matas Buzelis, who will be 18 years old and will play for the G League Ignite, and Cody Williams, the younger brother of Jalen Williams. Chances are, coming off a 24-win season with the majority of the players on the team looking upgradeable and replaceable, Presti and his staff will only take fit into account if they are struggling to confidently identify a best player available. He can pass. With all of the draft capital that they boast, it would not be a surprise if the Thunder opted to trade up from the 30th spot into the top-20 for a target player at a need position. 34: Patrick Baldwin Jr., Milwaukee, Sign up for the OKC Thunder Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Duren should interest a Blazers team with a struggling defense and set backcourt (assuming Anfernee Simons re-signs and Damian Lillard isn't traded). 7), and Carolina Panthers (No. The top prospects in this class are guard Matas Buzelis, who will be 18 years old and will play for the G League Ignite, and Cody Williams, the younger brother of Jalen Williams. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers):Mark Williams (Duke, C, Sophomore). 2 seed Grizzlies in the first round. His injury has hurt his case, Jaylen Hoard, Georgios Kalaitzakis making most of NBA opportunity with Thunder, How to watch the Thunder in 2021-22 NBA season. 11. The 2022 Oklahoma City Thunder draft will include two lottery selections, another first-round pick and a selection in Round 2. If hes available at two, Presti and Co. would be doing cartwheels. The Thunder own the eighth-best lottery odds and have a realistic shot to climb as high as fifth in the lottery. Were just not seeing it. The Thunder own four total picks in the 2022 NBA Draft. I can't wait to see him in the NBA, but I think he winds up as a good, but a bit inconsistent, modern stretch-center. Sam Presti will take the guy he thinks is the best player, but that could be Banchero. 74 shares. Ousmane Dieng and Jaylin Williams are likely safe bets to play in a handful of summer league games. James is expected to go No. 12: Jeremy Sochan, Baylor, Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win (6/21), No. Holmgren profiles as an elite rim protector and shot-changer in the paint; many really smart analysts talk about Holmgren's instincts on the defensive end as "off the charts." The Pelicans would feature two of the NBA's most effective weapons around the rim. 8. Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated: Chet Holmgren, Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win: Jabari Smith, Ricky ODonnell, SB Nation: Chet Holmgren, Kevin OConnor, The Ringer: Ousmane Dieng, Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated: Jeremy Sochan, Ricky ODonnell, SB Nation: Jeremy Sochan, Sign up for the OKC Thunder Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Hes also not particularly close to being ready on offense, and OKC can afford to be patient. The Thunder wont be a playoff team, and OKC isnt going to push to make the play-in tournament. That is inherently reasonable given Smiths ability to shoot at his size (610) and the scheme versatility he may present on defense. Hes a polished scorer already, and he can guard his position. He has a great motor and very good instincts and length on defense. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images). Not even close. ), Jonathan Givony, ESPN (6/21), No. In addition to those, the 30th pick (via the Suns) and the 34th pick. Sacramento has big investments in DeAaron Fox and Davion Mitchell, but Ivey has more size and physicality than both, and hes a hyper-athletic player with tangible upside. 6. ESPN mock draft: See projected Thunder selections after draft lottery, FTW mock draft: Thunder take 'dynamic,' 'fascinating' players in 1st round, ESPN mock draft: Thunder take Jalen Suggs, Moses Moody, RookieWire draft composite: Most likely players for Thunder selections, Bleacher Report mock draft: Thunder get 1st pick, take Cade Cunningham, For The Win mock draft: Thunder take 'home run swing' on Keon Johnson, RookieWire consensus mock draft: Thunder get Scottie Barnes, The Athletic: Another mock draft has Thunder taking James Bouknight, Bleacher Report mock draft: Thunder select James Bouknight, Usman Garuba, FTW mock draft: Thunder take Jalen Green, Scottie Barnes in top 10, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. WebThe Ultimate NBA Mock Draft 2022 begins as the Locked On NBA local experts make the pick for their teams. 8 pick. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Oklahoma City have won 14 out of their last 26 games against Los Angeles. Daniels is a heck of a defender, perhaps the best in the class on the perimeter. Seven-footers who can shoot and protect the rim are always going to be highly valuable. Between his 7'5" wingspan and leaping ability, he'll give the guards an easy-basket target and the team a rim protector to move forward with. New York Knicks: Johnny Davis (Wisconsin, SG, Sophomore). 29. Whoever lands the No. Hes not likely to help a title contender now, which makes this an interesting bet. Sochan may be the draft's most unique two-way player with his versatility to make shots, pass, score off the ball and guard all five positions. The Thunder snagged Josh Giddey with the No. Hes 67. The Oklahoma City Thunder will continue to build from scratch through the draft, and only three teams will have a better chance of winning the 2022 NBA lottery. I don't question his work ethic or love for the game at all. CBS Sports Gary Parrish gives the Thunder's pick an A+. With the 2022 NBA Draft rapidly approaching, trades are starting to trickle in. Chandler is from the Memphis area, and Tyus Jones is a free agent. His slender frame is where most of the doubt begins and ends. Still, the 6'6" sophomore wing has emerged as a lottery prospect for his shot-making and budding pull-up scoring game. Wesley is an upside play with his ability to generate shots, and he might be an intriguing defender in the future as well. One of college basketball's most dominant two-way stars during his lone season at Gonzaga, Holmgren joins budding superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 2021 No. Next season will be critical for Aleksej Pokusevski, whose flashes haven't been persuasive enough to ease concerns over his lack of production and his inefficiency. Washington Wizards: Jeremy Sochan (Baylor, PF, Freshman). 1 pick or, at least one within the first five, should they fall out of such an area, theyll still likely be able to bring on a high-quality prospect. The next obvious step for Presti is improving Oklahoma City's frontcourt, whether it's with a wing or a big. 10 in this mock draft to the Orlando Magic. This is a swing pick for the Nets and, by the way, Brooklyn can still choose to defer this selection to 2023 if they so choose. 6 pick, a 16.7% chance at the No. Defensively, there are some concerns, but there is enough to work with in terms of basketball IQ and frame to get by. Staying put will likely lead to a best-player-available search that finds Jaden Ivey difficult to resist. If Holmgren does play, itll be the first time hes played in a professional game since last years summer league, which was highlighted by a dominating debut. Williams would give OKC an imposing presence around the rim with his 7'7" wingspan for finishing and shot-blocking. Jonathan Givony The team will be able to add another elite talent to its core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey on June 23. Here are what some national mocks are projecting who the Thunder will take as of May 17. It remains unclear on whether he can defend in the NBA, but Jovic is 18 years old and highly skilled and polished in key areas. Here's what you need to know. They will make their first selection after the Magic, who won the NBA Draft Lottery last month. 5 pick, a 25.7% chance at the No. 1 pick. 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