OKC Thunder Draft and Offseason

OKC Lands at 6 in the Draft

The Thunder unfortunately landed at six instead of the top three in this year’s draft. Tanking backfired on them as they were expected to land a stud in either Cade Cunningham or Evan Mobley. Despite this, they’re still expected to land a top 10 talent. They also are expected to move on from Kemba Walker very soon so this draft and offseason could be one for the books. Here is what they could do in this years draft and beyond:

 Who do the Thunder Target?

Cunningham, Jalen Green and Mobley are going to round out the top three. It’s a question as to who the Thunder will draft after those guys are taken. Many mock drafts are expecting them to take Scottie Barnes. A versatile and athletic wing, he can provide playmaking and a possible defensive presence. The only flaw in his game is his shooting ability as he only made .5 threes a game on an abysmal 27.5% from three-point land. He also only shot 62.1% from the charity stripe. Besides the shooting woes, his finishing abilities and his versatility in the playmaking/defensive departments are more than enough for this OKC squad. They’ll be more than happy to let him develop a jumper during their tank season.

Who do the Thunder Target? Continued…

With the 16th overall pick, the Thunder have a good option. A high-potential sleeper pick they could target in this years draft is UT’s Kai Jones. Jones averaged only 3.6/3.2/.4 on 50% FG/29% 3-PT/64% FT his freshman season. He took a major leap the next season and upped his averages to 8.8/4.8/.6 while shooting 58% FG/38% 3-PT/69% FT a game. A team that could afford to develop anyone on their roster, Jones looks like a solid piece to this young core. He’s still a very raw prospect who needs time to improve his game and there’s no better team than the Thunder.

After the Draft, What Will OKC do in the Offseason?

The Thunder are trying to look for more draft picks and young prospects. What better way to get both than to trade your oldest and most skilled vet? Kemba is surely going to be traded within the next couple months and may not even play a game with his new team. A trade that could possibly happen will be a Kemba for Collin Sexton type of deal. Sexton was reportedly on the trade block according to GM Koby Altman. If the Thunder are able to get everyone in the offense involved (Sexton is a ball-dominant player who’s been criticized for heavily by teammates) then their offensive firepower would be too much for many teams.

Another Potential Trade for OKC

Mo Bamba is another name to monitor this offseason. The Magic traded for Wendell Carter Jr. during the regular season and limited Mo Bamba’s on-court production. Being able to trade for Bamba could bolster OKC’s front-court after trading away Moses Brown. Bamba is a solid 23-year old player so developing him further would be beneficial for both sides.