The 2023 NBA Draft takes place on Thursday, June 22, as both rounds are wrapped up in one night. As it approaches, TGH will be taking a quick look some teams’ draft strategies, and shedding some light on what direction they will go with their picks.. Here is the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Draft profile for 2023.
Summary
Oklahoma City Thunder made the Play-In Tournament with a record of 40-42, and were the 10th seed in the Western Conference. They won their first game against the Pelicans, but lost the second against the Timberwolves. This eliminated them from the true playoffs for the third consecutive season.
**This article has been edited following a trade-away of their 37th pick**
2023 Draft Picks
The Thunder have two picks in the 2023 NBA Draft.
First Round (one pick):
- Pick #12
Second Round (one pick):
- Pick #50
Team Needs
- Wing help
- Frontcourt piece(s)
Projected Targets
Pick #12: Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky
“Three-and-D” is usually a moniker saved for wing players. But Cason Wallace makes a case that guards can earn that name, too.
The 6-foot-3 Wallace’s defense will make the transition to the NBA right away, especially on the perimeter. He can create his own shot, and is deadly from three point range. Being a point guard, he’ll need to facilitate ball movement to take advantage of his catch-and-shoot capabilities, but Wallace can be a starter in no time.
Pick #50: Drew Timme, F/C, Gonzaga
Most people are familiar with Timme’s game after watching him dominate in the last few NCAA Tournaments with Gonzaga. After originally declaring for last year’s draft, he decided to go back to Gonzaga to try and win a championship. Even though he fell short, he had another college season to hone his skills.
Timme knows what it takes to win, and that’s an intangible that may be important enough to make the Thunder reach a bit for him at pick number 50. His footwork and physicality are a huge draw at the power forward position, and even though his three-point shooting has regressed a bit, he’s still full of offensive tricks.
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1 Comment
Bizarre article. Cason may be an emergency selection of the other 8 guys they want more are all gone. Sensabaugh isn’t a Thunder type pick at all. Timme’s best chance in a Thunder uniform is to not be drafted at all.