2: Paolo Banchero, Duke, Krysten Peek, Yahoo! 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. The Thunder are 37-22-1 against the spread this season. News. OKC Thunder owns the No. 1 to No. Feb 07, 2023 - Oklahoma City 133 vs. Los Angeles 130 Apr 08, 2022 - Los Angeles 120 vs. Oklahoma City 101 Offensively, Holmgren's ability to stretch the floor as a shooter is a perfect complement for Gilgeous-Alexander, who is one of the most aggressive drivers in the league and becomes almost impossible to keep out of the paint on a spaced floor. With only a few weeks until the 2022 NBA Draft, things are beginning to take shape. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. 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. The 2022 NBA draft is a day away, which means that the final round of mock drafts has hit the internet. 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. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images). Even then, theres Who will the Thunder select with three first-round picks? Houston has been firing bets on upside dating back to the 2021 draft, and this is another example. They'd replace Sabonis with either Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smithwhoever falls into their lap. 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. 6. His offensive skill package leaves a lot to be desired right now, which leads to him dropping from a previous lottery projection. The 2022 Oklahoma City Thunder draft will include two lottery selections, another first-round pick and a selection in Round 2. ESPN Mel Kiper Jr.s 2023 NFL Mock Draft (from January 25) Round: 1 Overall Pick: 25 NFL Team: Cincinnati Bengals Analysis: Both Kincaid and Luke Musgrave (Oregon State) have a chance to be Round 1 picks, and I wouldnt be surprised if a few teams preferred one of them over Michael Mayer (Notre Dame) as the top-ranked tight end in 1 overall player in the 2022 class but, if nothing else, Orlando holds the keys to the board. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Chet Holmgren, a 7-foot stretch big with guard skills and potentially game-changing defensive ability. 2 days. The San Antonio Spurs would be one of those teams, either to move up for a star big or down for a defensive-minded one. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 8 pick. The Thunder wont be a playoff team, and OKC isnt going to push to make the play-in tournament. They trail the Orlando Magic by three games with 21 games left to go. He shot 42% from distance for the Tigers a season ago, and boasts some tremendous moves to create his own shot. 13. With SGA, Giddey, Smith and wing Luguentz Dort acting as building blocks in Oklahoma, some might believe that the team should draft a center with the second of its two lottery picks. The Thunder could offer up their 30th pick and a future first-round pick to a squad in Houston that has to continue adding draft capital. Kings vs. Thunder: Lineups, injury reports and broadcast info for Tuesday. The Thunder own the eighth-best lottery odds and have a realistic shot to climb as high as fifth in the lottery. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, which puts OKC in prime position to land one of the big three prospects: Auburns Jabari Smith, Gonzagas Chet Holmgren or Dukes Paolo Banchero.. Read any mock draft or listen to any draft expert, and its a near 100% certainty one of those three will be wearing a Thunder blue cap come the 34: Patrick Baldwin Jr., Milwaukee, Krysten Peek, Yahoo! Here are the latest projected picks for the Thunder, according to TSN's Kyle Irving: Jordan Greer is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. Smith has a long way to go as a creator for others and as a ball-handler, but Houston is certainly keying on upside in their rebuild. That will give the Thunder another roll at the lottery, and perhaps the last using its own pick. OKC Thunder offseason primer: Draft picks, salary decisions and preparing for 2023 G Johnny Davis Age: 20 (Feb. 27, 2002) College: Wisconsin Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 196 pounds Hometown: La Crosse, Wisconsin Davis would admittedly be a reach, especially compared to the players above him. 4. By avoiding Duren at 12 and trading up for him a handful of spots later, the Thunder also find value. 1 choice in Jabari Smith) but, for now, were rolling with Chet. But that doesn't mean Holmgren's career will play out the same way. There is, of course, some doubt as to whether Holmgren will live up to the hype. He can create. Dieng is far away at this point, but the Rockets are one of the franchises that should be willing to wait. Where does Oklahoma City land in the draft order? The Thunder is tied for eighth in the reverse standings with a 23.5% chance at a top-four pick, and a 5.3% chance of landing Victor Wembanyama with the No. There is a good chance each is No. Smith and Holmgren both have legitimate cases here as well. 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But by jumping into the top three, the Thunder can plug a hole at forward with a franchise-caliber player. 2024 NBA mock draft: Who ESPN has the OKC Thunder selectingReport: Jabari Smith Jr. wanted to be drafted by the ThunderESPN 2023 NBA mock draft: Thunder take Nick Smith Jr. with top pick, Story originally appeared on Thunder Wire. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. He could play to his strengths as a play-finisher around the basket or behind the arc. The question is offense, where he is an inconsistent shooter at best that needs polish with the ball in his hands. 17), so Presti may feel more pressure to improve and balance out the offense. His injury has hurt his case, 'Its like a dream':Jaylen Hoard, Georgios Kalaitzakis making most of NBA opportunity with Thunder. Hes a polished scorer already, and he can guard his position. Whoever lands the No. Sam Presti will take the guy he thinks is the best player, but that could be Banchero. So this would be a good year for them to win the lottery withPaolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith at the top of boards. The idea is to build around the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey from within. CBS Sports Gary Parrish gives the Thunder's pick an A+. This might be his floor come Draft night. 12: Jeremy Sochan, Baylor, Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win (6/21), No. Considering how productive Jalen Williams has been this season, he mightve already outgrown summer league participation. At sixth overall, Wasserman believesKeon Johnson would be a solid grab. 12 and No. 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. After going with their center in the future in this mock, Charlotte looks to a scoring wing in Branham. He fits a major need. Were talking about yet another frontcourt player who can stretch the court (45% shooting from three-point range as a freshman. 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. Im probably a touch lower on Murray than most, but this is a totally reasonable spot. Full list of NBA Draft selections. 1 pick is a spot to simply take the best prospect. If the Pistons want to go a bit safer, they could lean in the direction of Keegan Murray or A.J. 4 months. He would be a fun Spurs fit with his passing and general basketball IQ, and LaRavia should be able to shoot it at a pretty high level. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. The Orlando Magic won the draft lottery , taking a 14 percent chance and He is also an adept scorer with the upside to be a real star at the NBA level. 7 odds up to the No. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. The Oklahoma City Thunder, along with the rest of the league, will participate in the summer event from July 7-17 in Las Vegas. For general manager Sam Presti and Hes not likely to help a title contender now, which makes this an interesting bet. In this case, Smith seems like a strong fit next to Myles Turner, whose rim protection would make up for the 18-year-old's lack of shot-blocking. However, theres still crucial games to be played to determine the final draft lottery odds. As of now, the Oklahoma City Thunder hold the fourth-worst record in the NBA. As such, they would have the fourth-highest lottery odds if the season were to end today. Outside of that top pick, the Thunder also have two more first rounders. 3 pick, an 11.5% chance at the No. 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. His slender frame is where most of the doubt begins and ends. If the Thunder lost to the Clippers, OKC would finish solo fourth. Hes also a plug-and-play role player as an off-ball shooter and a very intelligent cutter. 1 pick. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onOklahoma City Thunder and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Chandler isnt necessarily the backup for Morant that you would draw up in a lab, but hes a first-round talent. Of course, it is fair to point out that there is not a definitive No. 8. James is expected to go No. Oklahoma City have won 14 out of their last 26 games against Los Angeles. The Rockets almost cant go wrong with this pick in their current form. Elsewhere, the Sacramento Kings are a solid winner from the evening, jumping from the No. Especially with Thunder GM Sam Presti making decisions, Oklahoma City could find real building blocks with its second and third first-round picks. NBA Draft 2022: 10 players OKC Thunder could target at No. The 2024 draft class is headlined by Bronny James, LeBron James son. After drafting Paolo Banchero, the Thunder could target his frontcourt college partner after the duo led Duke to the Final Four. 22 1 prospect in the 2023 class before reclassifying. Got it! The Oklahoma City Thunder finished their 2021-22 campaign with a record of 24-58. Amidst a rebuild, this marks the third-fewest wins since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City. This includes the worst winning percentage (.293) since the first season in OKC back in the 2008-09 season. Hes a limited athlete, but there is a lot to like. January 6, 2022 9:00 am ET Now that we have seen an extended stretch of college basketball, there is a new player who has emerged as the projected No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Chet The Spurs have not been known to worry about position or needs in the draft, and they'd ignore them again in this situation. 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. Kessler doesnt help the Bucks a ton right now with Brook Lopez on the team and both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis able to play center. On the surface, this may appear as though the Thunder failed to succeed in 2020-21, but this couldnt be further from the truth, as this rebuilding organization now finds itself in possession of the fourth-best odds of landing the top slot in this years NBA Draft, and a 52.5 percent chance of nabbing a top-five pick on the night. May 18, 2022 10:49 am CT The Oklahoma City Thunder will select 2nd and 12th overall in the 2022 NBA draft following Tuesdays lottery results. Still, the 6'6" sophomore wing has emerged as a lottery prospect for his shot-making and budding pull-up scoring game. NFL Team: Dallas Cowboys. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. With the 16th pick, OKC was slotted to take Texas big Kai Jones. Not even close. He's going to be a good player. Keon Johnson #45 of the Tennessee Volunteers drives to the basket. The Thunder ruled Holmgren out for the entire 2022-23 regular season, but his status for 2023 Summer League is currently unknown. OKC is betting on the latter. 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. Mathurin would give the Pistons lineup a jolt of explosiveness that Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey don't. Its been quite a rise for LaRavia, but it seems like NBA teams have taken notice along with public-facing evaluators. 5 overall for a snug fit alongside Cade Cunningham in Detroit. The Thunder can afford to take that bet. DRAFT: June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. NBA mock draft 2022:Who will the Thunder select with three first-round picks? The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. 2 A new No. 34: E.J. That type of shooting inside would make up for Giddeys lack of range out on the perimeter. Charlotte could obviously address that need in free agency or via trade but, if they dont, Williams is worthy of a mid-first round selection. He'd get immediate reps, late-game shots and a green light to continue strengthening his three-point shooting. In the majority of mocks written up recently, weve been seeing Sam Presti and co. on the board anywhere from first to fourth overall and, in turn, have managed to nab themselves some serious top-tier talent. 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. There is a misconception that hell be a game-changer on defense immediately, but Davis should find a soft landing spot in the back half of the lottery somewhere. 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. More:Will Thunder's Josh Giddey make All-Rookie first team? Hes 67. The Thunder ended Oklahoma City have won 14 out of their last 26 games against Los Angeles. Defensively, there are some concerns, but there is enough to work with in terms of basketball IQ and frame to get by. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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. Here's what CBS Sports senior writer Matt Norlander had to say about Holmgren, whom he ultimately projects as a good-but-not-great player: I think it's more than reasonable to project at least one of the big three (Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero and Holmgren) to not be a top-five player in this class by the time we look up in 2030 and take stock of all that's happened. 2022 NBA Draft Dates to know: May 17, NBA Draft Lottery; June 23, NBA Draft Thunder 2022 picks (4): Two lottery picks: one that can fall no lower than No. The Thunder ruled Holmgren out for the entire 2022-23 regular season, but his status for 2023 Summer League is currently unknown. The concerns about Holmgren's slight frame are legitimate -- but he's such a unique prospect with incredible potential that he's the right pick here. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers):Mark Williams (Duke, C, Sophomore). 12: Jalen Williams, Santa Clara, Krysten Peek, Yahoo! Much has already been made of Atlantas need for a secondary creator in the wake of an early playoff exit against Miami. (Credit toThe Rockets WiresBen DeBose for accumulating the mock drafts together. Ousmane Dieng and Jaylin Williams are likely safe bets to play in a handful of summer league games. In addition to those, the 30th pick (via the Suns) and the 34th pick. It may hurt to land at No. Round 1, No. Liddell, Ohio State, Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win (6/21), No. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today recently released a mock draft the 2022 class, which gives insight into where some of the top players in the upcoming rookie class could land. Wesley is an upside play with his ability to generate shots, and he might be an intriguing defender in the future as well. 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." This draft is known for the big men at the top, specifically Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith. The Thunder will be selecting second overall for the second time in franchise history, and considering the first time resulted in Kevin Durant in 2007, Id say general manager Sam Presti has a good track record with top picks. 12. The Thunder will ultimately find out where theyre selecting in the draft on May 16 when the 2023 draft lottery results are known. 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. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Oklahoma Citys games have gone over 238 points in 25 of 60 chances this season. So this would be a good year for them to win the lottery with, Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 2 pick, NBA Star Index: LeBron is finally breaking down, Power Rankings: Bucks No. Analysis: Phillips had six interceptions in 2022, and he has the toughness and instincts to excel playing inside or outside cornerback at 5 2023 NBA mock draft: Who ESPN has the OKC Thunder selecting. Sports (6/20), No. Once again, the Thunder have three picks, and they can take some swings. The Pelicans would feature two of the NBA's most effective weapons around the rim. Mock Draft / 2 years ago 75 shares Post-trade deadline 2022-23 Oklahoma City Thunder roster. 2: Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga, Cody Taylor, Rookie Wire (6/20), No. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Presti will have to determine how much fit should matter when assessing options at No. The Thunder also finished near the middle of the pack defensively (No. That's pretty high praise. The 2022 NBA Draft is less than six weeks away and, as of Tuesday evening, the board is set. The Thunder own four total picks in the 2022 NBA Draft. They will make their first selection after the Magic, who won the NBA Draft Lottery last month. Round 1, No. 11: Ousmane Dieng, NZ Breakers (acquired in trade with Knicks) 2. Chet Holmgren 11. Ousmane Dieng 12. Jalen Williams 34. Jaylin Williams The Oklahoma City Thunder (28-33) are set to host the Los Angeles Lakers (29-33) on Wednesday at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Chandler is from the Memphis area, and Tyus Jones is a free agent. 34: Kendall Brown, Baylor, Cody Taylor, Rookie Wire (6/20), No. 34. 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. 12: Jeremy Sochan, Baylor, Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated (6/20), No. The Oklahoma City Thunder will have three picks in the first 34: No. 7. Rookie Wire mock draft: Who do Thunder use their 6 picks on? 2: 2 seed Grizzlies in the first round. 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. His shooting is a swing skill, and Eason committed more than twice as many turnovers as he generated assists last season in college. Brown is a crazy athlete who should be able to defend well, and if he can find a role on offense, look out. Before we preview the 2022 Oklahoma City Thunder draft, lets check in on the picks that they have. Audacy Experts Ryan McDonough, Jimmy Patsos, and more give their analysis along with the Locked On College hosts who Liddell isnt a high-ceiling guy, but he has some switch potential on defense and a polished offensive game. The Thunder also own swap rights with the LA Clippers, meaning they could their pick if its better than OKCs. The 2022 NBA draft is a day away, which means that the final round of mock drafts has hit the internet. Sharpe is the mystery guy in this class, but there is enough buzz where a No. The Thunder have an opportunity to take a huge step forward in their rebuild. WebThe Ultimate NBA Mock Draft 2022 begins as the Locked On NBA local experts make the pick for their teams. Indiana might want to take a bit more of a swing, especially considering how infrequently they are in the lottery, but the Pacers take a scoring forward with real polish already.