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OKC Thunder: Draft History – 2010

By Matthew Hallett

Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; OKC Thunder general manager Sam Presti is seen on the floor prior to action against the Phoenix Suns at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; OKC Thunder general manager Sam Presti is seen on the floor prior to action against the Phoenix Suns at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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As June 22nd draws near, it is time to take a look back at the 2010 draft for the OKC Thunder.

The OKC Thunder had four picks in the 2010 draft. This was the first time since the 2006 draft the Thunder were not in the lottery. The play of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden was paying dividends. The Thunder were able to qualify for the Playoffs, albeit in the eighth seed. This was on the back of Durant’s first scoring title and Westbrook finishing fifth in assists.

The OKC Thunder had three first round picks and one second round pick in this draft. Lets see how they did.

First Round

The  OKC Thunder had pick number 18, and with it they selected Eric Bledsoe. On draft night, the Thunder traded Bledsoe to the Los Angeles Clippers for a first round draft pick in the 2012 draft. The Thunder then traded this first round draft pick to the Boston Celtics for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson.

Perkins played 273 games for the Thunder over the next four and a half seasons, being a defensive anchor. He was then part of the trade which in effect moved Reggie Jackson to Detroit and bought Enes Kanter and Kyle Singler to the Thunder, among other moving parts..

How did Robinson go for the Thunder? A bust, playing only four games in an OKC Thunder uniform.

The second pick the OKC Thunder had in the 2010 draft was the 21st pick. With it they selected Craig Brackins who did not play a game for the Thunder. Brackins and pick 26, Quincy Pondexter were traded on draft night to the New Orleans Hornets. In return the Thunder received Cole Aldrich, who was actually pick 11 in the same draft and Morris Peterson.

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Peterson and Robinson had a lot in common, both being busts. Robinson only playing four games in a Thunder uniform. Aldrich played 44 games in two seasons with the Thunder before being involved in the James Harden trade.

Second Round

In the second round, the OKC Thunder selected Magnum Rolle. Unfortunately Rolle was a true second round pick. He only ever played 15 games of high level basketball in the USA, all of them in the D-League.

This was a draft class with some gems in it. Four All-Stars have come from it in John Wall, Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins and Gordon Hayward.

By the time the OKC Thunder were on the clock, all of these quality players had been taken.

Bledsoe has carved out a nice niche for himself in Phoenix, but given the choice of Westbrook or Bledsoe running the team, I chose Westbrook.

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