OKC Thunder NBA Draft prospect series: Derrick White
By Joshua Lea
The OKC Thunder will look at the upcoming NBA Draft with the utmost importance. Adding a key piece that could propel them further in the playoffs is on the agenda.
One such way the Thunder could increase depth and scoring is Colorado point guard Derrick White. A fifth-year senior who transferred from a Division II school, White led the Buffaloes to a 19-15 record in a tough Pac-12 conference. Ultimately, Colorado failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament and got bounced in the first round of the NIT by the University of Central Florida.
White averaged a cool 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists a game last season, earning him first-team All-Pac 12 honors. He shot 57% from the floor last season and 40% from three. Because of his age he isn’t projected to be a starter in the NBA, but he could be a solid backup. Clearly, the OKC Thunder could benefit from a scoring backup point guard.
One of the things the Thunder didn’t have last season was a player who could score at will when Russell Westbrook was on the bench. A player like White could thrive in Billy Donovan’s spread offense system. Many are calling this kid a sleeper in the draft, and he very well could be a hidden gem for the Thunder.
Specifics:
Height: 6’5
Weight: 200 lbs
Wingspan: 6’7
Position: Point Guard
Age: 22 years, 11 months
Statline: 18 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals,1.4 blocks
College: Colorado (Fifth-Year Senior)
Home Town: Parker, Colorado
Current rankings:
(note – rankings are taken on day of article posting and therefore may be listed at a similar rank as previously posted prospect reviews)
DraftExpress: 33rd overall prospect
NBA DraftNet: 44th
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor: 32nd
CBS Sports: 62nd
Basketball Insiders: 31st
The fit
Derrick White would fit in beautifully with the Thunder based on the fact that he is a scoring point guard. Now I’m not saying he’s Westbrook 2.0; however, he is a very capable PG. Think of him as Greivis Vasquez meets Kevin Martin before he came to Oklahoma City.
Related Story: Donovan Mitchell prospect review
What’s interesting about White is his style of play. He can step back and shoot the three, drive to the rim for an easy bucket or create for his teammates. If White molds his game like Westbrook we could have a dynamic duo in the making.
Skills
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First and foremost White has a quick release on his jump shot, a shot in which he makes 50% from the field and 40% from three. He has decent ball-handling skills, good court vision and a fairly high basketball IQ; some experts have even compared him to Mike Conley.
White is raw talent at best. His shooting ability is something that cannot be overlooked. His ability to score is also something that the Thunder should consider.
Weaknesses
His size is going to be a huge disadvantage on the defensive end of the floor. He’s not overly athletic, so keeping up with some of the quicker point guards may be troubling for him at first. Whether or not his size and weight will improve through his NBA career is up in the air at this point. However, his offensive skills outweigh his lack of size and defensive skill set.
OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti loves to gamble in the NBA Draft. White is just the type of player that Presti would take a chance on. For one, Presti loves point guards. Also, anyone who can sustain the offense with Westbrook on the bench is worth a look in the draft.