Thunderous Intentions
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OKC Thunder NBA Draft prospect series: Caleb Swanigan

By Joshua Lea

Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) dunks the ball during the second half of the game against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) dunks the ball during the second half of the game against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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The OKC Thunder are less than 10 days away from picking 21st in the NBA Draft. With a lot of talent on the board, Oklahoma City will have some options to choose from including prospect Caleb Swanigan.

For the OKC Thunder, the expectation to pick a big man like Caleb Swanigan maybe small. However, Swanigan’s impact on the Thunder could be felt instantly if OKC decides to part ways with its backup center Enes Kanter. Thunder GM Sam Presti has been known to wheel-and-deal on draft night. Swanigan could very well be on Presti’s radar. The Purdue Boilermaker standout was ranked one of the top prep players in the national class of 2015 by Rivals.com.

Caleb Swanigan led the Purdue Boilermakers to a 27-8 record last season as a sophomore. Purdue would go on to make the NCAA Tournament after losing to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament. Purdue would win its first two tournament games before losing to Kansas in the sweet sixteen.

Swanigan was a huge part of Purdue’s success last season. Listed at 6’9, Swanigan averaged a solid 18 points a game while shooting 52.7% from the floor. He also is noted for his wingspan which is listed at 7’3. He’s rated as a post scoring big man, similar to Kanter.

In early May Swanigan appeared on the Steve Harvey show to discuss his past. Six years ago, Swanigan weighed over 300 pounds and was homeless. His story is remarkable, he overcame a variety of odds.

Specifics:

Height: 6’9

Weight: 247 lbs

Wingspan: 7’3

Position: Power Forward, Center

Age:  20 years, 2 months

Statline:  18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.8  blocks

College: Purdue (Sophomore)

Home Town: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Current rankings:

Please note, rankings come from versions as of time of writing. However, not all  mock drafts provide second round ranks or updates. Due to this if rankings change after posting it’s likely due to updates and a shift in the rankings.

DraftExpress: 27th overall prospect

NBA DraftNet: 36th

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor: 32nd

CBS Sports: 22nd

Basketball Insiders: 34th

Weakness:

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His defense has been called suspect at best. His weight and size combined is a huge disadvantage in the NBA. More centers are becoming lighter and mobile in the paint and Swanigan could be outmatched athletically by a variety of centers. Swanigan would have to be in a system. He would struggle on an offense that’s a free-flowing style of play. I personally see him as a legit center in three to five years following his rookie season. He’ll have to develop and adjust to the NBA game and continue working to be more mobile in the lane.

The Fit:

Caleb Swanigan could work well in Oklahoma City depending solely on what OKC does with Enes Kanter. He could also be a draft and stash, spending time with the Oklahoma City Blue in the D-League. Swanigan has a solid basketball IQ and he’s dominant in the paint. The 7’3 wingspan combined with a legit 52% shooting is something that OKC should look at. He also can step out and shoot the three (as most big men do nowadays) at a cool 44%.

If OKC trades Kanter for a shooting guard or a backup PG, drafting Swanigan could be ideal. However, I’m not 100% sold on his overall fit in OKC. I do believe he would spend time in the D-League to begin his career.

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