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Thunder meetings with Trae Young, Michael Porter hint OKC desires lottery pick

By Tamberlyn Richardson

CHICAGO - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospects Michael Porter Jr. and Trae Young are photographed during the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery at the Palmer House Hotel on May 15, 2018 in Chicago Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospects Michael Porter Jr. and Trae Young are photographed during the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery at the Palmer House Hotel on May 15, 2018 in Chicago Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder meet with Trae Young and Michael Porter Jr. at Draft Combine which sparks queries of Sam Presti looking to buy into first round.

The OKC Thunder will watch the first round of the NBA Draft on June 21st as their pick landed in the Minnesota Timberwolves hands. This occurred via a fairly long process as the pick originally belonged to the Utah Jazz. When the trade to bring Enes Kanter to OKC happened the Thunder sent their first round pick to Utah.

Cut to this season with the Wolves trading Ricky Rubio to Utah. Part of that trade equation resulted in the OKC Thunder pick coming to Minnesota. Therefore the Timberwolves will select 20th in the first round.

As the second round kicks off, again the OKC Thunder will sit and watch players come off the board until the latter stages of the round. Specifically, the Thunder will select in the 53rd and 57th spots. Not exactly the spot in the draft where stars are born – Manu Ginobili‘s 1999 selection by the Spurs at 57 aside.

With the 2018 NBA Draft Combine occurring these last few days (May 16 – 20) in Chicago the spotlight is on prospects. All 30 franchises are on site and even some current NBA players attended. Thunder free agent Jerami Grant was on site as was Giannis Antetokounmpo. The latter probably to support his younger brother Kostas.

Is Sam Presti looking to buy into lottery?

An interesting side note which came out of this event and peaked TI’s interest was who OKC held meeting with. Reports confirmed OKC  with Michael Porter Jr. and Trae Young. The reason this seems odd is both players are expected to be among the lottery picks.

Porter Jr. perhaps is a bit more uncertain as he returns from back surgery. Yet, falling to 53 is highly unlikely. Fans in Oklahoma are fully aware of Trae Young as he played with the Oklahoma Sooners this past season.

The big question (watch this spark a rumor into a fact) here is do these meetings offer hints of Sam Presti looking to move up into the first round? Again, both Young and Porter are projected to be taken in the lottery round (1-14). Currently Draft Express ranks Young and Porter sixth (Magic) and eighth (Cavaliers respectively.

Hey, maybe LeBron James will stay in Cleveland and bring Carmelo Anthony over to join him landing OKC their eighth pick. Ha! Obviously this entire article is solely conjecture. Still, where there is smoke there tends to be fire. Therefore, TI will keep eyes and ears open for more meetings with the OKC Thunder brass and players expected to be selected in the lottery.

OKC Thunder meet with Trae Young and Michael Porter Jr. at NBA Combine

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