OKC Thunder draft picks over the last 11 years: Where are they now?
By Aidan E
Cameron Payne: Toronto Raptors
Taken 14th overall in the 2015 NBA draft, Cameron Payne was supposed to be the point guard that might push Westbrook to the two position. Taken one selection after Devin Booker, Payne has been quite the disappointment so far. Among 44 players from the 2015 draft who have appeared in the NBA, Payne ranks 37th in VORP and 33rd in win shares.
Payne struggled in his first two seasons with injuries before being traded along with Anthony Morrow and Joffrey Launvergne to the Chicago Bulls for Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, and a second round pick. Payne bounced between the G-League and the Bulls before being waived and signing with the Cavaliers. Payne was recently signed by the Toronto Raptors.
However, he’ll always be known for his pregame dances with Russell Westbrook.
Dakari Johnson: China
Taken 48th overall in the 2015 draft, it’s honestly a success to even appear in the NBA at all. For Dakari Johnson, he got his chance in 2017 after signing with the Thunder. Being a G-League all-star in February, Johnson was later signed to the Thunder in July and appeared in 34 games throughout his stint with the Thunder.
Johnson’s career-high in shots was only five, as he never got the chance to establish himself as an NBA player. He was traded to the Grizzlies for Rodney Purvis (who was later traded for Abdel Nader) and was then traded to the Grizzlies and eventually waived. Johnson currently plays for the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association.