NBA 2020 Mock Draft 1.0 – Options abound for OKC Thunder
By Rylan Stiles
![Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals r(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals r(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/16bc0a594b4c0c23a20d44ae6fdb01fd4943695b778d6d56d6882add9c967c2f.jpg)
26. player. 149. . Power Forward/Center | Arizona. Oklahoma City Thunder. Zeke Nnaji
The OKC Thunder are playing with house money here (the pick comes from Denver). They have not even gotten to the tip of the iceberg of their draft assets. This offseason, there are a ton of questions to answer for Sam Presti’s OKC Thunder squad.
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An untalked about one is Billy Donovan needing a new contract. However, on the floor: What are you going to do with Chris Paul? What do they get in return for Gallo on a sign-and-trade? What if they actually just sign Gallo? Are they going to trade Steven Adams? What if they use this historic future draft capital for an all-in move? So this NBA Draft should be all about insurance for the OKC Thunder.
Insurance is exactly what Zeke Nnaji provides for the OKC Thunder. The 6’11 240 pound big man could play center in the modern-day game, which gives you a bit of flexibility on the Steven Adams front. Adams turns into an expiring contract when the offseason rolls around and will be a hot name on the trade rumor mill.
For Nnaji, he averages almost 17 points, and nine rebounds a game. He has been able to produce a block and almost a steal per contest. he is a 6’11 big who is not scared to step back to the 3-point line, though he shoots just 27 percent from deep on less than one attempt per game.
At the line, Nnaji shoots a very impressive 78 percent.
Zeke is an interesting option no matter what the OKC Thunder elects to do. If you keep Steven Adams, Zeke Nnaji provides a very good big man option off the bench. Notably, Nerlens Noel is a free agent this summer. If you move Adams, I fully anticipate Zeke Nnaji’s ceiling to be a starting-caliber center in this league. While it may take a year or two, give him time and he will be a high-end starting player.
An NBA Draft class of Jordan Nwora and Zeke Nnaji should send OKC Thunder fans down the street doing cartwheels.