OKC Thunder: Re-Grading the Perry Jones draft pick
By Rylan Stiles
Who did the OKC Thunder miss on in the 2012 NBA Draft?
When you hop in a time machine and go back to the 2012 NBA Draft–or just simply look it up on Basketball-Reference–the OKC Thunder truly missed out on five prospects, and most of them were big misses.
Let’s start with Jae Crowder, who went a few picks below Perry Jones, being selected at pick 34 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Crowder will not jump off the page at you, but he had a much better career than Perry Jones! His NBA stay is still going, eight years strong!
While Crowder has not turned into an All-Star, and he has bounced around the league a ton, the impact he has made as a rotational player for playoff level teams would’ve been a huge addition for the OKC Thunder. Especially compared to Jones.
Drafted right behind Jae Crowder was Draymond Green. I know we all dislike the loudmouth, frustrating defender, the player you love if he is on your side and hate to go up against him.
However, it is without question he is a better pick than Perry Jones. Not only do you take him off the soon to be dynasty Warriors, but you improve your team in a big way.
Two-time all-star Khris Middleton was also selected after Perry Jones, getting taken off the board with the 39th pick in the NBA Draft. This is pretty self-explanatory, give me the solid 20 points per game scorer over Perry Jones.
Right after Middleton, Will Barton was taken off the board. Barton provides versatility and has developed into a quality three-point shooter. Barton was stroking the three-ball at a career-high 37 percent clip this season before the league suspended operations.
I would even take 40th overall pick, Mike Scott over Perry Jones! So what exactly did Jones provide on the floor?