OKC Thunder re-grade: Add Mitch McGary to a long line of what ifs
By Rylan Stiles
As we continue the re-grading of draft picks, add former OKC Thunder big man Mitch McGary to a long list of what-ifs?
So far we have re-graded Terrance Ferguson, Perry Jones, and Reggie Jackson. Now, it is time to re-grade former OKC Thunder first-round pick, Mitch McGary.
Taking a look back at the former Michigan Wolverine’s career brings us back to a phrase that keeps following the OKC Thunder. “What if?”, a phrase that is all too common around the organization, holds true for the 21st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
As always, we need to set a starting point. For Mitch McGary, my starting point for a grade was at an all-time high. I loved the selection and gave out an A+ to Sam Presti and company for scooping up McGary at 21.
It is clear, that Mitch McGary did not live up to my expectations, so let’s re-grade that selection. The first part of the grading process has to come with who did Sam Presti miss on?
In the first round, Rodney Hood, Clint Capela, and Bogdan Bogdanovic were all taken behind McGary. While Capela has turned into a better player it is clear he would’ve been redundant on a roster that already featured Steven Adams.
In the second round, one of the biggest misses come. Sam Presti could’ve had Joe Harris! He missed the boat twice, selecting McGary and Josh Huestis in the first round of this draft.
Spencer Dinwiddie and future OKC Thunder wing Jerami Grant were also taken in the second round.
Oh, and did I mention the fact that Nikola Jokic, who turned into the modern-day big man everyone wanted McGary to be, fell to pick 41?
Other notable names include Jordan Clarkson, Dwight Powell, and future OKC Thunder backup point guard Semaj Christon–sorry folks, I just had to include him.
Safe to say, there was better value on the board, with the privilege of hindsight.