When looking back on the 2019 NBA Draft, many OKC Thunder fans are reletively pleased with the way things played out.
Holding the rights to the No. 21 overall pick, Sam Presti and co. would go on to trade their initial selection in Gonzaga power forward Brandon Clarke to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Princeton High School product Darius Bazley, who was selected two picks later.
So far into his young NBA career, the forward has become a fan favorite in Oklahoma City and, now in year two, is producing quite nicely as a core rotation player, averaging a near double-double of 12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
Again, when looking back on the illustrious night, fans of the organization are quite happy with the outcome. That said, if Presti had a chance at a do-over, would things be able to remain the same?
The OKC Thunder land Talen Horton-Tucker in B/R’s 2019 NBA Re-Draft
Despite him showing flashes of being a consistent key player down the road, his inconsistencies to date have made some beg the question as to whether he can ever live up to the hope fans have for him as being a legitimate cornerstone to build around alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Still, Bazley’s potential and positionless style of play appears to be impressive enough for Bleacher Report to thrust him into the top-20 of their 2019 NBA Re-Draft, having him being poached up by the San Antonio Spurs at 19th overall.
Because of this, the Thunder are left hanging on their hopes of once again landing the 20-year-old talent and, in turn, are forced to head in a different direction.
That different direction: selecting shooting guard Talen Horton-Tucker.
Originally taken in the second round by the Orlando Magic, and then immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Iowa State product has shown enough during his two-year stint in the league that, in the eyes of writer Grant Hughes, he has played more like a top-25 selection from the draft rather than the 46th overall pick.
After riding the bench for the majority of his rookie campaign, the 20-year-old finds himself serving as a consistent contributor for the defending champions, averaging 16.5 minutes and producing to the tune of 6.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 45 percent shooting from the floor.
That said, while Horton-Tucker is a fine role player on an already stacked Lakers team, the Thunder and their fanbase are undoubtedly looking at this alternate reality that B/R has concocted with an effervescent smile illuminating off their face, as Bazley is miles ahead of the guard in terms of talent and long-term potential.