OKC Thunder: Potential draft target, Davion Mitchell’s value unclear

During this coming NBA Draft, the OKC Thunder are in the enviable position where they can pick and choose which path to take when it comes to their selections.

In possession of a potential total of three first-round picks, Sam Presti and co. can attack multiple positions of need on the night, thus giving them a wide array of theoretical outcomes.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve seen Oklahoma City attached to some of this year’s most highly touted prospects, including Duke forward Jalen Johnson and G League standout, Jonathan Kuminga.

Projected to hold the rights to a top-5 pick, the odds of the Thunder landing a top-tier building block for the future to pair alongside star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are rather high. However, gauging a prospect’s true value will determine how successful their night will be.

One prospect in specific who has shot up the leaderboard over the last few months, Davion Mitchell, is someone who could very well be available once it’s OKC’s turn to the podium, but the question is, how does he stack up against others projected in the same range?

Scouts split on potential OKC Thunder target, Davion Mitchell’s value

After his impressive run during the NCAA Tournament, leading Baylor to their first-ever championship, the guard has found his value increase considerably in comparison to his preseason projections.

While there are some scouts who believe the hype is warranted, Bleacher Report suggests that there’s a large portion of the populous who fear the danger that is ‘March Magic’:

"After Baylor’s national championship run, one of the biggest debates among scouts now focuses on Mitchell’s upside.Some suddenly see a starting NBA point guard worth taking in the top 10. Others have warned to pump the breaks and avoid buying into March Madness magic, particularly from a 22-year-old turning 23 before his rookie season.For the most part, the national love he’s receiving seems to be increasing. From asking around the league, teams hoping to get him in the teens should start focusing their attention on trading up or targeting a different player.The buyers have been swayed by his blow-by explosiveness, improved creation flashes, shooting numbers and reputable defensive toughness. One scout expressed frustration, telling Bleacher Report he loved Mitchell as a sleeper in January and now the secret is out.Skeptics question his age, late-blooming breakout and 65.7 free-throw percentage, a number some believe is more indicative of his shooting, considering he entered the season having made just 49 of 157 threes (31.2 percent)."

On the year, Mitchell posted impressive averages of 14.1 points and 5.5 assists on 51 percent shooting from the floor and 45 percent shooting from deep.

A scrappy player who can play both sides of the ball, the 22-year-old has found NBA comparisons ranging from Patrick Beverley to Marcus Smart, both of whom possess skill sets that would be of great value to virtually any team in the league, including the rebuilding OKC Thunder.

As we move closer to the 2021 NBA Draft, perhaps we’ll get a better understanding about what the reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year’s true potential is as he makes his way towards the big leagues.