OKC Thunder: 3 valuable lessons learned during NBA Draft Combine
This past week the NBA Combine occurred in Chicago with the OKC Thunder and their counterparts on hand to assess the young talents.
As per usual many of the players expected to be selected at the top of the class weren’t in attendance. However, the event that ran from June 21st to 27th was well attended by plenty of players who will comprise the majority of the selections made on July 29th at the NBA Draft.
Those individuals were measured, tested, completed drills, and participated in five-on-five action. Also typical to this week were private interviews teams organized to coincide with having so many potential draftees in one place at the same time.
Sam Presti and his front office have a ton of work to do with six picks in hand. The specific Thunder picks are 6th, 16th, and 18th in the first round, plus the 34th, 36th, and 55th in the second round.
OKC Thunder learn valuable lessons at NBA Draft Combine
That’s more than a typical haul in any given year and may well get reduced if the VP elects to package some of those picks to trade up. Or the Thunder could be open for business to swap some existing picks for future years.
Regardless of the decision Presti and this team make the NBA Combine was a prime opportunity to learn more and provided a few key takeaways.
OKC Thunder lesson No. 1: Top 5 NBA Draft picks aren’t set in stone
Although Cade Cunningham is considered the top pick from this class there was a bit of twist thrown in the mix. Former OKC Thunder executive Troy Weaver who now runs the Pistons front office is said to be equally impressed by a few others in the top five including Jalen Green.
With most executives, we’d take that news with a grain of salt but Weaver has a tendency to pinpoint specific players and get invested in drafting them. Still, it’s likely Cunningham goes first overall.
Arguably, the more compelling news coming out of the Combine was the preconceived top five aren’t necessarily set in stone. For the majority of this season most mock drafts listed two through five (in order) as Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green, and Jonathan Kuminga.
This is more in question with Green drawing ample interest and Suggs seemingly less so. Adding to the shift is reports the Raptors are uber keen on Scottie Barnes (as are other teams) and so much so he could shoot up the board.
Ultimately, Green is the guy likely moving up while Suggs and or Kuminga could drop. It seems unlikely the Magic would let Suggs pass even with Markelle Fultz improving last season (injury aside).