OKC Thunder NBA draft profile: Usman Garuba – high-energy defender

Pro Comparison:

Garuba is compared to an odd mix of players — OG Anunoby, Kenneth Faried, and Amir Johnson.

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Anunoby is an excellent 3-point shooter, can create his own shot and seldom plays center so perhaps Kevin O’Connor is looking strictly at Garuba’s defensive chops on that.

Faried is a more logical comparison although his leaping ability was arguably better than Garuba.

OKC Thunder fit:

Based on the mock drafts the Spanish center could very well be on the board when the OKC Thunder select 16th. There is much to like about his defensive chops but he’s not a natural fit for the Thunder system.

Sure defensively he could handle anything but his offensive limitations don’t align with Mark Daigneault’s positionless scheme.  This is compounded because Garuba will need to play alongside a floor stretching power forward to reach his potential.

I’d place good money on him not being selected by Sam Presti.

OKC Thunder NBA draft profile: Usman Garuba – high-energy defender