The OKC Thunder are preparing tirelessly for the NBA Draft, looking for any sort of advantage when it comes to evaluating prospects. Conducting Interviews and workouts, watching game film, leaving no stone left unturned searching for the next NBA star. One of the top prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft class is throwing a wrinkle into said preparation.
Possible OKC Thunder target Josh Giddey not able to meet with NBA teams pre-draft
While teams bring in prospects one, two, sometimes three times for interviews, workouts, dinners, and everything else imaginable, Josh Giddey has a different experience. Due to his obligations with the Australian National team, the projected lottery pick told the media on Friday that he was unable to take the traditional tour around the NBA.
Josh Giddey says he hasn’t done any workouts due to being with the national team and not going to the combine.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) July 23, 2021
Giddey later explains that while he did not participate in the NBA Combine, he did fly to Chicago for one day only, meeting with a ton of NBA organizations.
With a one-day conversation being the lone in-person touchpoint for NBA teams, it makes the evaluation process that much more difficult for NBA clubs. However, Giddey has gotten some feedback.
The big guard mentions teams have expressed concerns about his shooting. In his view, the numbers do not do it justice, citing his early-season woes really drug down his overall numbers. The numbers back that up. Giddey shot over 30 percent in nine of the last 17 contests for Adelaide. As his percentage finishes the year at 29-percent.
At just 18 years old, though he will be 19 years old at the start of his rookie season, Giddey has a ton of room to grow as a shooter. His 3.5 attempts from deep per contest suggest he is willing to shoot the long ball.
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Giddey is a new-age big guard, hauling in seven rebounds and seven assets per match in the NBL a year ago shows how versatile his game is. With his half-a-block and a steal per tilt, it is clear why teams like him.
The youngster credits 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle, Mavericks wing Josh Green, Spurs guard Patty Mills, and NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova with helping him progress on the floor this summer.
A versatile, big guard, who can rebound, play make, and score at the rim sounds like the modern player Mark Daigneault and his staff is looking for. Especially if OKC can get more shooting out of the 6’8 guard. The question will be what is his draft range?
Picking Giddey at six would be a massive reach, however, it is hard to see him falling to OKC’s next selection at 16. Would the OKC Thunder pull the trigger on a trade-up for the 18-year-old? We will see on July 29th.