Final 2023 NBA Mock Draft Round Up: A surprise at 12 for OKC Thunder
By Rylan Stiles
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been preparing for the 2023 NBA Draft for months, and in a few short hours, we will have all the answers to our questions. The OKC Thunder control Pick 12 (where they have seen a lot of success in their franchise’s history at that slot) with conflicting reports on what OKC will do on Thursday.
Will OKC Trade up on Thursday night to land a difference-maker? Could the Thunder actually move backward on Draft Night? Is staying at 12 the best option? Will the Bricktown boys leave with just one (1) first-round pick?
The OKC Thunder make a surprise pick in one of the final mock drafts before the clock strikes midnight on Draft Night.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have sent out some of their best smoke screens this draft season. For a team that is usually one of the most secretive in sports, they have been on a new level this year. In past drafts, right or wrong, there has been one name everyone circles pre-draft. Sometimes it falls flat like James Bouknight; sometimes, it is spot on like Aleksej Pokusevski and Chet Holmgren.
In this draft cycle, the list of names is longer than a CVS receipt. In fact, my 60-year-old father has been included as a candidate at pick 12. We have seen a new surprise in the latest round of mock drafts.