ESPN and The Ringer released their latest 2022 NBA mock draft on Monday. In terms of the draft lottery, the Oklahoma City Thunder are drafting fourth and 12th overall in the ESPN mock and second and 12th overall in The Ringer mock. ESPN includes the full two rounds while The Ringer only includes the first round. Let’s take a look at who both sites have the Thunder taking with their four top-34 picks.
ESPN:
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4) Jaden Ivey (Purdue)
“While Oklahoma City is already flush with talent on the perimeter in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, Ivey has as much long-term upside as any prospect in the draft, and he would offer an immediate injection of transition speed, quickness and leaping ability that would rival even the league’s elite. Drafting another guard who is best with the ball in his hands wouldn’t be the most natural fit on paper, but Ivey’s talent and star power could be too tantalizing to pass up. Ivey also has experience playing in multiguard lineups, and the fact that he’s improved greatly as a spot-up shooter (36% from 3) would allow him to play alongside SGA and Giddey while buying him time to sharpen the lead-guard acumen he’ll need to maximize his sky-high upside”
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12) Ousmane Dieng (NZ Breakers)
“The Thunder are a perfect landing spot for Dieng, who isn’t ready to make an immediate impact on a playoff team but has an incredibly intriguing combination of size, fluidity and skill for an organization with time to invest in his development. In the interim, Dieng offers spot shooting (albeit streaky at 27%) with the tools to defend multiple positions at 6-10 with a 7-0 wingspan, even if he’s not the rebounder or physical stopper he could be quite yet. Long term, Dieng has real shot-creation potential given his smooth handle, passing feel in pick-and-roll, ability to make pull-up 3s (often of the step-back variety) and toss in floaters from different angles. He may never be the aggressive driver, forceful finisher or high-motor rebounder whom coaches would hope for from a player with his tools, but given OKC’s timeline and recent track record of players with positional size and skill — think Giddey, SGA, Aleksej Pokusevski — Dieng could be a fit.”
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30) Jean Montero (Overtime Elite)
“Montero is one of the most skilled guards in the draft with deep range on his pull-up 3, impressive pace in pick-and-roll and the ability to pass off the dribble with either hand. At 6-2, 172 pounds his margin for error is slim, meaning he’ll have to improve as a defender and finisher to carve out a consistent role in the NBA. But Montero has put up big numbers everywhere he’s gone throughout his career, and the deep shooting, slick handle and pick-and-roll passing are enough to make him an intriguing option toward the end of the first round.”
- 34) David Roddy (Colorado State)
The Ringer:
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2) Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga)
“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander teased during his exit interview with local reporters that the Thunder will be competing sooner than later. Considering the amount of young talent that could be on the roster this fall, I could see them competing for the play-in as soon as next season if they make aggressive moves to bolster the roster this summer. What’s missing is a paint protector. Enter Holmgren, who had a sensational freshman season at Gonzaga putting a lid on the rim. Playing with primary ball handlers like SGA and Josh Giddey would minimize the need for Holmgren to create his own shot, instead allowing him to slide in as a finisher and shooter.”
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12) Ochai Agbaji (Kansas)
“Following up on Gilgeous-Alexander’s comments mentioned in their first selection, I wonder if the Thunder will target an older prospect like Agbaji who could help sooner rather than later. Drafting him would provide 3-and-D skill, an important ingredient next to SGA and Giddey.”
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30) Christian Braun (Kansas)
“SGA and Giddey could use another shooting threat by their side, so Braun would have some appeal. As a solid ball handler, he could grow into a larger role, perhaps as a premier sixth man.”
The Thunder own the fourth-best and 12th-best lottery odds for the NBA draft lottery, which will be held on Tuesday, May 17.
