The Thunder are heading toward a season where they have a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since the bubble. How can the NBA Draft help them?
No matter what happens with the Thunder this offseason, they most likely make the playoffs next season for the first time since the bubble. This team has talent already and it seems like the Thunder will be only taking one rookie in this draft with the No. 12 pick. They will probably look at taking someone who fills up backup minutes in their frontcourt, with plenty of talented prospects to choose from.
Perfect NBA Draft picks for the Thunder: 3. Jarace Walker
If the Thunder are really invested in this draft, they could trade up for Jarace Walker. Walker is expected to go in the top six picks of this year's draft. Like Hendricks, Walker is an amazing defender who could add the role needed for the Thunder.
Walker went to school at Houston and is a 6 foot-8 inches defensive player who can help this team fill out bench minutes. He has been compared to Paul Millsap by draft scouts and can defend multiple positions with his length, strengths and quickness.
Walker could fill out solid bench minutes for the Thunder on a very cheap salary for the next four years. This is something that the Thunder have been missing and is one of the reasons that they did not make the playoffs last season.
In a league where shooting is all the rage his inability to make shots is a big problem as he heads into the league. He shot only 46 percent for Houston last season. Lucky for the Thunder, they aren't looking to compete for a title and can stand his weaknesses until he is able to develop properly.
Perfect NBA Draft picks for the Thunder: 2. Dereck Lively
Dereck Lively might be taken by this point and is projected between the No. 8 and No. 12 overall pick. The Thunder could use him as a backup center who plays high-quality minutes for the team. OKC could be looking to move multiple picks in this draft due to the fact that they can't give all of these players proper playing time.
The Wizards a team that is headed into a rebuild, could use the picks due to the fact that do not have any real future coming up. The Thunder are a team that is on the rise and could use one more piece. Lively could be the final piece of the core for this team. He is a 7 foot-1 center who has a chance to play as a strong rebounder and paint presence. Yes, he may not have starting potential but he could play high minutes for the team.
He is also touted as a solid defender who can hold his own on that side of the floor. He could be a very good rim roller for Oklahoma and give them a real defensive presence in the middle.
Perfect NBA Draft picks for the Thunder: 1. Taylor Hendricks
If the Thunder want to invest future picks in this year's draft, trading up for Taylor Hendricks might be the right thing to do. The Thunder are heading into a summer where they don't really have time to play young developing players.
Hendricks looks to be a very solid defender in this league and could be a solid rim roller for the Thunder this season. Hendricks could be a pick-and-roll partner for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the offensive end. Hendricks is also a very solid 3-point shooter. This is why the Thunder will need to heavily trade up for the player in the event that they would get to him,
In a loaded offense, he is the third or fourth offense option rather than the first option on the team. Still, Hendricks will be able to create his own offense throughout his team in the league. If he could project as a guy who could be a top bench player for the team as he develops. While this is a best-case scenario, a situation where Hendricks ends up being an elite six-man for the team going forward.
The Thunder might not have the space to start him in year one but he could be the addition this team needs. This is a team that has a lot of draft picks and will not end up using all of them. Trading up for a player like Hendrick might be the best move for the franchise.
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