| 30 Teams, 30 Days: Oklahoma City Draft Preview Authored by Jason M. Williams - June 2, 2009 - 7:28 pm
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2009 Draft Picks: 3rd, 25th
Pre-Draft 2009-10 Projected Starters:
PG Russell Westbrook
SG Thabo Sefolosha
SF Kevin Durant
PF Jeff Green
C Nenad Krstic
Key Reserves:
PG Earl Watson
PF Nick Collison
SG Kyle Weaver
What the Thunder Do Well:
The 2009 NBA Draft marks the first official draft for this franchise with the team name Oklahoma City Thunder. Last year, the Seattle Supersonics selected their point guard of the future with the fourth pick and couldn’t be happier with the young talented team that they have assembled.
Kevin Durant is the future in Oklahoma City. He matured in his second season and is on the brink of becoming a mainstay in the All-Star game. He led the team in scoring with 25.3 points per game and added 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.72 blocks per game. He has an uncanny knack to score in just about any possible way and has made Durant the clear winner in the Oden/Durant debate of 2007.
After Durant, the Thunder are equipped with two other building blocks in what they hope is the next Big Three. Jeff Green and Westbrook have also elevated their games to help this team take the league by storm in the second half of the season.
Green had a solid sophomore season with 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.04 steals per game, while Westbrook exceeded his rookie expectations with 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.34 steals and a team-leading 5.3 assists per game.
Coming over in a mid-season trade from the Chicago Bulls, Thabo Sefolosha was immediately elevated to a starter for the Thunder. He provided a lethal defender at the shooting guard position and added 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.13 blocks and a team-leading 1.74 steals per game. The thing about the Thunder is that while they lack a big name rebounder in the paint, all of their guards and wingmen are very adept at playing solid defense and ripping down their share of boards.
Greatest Areas of Improvement:
A Strong Big Man Who Can Run On The Break
Head coach Scott Brooks has connected with his personnel and realizes that the optimal way for this squad to play is to use their superior athletic ability to play feisty defense and quick sets on offense. What better fit could they find than a strong big man who can score inside and fill the lane on the break? Oh, well there is one guy two picks ahead of them that not only fits what they need perfectly, but is also an Oklahoma native and Sooner legend…
A Serious Three-Point Threat
OKC is very scrappy and has plenty of guys who can penetrate – but when they do, they really don’t have a threat from downtown waiting to make teams pay. Durant and Green are the only two players on the roster to average more than one three-point FG made per game, and only Durant shot over 40% (42.2%) from deep. Imagine if they had a true shooter at the shooting guard position in between Westbrook and Durant.
Who’s Gone Number 3 Recently?
The third pick continues to be an extremely valuable selection – well, unless you are the Charlotte Bobcats. In three of the past five years, teams picking third have been handed their pick because the top two picks were so obvious that they had no choice (2004 featured Dwight Howard and Emeka Okafor at the top and Ben Gordon dropping to third, 2007 saw the Greg Oden/Kevin Durant Draft leave Al Horford for Atlanta, and last year’s Derrick Rose/Michael Beasley Debate steered O.J. Mayo in the three-spot). As for 2006, we have no idea why the Bobcats took Adam “Mr. Tears” Morrison with the third pick, and he might be out of the league by the end of next season.
2008
O.J. Mayo, Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to Memphis)
2007
Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks
2006
Adam Morrison, Charlotte Bobcats
2005
Deron Williams, Utah Jazz (pick acquired from Portland)
2004
Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls
Who Should the Thunder Target?
For more in-depth analysis and background regarding the players that the Thunder should target in this year’s Draft, click on each player name to be redirected to Christopher Reina’s Prospect Report piece.
- Hasheem Thabeet of UConn
At the trade deadline, the Thunder made a deal to bring Tyson Chandler to Oklahoma, but the deal was later rescinded. Now, the organization can get a much cheaper option for a similar talent (and far, far greater potential) in Thabeet out of UConn. Thabeet has the size and tools to make this team one of the best defensive teams in recent history. Teach him how to score on the block, and they may get one of the most productive players this draft has to offer.
- Ricky Rubio of DKV Joventut
While there is some question as to whether Westbrook can play effectively off the ball, there is no denying that Rubio is the third pick (if left on the board) in this draft. The Thunder will have to take a flyer on the young dynamic point guard, but could end up using this selection – especially if it becomes Rubio – as a chip to make a deal with the Clippers for the hometown hero, Blake Griffin.
- James Harden of Arizona State
Harden is one of the most dynamic scorers in this year’s draft. He could immediately step in and provide a much needed punch to the OK City offense in place of Sefolosha. The 19-year old Harden put up gaudy numbers at Arizona State, including 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game on 40.7% from downtown, and 20.1, 5.6, 4.2, and 1.7 on 35.6% from three last year as a sophomore. There is no doubt he can put the ball in the hoop – the only question is whether or not he will like the idea of sharing it.
- Jordan Hill of Arizona
Hill is an intriguing prospect because he shot up the mock draft boards this season after a strong showing at Arizona, with 18.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. His agility and fluidity for a man of his size (6-10, 230) is impressive and his defensive abilities fit in with what the Thunder are trying to do.
Picks Over the Past Five Years
The 2007 draft brought Durant and Green to the franchise, while trading away Carl Landry and Glen Davis proved costly as both are extremely valuable role-playing big men off the bench for championship contending teams. Last year saw the then-Sonics draft six players, and really only end up with one. They acquired D.J. White from Detroit for Walter Sharpe and Trent Plaisted, but White spent the season on the injured list. They sent Sasha Kaun to Cleveland for cash, Devon Hardin didn’t make the team and ended up playing for a Greek first division club called Egaleo AO, and Serge Ibaka was last year’s edition of the Standard Seven-Foot Stick Figure Center Who Will Never Contribute Anything Meaningful To The NBA Selection, made patented by the Sonics franchise over this past half-decade (see: Saer Sene, Johan Petro, and everyone’s favorite, Robert Swift). So basically they just got Westbrook last year, which is still better than what most teams can say.
2008
Russell Westbrook, 4th
Serge Ibaka, 25th
Walter Sharpe, 32nd (traded to Detroit)
Trent Plaisted, 46th (traded to Detroit)
Devon Hardin, 50th
Sasha Kaun, 56th (traded to Cleveland)
2007
Kevin Durant, 2nd
Carl Landry, 31st (traded to Houston)
Glen Davis, 35th (traded to Boston)
2006
Mouhamed Sene, 10th
Denham Brown, 40th
Yotam Halperin, 53rd
2005
Johan Petro, 25th
Mickael Gelabale, 48th
Lawrence Roberts, 55th
2004
Robert Swift, 12th
Andre Emmett, 35th
David Young, 41st
Who Do the Fans Want?
According to Andrew Perna’s Oklahoma City Lottery Summit, an interactive forum featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Thunder Draft discussion, the fans of OK City have made it known that they would an upgrade at the center position, where the fans recommend that the third overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft should be:
- Hasheem Thabeet of UConn
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to make the playoffs?
slick_watts: Not applicable.
theokie: Nothing.
Hiphophead101: We could have traded for vets, but that would have messed up our long term chances.
Clangus: If every team in the West had two key injuries…
big L: Not applicable.
wizkid27: Getting rid of P.J. Carlesimo and benching Earl Watson earlier would've been a start. However, it would've taken more than a few good decisions and a little more effort to get this team to the playoffs.
SD2042: If they found an identity earlier.
IanChang: If they established a very, very good defensive scheme and played Durant at the three from the start.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
slick_watts: Free throw shooting, rebounding, and flashes of good fast break offense.
theokie: Athleticism.
Hiphophead101: Improvement with a young nucleus and new coach.
Clangus: Rebounding, glimpses of fastbreak offense, hunger and improvement.
big L: We greatly improved our offensive movement when Durant switched to the forward position. Brooks proved to be an exceptional coach and motivator, and they finally got some consistency in the rotation.
wizkid27: Youth, potential, and signs of what is to come are obviously the biggest strengths. Outside of the young core, I would have to say that our GM has been the biggest bright spot with his continuous diamond-in-the-rough pickups like Krstic and Sefolosha this season.
SD2042: Youth, excitement, and some high hopes on becoming better.
IanChang: Youth, vigor, rebounding, talent and the good work ethic of the young core.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
slick_watts: Kevin Durant exceeded most expectations after his so-so rookie year, and Nenad Krstic played better than I thought he would coming back mid-season.
theokie: Russell Westbrook and Durant. Westbrook really improved greatly over the course of the season, as did Durant.
Hiphophead101: Westbrook.
Clangus: Durant, Jeff Green and Westbrook. They all improved as the season went on. Green ended last season with a crappy three-point shot, but by the All-Star break he proved quite capable of hitting them. Durant was outstanding. Westbrook improved as the year went on and was a nice surprise for a shock pick.
big L: Durant, I would say, followed by Westbrook. There were big expectations for Durant, and I think he surpassed them all.
wizkid27: On a team with this few wins, it's hard to pick any one guy that really exceeded expectations.
SD2042: Durant, Sefolosha, and Kyle Weaver (should get better).
IanChang: Durant, Green and Mason.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
slick_watts: Watson was the worst backup point guard in basketball. He was OK offensively, but I was hoping for more defensively from Jeff Green.
theokie: Watson. He went from a starter to a bench warmer.
Hiphophead101: Desmond Mason.
Clangus: Watson. Terrible, terrible. He must have had the most key turnovers and fouls on three-point shots in the league. We need him gone.
big L: Watson -- what happened to him?
wizkid27: The dismal season by Watson was probably the biggest hindrance, but I would say that Damien Wilkins was the one guy that I thought could contribute regularly to this team.
SD2042: Watson without a doubt.
IanChang: Watson. He really didn’t have a defined role.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
slick_watts: They've been shrewd so far. I think they'll do alright.
theokie: I’m pretty confident because Sam Presti has a solid track record.
Hiphophead101: Very confident. I trust Presti 100%.
Clangus: Presti is definitely one of the top-five general managers in the league. We have a ton of picks, money and talent to use; we should have a very good off-season.
big L: Very confident.
wizkid27: My confidence in the front office could not be higher. I wouldn't trade Presti for any GM in the entire league. From his key free agent signings that go under the radar and pay big dividends later on to his picks of Green and Westbrook, I am just a huge fan.
SD2042: Presti, like the others stated, is a consistent GM who has a good track record.
IanChang: It couldn’t be higher – In Sam We Trust.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
slick_watts: Outside shooting, interior defense and a backup point guard.
theokie: Interior defense and outside shooting.
Hiphophead101: A starting center and shooting guard.
Clangus: Everyone knows that we need a jump-shooting guard that is capable of hitting 3's with consistency and a center.
big L: Talent, defensive presence on the interior, someone to shoot the three, and scoring off the bench.
wizkid27: The team's biggest need is a shot-blocking/rebounding center.
SD2042: A defensive-minded center and depth.
IanChang: A big defensive threat in the paint, and a consistent shooter.
7. Who would you like the Thunder to take with their draft picks?
slick_watts: I guess Hasheem Thabeet and Patrick Mills. I’d strongly consider trading down from the third pick to get one of the other shooting guards in the draft, though.
theokie: Thabeet and Terrance Williams.
Hiphophead101: Thabeet (or trade down) and Wayne Ellington.
Clangus: Ricky Rubio or Thabeet with the third pick. If it’s Rubio, trade him for other assets. If Williams falls to the 25th pick, we have to select him. Otherwise -- Mills.
big L: I want them to make a trade because I don't have much confidence in this draft class, but I would say Thabeet (three) and then Chase Budinger, Ellington or Mills (25th).
wizkid27: Thabeet at 3, and somebody with consistent range from three-point land at 25.
SD2042: Thabeet and Budinger.
IanChang: Rubio/Thabeet and Williams/Ellington/Collison or Sam Young.
Click here to read other draft previews in our 30 Teams, 30 Days series
Who do you want the Thunder to draft at number 3? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions. |
