The Oklahoma City Thunder finally got some luck from the NBA lottery gods this season, landing the second pick in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft.
Thunder GM Sam Presti has focused on hoarding draft picks like they're the most valuable resource on earth over the past couple of seasons. Now in the process of turning those theoretical picks into living, breathing NBA prospects, OKC now needs to set its focus onto which players are actually going to help them make the playoffs sooner rather than later.
If you guaranteed to Thunder fans before the lottery that they'd be selecting in the top three, they would have taken it with a the biggest grin on their face.
OKC dropped not once, but twice in last year's draft after seeing their own pick fall from 4th to 6th. They also lost out on the Houston Rockets' pick that would have been theirs if it fell out of the top 4. It was a double whammy as the Rockets pick ended up second, allowing Houston to keep their pick and select Jalen Green.
While Josh Giddey has been a revelation in his rookie season and forms a dynamic playmaking partner for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, there was a scenario wherein the Thunder could have landed Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes or runner-up Evan Mobley alongside Giddey as well.
The beauty of this upcoming NBA Draft class is that there's a consensus top three that many feel are separated from the rest of the pack. With the second selection, the Thunder get their pick between at least two of the top three talents believe to be franchise-altering prospects. But which one should the Thunder take?
Here are the three (3) best options for the OKC Thunder with their 2nd overall pick, ranked:
3 best options for OKC Thunder with 2nd pick in NBA Draft:
There's a legitimate argument to be made that Paolo Banchero ends up the best player in the 2022 NBA Draft. He was the clear-cut alpha on a Duke Blue Devils squad that made the Final Four and can already serve as more of a go-to scorer than the two players above him on this list.
He has an advanced offensive game for his age, showing interior polish in the paint and around the rim. His bulky 6'10” frame gives him an NBA-ready body to compete down-low as soon as he gets his feet wet.
But just like Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Banchero also has the ability to serve as a primary playmaker at the point of attack. He's shown legitimate take-over potential based on his one season at Duke and his rock-solid showing at the NCAA tournament.
Paolo Banchero (@Pp_doesit), when the lights are brightest, against the BEST DEFENSE IN COLLEGE:
22 PTS || 4 TRB || 4 AST || 3 STL
58% FG
3/4 3PT
83% FTWith 13m left in the second half, took over and was responsible for 17/22 points for the next 10m, leading Duke to victory. pic.twitter.com/wMeQn5C24C
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) May 16, 2022
His defense, however, leaves much to be desired. He has all the physical tools to be a strong defender at the next level, but his effort and awareness seem to be a step behind his offensive repertoire.
Paolo Banchero is also a relatively pedestrian shooter clocking in at just 33.8% from beyond the arc, which makes him less of a stylistic fit with the Thunder's current core that already have a couple of ball-handlers who can find the open man.
2. Jabari Smith Jr.
Speaking of stylistic fit, Auburn Tigers product Jabari Smith Jr. is a hand-in-glove fit for the OKC Thunder. His biggest asset is his elite shooting ability coupled with the fact that he's virtually unblockable at a legit 6'10”.
Smith shot a sterling 42.0% from the three-point line on a 5.5 attempts per game, and that's for an Auburn team that didn't have the backcourt talent to properly set up their most lethal offensive threat.
That's not going to be an issue for Jabari Smith Jr. on the Thunder. With SGA and Giddey both willing passers, he'll be feasting on open threes from the jump.
For as great as he is as a release valve shooter, Jabari Smith Jr. has the potential to be much more than just a three-point threat. He has the mobility and developing handle to become the next big wing star ready to terrorize opponents while leveraging on the threat of his silky smooth jumper.
https://twitter.com/PillEm0ji/status/1526420511491866624
Jabari Smith Jr. doesn't appear as ready to create his own offensive like Paolo Banchero just yet, but OKC has the personnel to bring him along slowly on that end while maximizing his easily translatable shooting stroke.
While his interior defense might not hold up in the paint at the next level, Smith Jr. has immense upside as a wing defender. He brings consistent energy and effort on the defensive end, which isn't something you can say for Paolo Banchero in his lone college season.
Banchero and Smith Jr. are both tremendous prospects, but the OKC Thunder must go with the latter when considering both of their strengths.
#1 – Chet Holmgren
The Thunder can't go wrong with either Paolo Banchero or Jabari Smith Jr. But if Chet Holmgren is on the board at number two, OKC must take that home run swing.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs star is a legit 7-footer with a 7-foor-6 wingspan. He was an elite rim-protector as a freshman averaging 3.7 blocks per game. The only thing that gives NBA teams pause is his very slight frame with the lanky big man weighing at under 200 pounds at present.
While he's far from a guaranteed product, stars from Kevin Durant to Ja Morant were all questioned over their slight frame. If it wasn't for his need to put on weight, he'd be the guaranteed first-overall pick by a mile and a half.
Beyond the potential to be a Rudy Gobert-like defensive presence in the NBA, he also has the potential to be a dynamic offensive talent.
What made him a viral sensation even before entering the college ranks is his truly unicorn-ian skillset. Holmgren went right at Stephen Curry during a camp held by the Golden State Warriors star and hit him with a nasty behind-the-back move that the 2-time MVP pulls on NBA defenders himself.
7 footer Chet Holmgren crossed up Steph Curry at his own camp! pic.twitter.com/Id8fXFMccM
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 25, 2020
While he didn't always blow by defenders with the same ease at Gonzaga, his offensive fluidity sets him lightyears apart from most shot-blockers who are often exclusively rim-runners and lob threats on offense.
Holmgren was also a near-40% shooter from beyond the arc on a decent number of attempts at 3.3 per contest. He projects to be Rudy Gobert on defense with some of his NBA 2K sliders adjusted for some guard skills.
Chet Holmgren has the highest ceiling among the three best prospects by far. He's exactly the type of player that the Thunder were dreaming of acquiring when they started hoarding NBA draft picks. If he's on the board, OKC has to take him.
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