On paper, the Oklahoma City Thunder should be one of the best teams in the NBA. They have one of the better 1-2 punches in the league in Russell Westbrook and Paul George. Steven Adams is rounding into an All-Star-caliber center, and Jerami Grant flashed his potential as an athletic stretch 4 while also showing some improvements defensively.
Unfortunately for Thunder fans, basketball is not played on paper. They play on hardwood. And the reality is that Oklahoma City has very limited depth, plus a real lack of perimeter shooters and floor spacing. Those crucial factors have doomed them over their last two playoff appearances.
The other reality is that the Thunder have far surpassed the luxury tax and have almost no financial flexibility to work with this summer. As such, they have a definite need to hit in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Terrance Ferguson certainly has ridiculous athleticism, but he is hardly a dependable shooting option, while bench pieces like Patrick Patterson and Hamidou Diallo do not inspire a ton of confidence.
With all of this in mind, here are three players the Thunder should avoid in the 2019 NBA Draft.
1. Nicolas Claxton
Claxton is a big who has steadily climbed up mock drafts in recent weeks. The University of Georgia product busted out in his sophomore season, averaging 13.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He showed potential as a legitimate rim protector, and he has both the height (6'11”) and length to be an impact defender at the next level.
But on the Thunder? He would look like just another Nerlens Noel … no thanks. Despite his size, Claxton shot just 46 percent from the field. His efforts to extend his range did not prove to be very fruitful either, as he shot 28 percent from beyond the arc on two attempts per game.
The Thunder are already loaded with rim protectors. Steven Adams is a brick wall at center, and Jerami Grant is the kind of athletic help defender Claxton would probably equate to in the pros.
Any team that drafts Claxton is banking on his defensive upside, with the hope that he can translate into a face-up scorer or midrange guy similar to LaMarcus Aldridge. But the Thunder do not have time to wait, and they do not have pressing needs in the frontcourt.
2. Romeo Langford
Langford was regarded as a shoe-in as a top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft prior to his freshman campaign at Indiana University. But he struggled to shoot from the perimeter and had to undergo on his right thumb, which also forced him to miss the NBA Draft Combine.
As far as 2-guards go, Langford has plenty of upside. He is a bona fide scorer and slasher, and he can finish through contact at the rim.
Langford has a decent handle and room to grow as a shot creator, but his physical tools could help him excel in the league. He can rebound at a high level — which would fit in perfectly with the rest Oklahoma City's personnel — and might be a better playmaker for others in the NBA.
But for all of his abilities, Langford would only enhance Oklahoma City's current problems. He shot just over 27 percent from beyond the arc, and the thumb injury should make the Thunder wary about his potential progression in this regard.
If the Thunder are going to draft a 2-guard or swingman, there are plenty of other perimeter-oriented guys who can score at an adequate level.
3. Matisse Thybulle
Thybulle could be an extremely appealing option to Sam Presti and the Thunder. He would immediately be a perfect bench piece to spell Paul George, and Oklahoma City would lose very little in terms of its overall team defense.
This past season, Thybulle averaged an absurd 3.5 steals and 2.3 blocks, and he has a 7-foot wingspan that makes his defensive versatility invaluable. Similarly, he has shown that he can be a capable 3-point shooter, shooting above 40 percent from beyond the arc in his sophomore season at the University of Washington.
There is a chance that Thybulle could develop naturally as a 3-and D player for Oklahoma City, which might fit their draft night strategy perfectly. But he is also an inefficient scorer and does not rebound very well despite his length.
The Thunder could have a chance to draft the likes of Keldon Johnson, Tyler Herro or Cameron Johnson, all of whom would probably be better fits than Thybulle.
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