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The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the process of one of the largest rebuilds in NBA history. They finished 14th in the Western Conference this season with a record of 24-58. This was their second consecutive season with 24 or fewer victories. Their youthful roster has begun to establish some young building blocks such as Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, Aaron Wiggins, and, of course, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder have control of a ridiculous 38 draft picks between now and the 2028 draft and are set to continue adding talent.
Three of these selections fall in this year's first round, with Oklahoma City selecting second, 12th, and 30th. While the top two picks rightfully get most of the attention, it is important to capitalize on every selection. A team can find their missing piece at any stage of the draft and cannot afford to waste any picks. While the first two selections may carry more weight, here are three names to keep an eye out for the Thunder's 30th overall selection, if they actually keep this pick instead of using it in a trade.
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Best options for Thunder with 30th pick in 2022 NBA Draft
Christian Braun- Wing Kansas
As the Thunder begin to transition from bottom-feeders to contenders, they will need the right complementary role players in place. This is exactly what the hope should be for Christian Braun as he begins his NBA journey. The Kansas wing stands 6-foot-7 and was a career 38.6% 3-point shooter in college. Braun spent three seasons in school and flashed his most on-court production last season. The former NCAA champion averaged 14.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and a steal.
The Kansas native effectively plays within his role and does not need the ball a great amount to be effective. He is a smart basketball player who is comfortable making the right passes and not afraid to get on the floor. He is complete offensively and is a better rebounder than his size would indicate. Braun may lack some quickness but projects positively as an NBA role player and will give 100% effort his entire time on the court.
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Bryce McGowens- Wing Nebraska
With two picks already in the draft, the Thunder can afford to take a risk on a high-upside prospect. This is exactly what they would be getting with Bryce McGowens, who possesses all the tools of a high-impact NBA player but is still in the process of putting them together. Standing 6-foot-6, McGowens is an explosive athlete who is capable of rising high above the rim. He tallied 16.8 points per game this season and was never shy to attempt to get a bucket. The Nebraska product flashed from all three scoring levels and has an intriguing dribble-drive game.
The biggest red flag with McGowens is his efficiency. He shot just 40.3% from the field and 27.4% on 3-point attempts in his sole season in college. McGowens is not short on confidence but lets it fly more freely than he should. He also needs to add some strength to his body, as he was greatly thrown off his game by more physical defenders. This will be a real issue at the NBA level if he does not add weight. The Nebraska product also came up short on a large number of his jumpers and additional leg strength will help in this regard as well.
Christian Koloko- C Arizona
The lack of buzz surrounding Christian Koloko is a major indication of how much big men have become devalued in the modern NBA. The 7-footer is a physical nightmare who impresses on the defensive end. He has a 7-foot-4 wingspan and swatted 2.8 blocks per game this past season. Koloko spent three seasons with Arizona and made some massive steps forward each year. He has solid touch around the rim and enticing rim-running potential.
Koloko will need to get in better shape at the NBA level, but he has the tools to be a modernized NBA center with a little more to bring to the table. Most of his offense came on putbacks and lobs, but there are encouraging signs in his midrange game. The Arizona product shot 73.5% from the free-throw line this season. This is important to staying on the floor longer and also a positive indication that there are no mechanical issues with his shot. He attacks the offense glass effectively and plays with a high motor. At the worst, Koloko is a rotational big man, but his potential is much higher.
You cannot teach the size and athleticism he possesses and the rate he has improved is exciting. The big man was the Pac-12 Most Improved Player this past season. Putting him in a low-pressure situation where he can adjust to the NBA level is perfect for Koloko. With little expectation for him at the start, the Thunder could be the true beneficiaries of his development in the long run.
