Subscribe
Follow Us
The Oklahoma City Thunder has been struggling since the 2019-20 campaign led by the trio of Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroder. Rebuilding and letting most of their main pieces move to other teams in the offseason means they shifted their priority in building their roster through the NBA draft. The first top-10 pick of the Thunder in this iteration was Australian Josh Giddey, who earned a well-deserved All-Rookie second team.
Selecting Giddey is just the beginning for the Thunder as they have two lottery picks in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft. Choosing second and twelfth in this stacked class is a huge privilege for the Thunder, so the expertise of General Manager Sam Presti will be put to the test once again. Having either Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr. or Paolo Banchero fill in immediately at the first unit of their unit, but it is in the twelfth selection wherein the brilliant choices are necessary.
Thunder 2022 NBA Draft Options
Mark Williams
Coming from a spectacular Duke basketball program, Mark Williams will bring a terrific winning mentality to the system of coach Mark Daigneault. Furthermore, the depth and size of the Thunder have been a cause for concern ever since the departure of Steven Adams. Mark Williams will fill the need as a seven-footer who possesses tremendous athletic prowess and versatility at that position.
Williams can switch on guards and pick-and-roll situations without being exposed by the opponents. Furthermore, his rim protection and interior defense are top-notch which will be very vital for a roster built around their guards and wings. Mark Williams will complement incredibly with either of the top-three picks because of his contrasting strengths and style of play.
Article Continues Below
Ousmane Dieng
Drafting a similar prototype to Josh Giddey to add to their wing depth, Ousmane Dieng is an intriguing prospect who has immense upside at the NBA level. Deciding to play in the NBL in the previous year lessened the American audience who are familiar with Dieng's style of play. Ousmane Dieng has the size to consistently shoot jumpers and create shots at an excellent level.
It is normal for rookies, like Dieng to continue thriving as a more efficient ball handler and shooter. Moreover, Ousmane Dieng needs to manufacture ways of blossoming into a star by thriving through his off-ball movement in an offense led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey. The Paul George or Brandon Ingram comparisons are right on point for Ousmane Dieng and having Sam Presti take a chance on athletic individuals with the highest potential is not a far-fetched possibility for the Thunder.
Jeremy Sochan
Another forward who played in a sensational basketball program that would fit perfectly in Oklahoma City is Baylor standout Jeremy Sochan. In this era of basketball, Sohan has the tools and weapons as a forward who would succeed at the NBA level. His knack for the ball is a fantastic combination with his versatility and energy on every possession of the game.
Baylor's loss to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament was disappointing for the Bears, but Sochan's never-say-die attitude percolated with his teammates as they almost pulled out a historic comeback. Jeremy Sochan also has admirable defensive awareness and IQ which is critical in finding a permanent spot in Daigneault's rotation. Sochan would not perform the highlight-worthy or rim-rattling plays, but he gets the job done through sheer hard work and determination to grab and win every possession of the contest.
Entering the NBA level is no joke for these young studs. The talent is unquestioned for these folks on the lottery, but it is the attitude and mentality that differentiates them from the others. The constant desire and eagerness to win and putting the team's performance as the priority is a rare breed, but the Thunder have a second lottery pick in their hands that bring those traits to their organization.
