The Oklahoma City Thunder have three first-round picks in the 2022 NBA Draft, including pick number two. Their impressive pick collection and the state of their roster, which is a few tweaks away from being worthy of a spot in the Ge League, allow them to take some risks. One prospect they are heavily linked to is the biggest gamble of this year's draft, Shaedon Sharpe.
The 6-foot-5, 19-year-old shooting guard is one of the biggest mysteries in recent years. He has outstanding potential because of his scoring potential and outrageous, explosive athleticism. Although his defense and ball-handling are works in progress, he is one of the most tantalizing young talents. However, he didn't play organized basketball this past season or at all at the college level. His abilities in the NBA are extra hard to gauge.
OKC's interest in Sharpe is mutual. According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the Thunder “have studied him more closely than any team in the NBA” and his camp has them at the top of the wishlist for Sharpe's potential destinations.
Sharpe's camp also doesn't sound overly concerned with where he's picked, preferring to take a long-term view in steering him to an advantageous development situation in which he can maximize his significant potential and become an All-Star, with the Thunder being at the top of their list.
Sharpe will need time to get reacclimated to competitive basketball again, especially at the professional level. OKC can afford him that and pair him with solid backcourt partners in Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, making it a very sensible match.
Because of his immense potential, Sharpe will likely be selected in the top 10 of the NBA Draft. The Thunder have the 12th pick, so they could either trade up, hope that he falls to them or make the unthinkable move to choose him at two.
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