This post was contributed to FanSided.com by Andrew Kennedy of FanSided’s very own Oklahoma City Thunder blog, Thunderous Intentions. For more Thunder news and rumors, be sure to check out ThunderousIntentions.com.
I not often that a 60-win team ends up with a draft pick in the lottery. That’s what the Thunder have this year at No. 12, courtesy of the James Harden trade. You really couldn’t have picked a weaker draft for the Thunder to end up with a lottery pick though.
There are no real, immediate needs for the Thunder that they can quench with a rookie in this draft. Looking down the road at the future of the franchise will again be the mindset heading into Thursday night.
It feels that the Thunder will go with a big man with their first pick. That could either mean Cody Zeller falling all the way to No. 12 or the Thunder going with a player they worked out in Steven Adams.
Finding Kendrick Perkins’ eventual replacement is likely the top priority, unless a C.J. McCollum or Michael Carter-Williams falls into their laps.
The Thunder also have two more picks at No. 29 and 32 overall. These will likely be dealt or used to take an international product,who can be stashed overseas for a few years. There is some potential that the Thunder may look for a “three-and-D” type of wing player. Either way, whoever the Thunder draft this late will be spending more time in another country or with the Tulsa 66ers next year, that is for sure.