Fansided

Re-drafting the 2015 NBA Draft

By John Buhler

Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) returns the ball against Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

. Small Forward. Arizona Wildcats. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. 14. player. 149

Without superstar small forward Kevin Durant available for roughly three-quarters of the 2014-15 NBA season, the Oklahoma City Thunder found themselves in the rare position of picking in the back-end of the NBA Draft Lottery.

Oklahoma City is an elite NBA team and sure did make the most of their first-round pick of the 2015 NBA Draft by taking Payne out of Murray State. He’s become a very interesting piece in the Thunder back court, in a way making former backup point guard Reggie Jackson totally expendable.

However in this re-draft, Payne went to the Jazz at No. 12, so Oklahoma City needs to consider somebody else at No. 14. One player that might have made sense before getting injured in his rookie year is wing Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of the Arizona Wildcats.

Hollis-Jefferson would help the Thunder in the one area the team can never seem to figure out in terms of wing depth. While Payne and Andre Roberson have thrived in the 2016 NBA Playoffs, one would have to think that the Thunder would have like Hollis-Jefferson’s upside out on the wing at No. 14.

Before he got hurt mid-season, he was one of the most appealing trade assets on an also-ran Nets team. It would be a little bit of a reach to get Hollis-Jefferson at No. 14, but the Thunder’s player development program is one of the best in the league and Oklahoma City could afford to take a gamble with the former Wildcat wing.

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