The NBA Draft is Thursday, and with that comes an increased amount of speculation about who the Oklahoma City Thunder will draft with all three of their picks, but more importantly to most fans, their 12th pick.
The mock drafts are a bit played out, and so is the notion that anyone can figure out what Thunder general manager Sam Presti plans to do on Draft night. With that being said, Presti mentioned “culture fits” during his exit interview a couple of months ago, so we’re going to outline which Thunder prospects are the best culture fits for the franchise and the city.
Gradey Dick (Guard), University of Kansas
The Thunder have always needed shooting. In their years of contention, it certainly would have been nice, but now, there’s Isaiah Joe, who has solidified himself as a knockdown shooter and more of an all-around player than most expected. Another guy that’ll add depth to OKC’s shooting department is Gradey Dick, the 19-year-old, 6-foot-8 guard out of Kansas, who is considered to be the best pure shooter of this draft class.
He also fits OKC’s fictional size requirement for the backcourt. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 6-foot-6, Josh Giddey is 6-foot-8, and Jalen Williams is 6-foot-6. Adding Dick at Giddey’s height would fit the bill. In addition, he’s a solid personality that’ll fit perfectly in OKC.
Taylor Hendricks (Forward), University of Central Florida
In my opinion, Oklahoma City needs to replace Darius Bazley, or at least what he was supposed to be. Hendricks would be that. They need a stereotypical stretch-four that provides two-way capabilities. Hendricks would provide that. They need another rim protector alongside Chet Holmgren. That should be Hendricks. Lastly, OKC needs an enforcer. Someone who isn’t afraid to “get active” when needed (outside of Giddey), and that would be Hendricks.
At 6-foot-9, Hendricks has the intangibles to be an ideal NBA forward.
Dereck Lively (Center), Duke University
Stereotypically, Presti pursues lengthy, defensive-minded big men. Lively is exactly that. At 7-foot-1, his defensive upside rivals any other big man in this draft, but his offensive game isn’t where it needs to be. Sounds like a young Steven Adams, doesn’t it? Could he develop into one of the best centers in the league down the road? He could, just like Adams, because you can’t teach defensive awareness like you can teach offense.
