As the draft approaches, rumors and tidbits about who may be in play at 12 for the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to pop up.
Most pundits expect OKC to take a big man or a wing, so here I will go over a handful of wings that could make sense for the Thunder to take in the late lottery.
Tidjane Salaun – Cholet (France)
If you are looking for a prototypical “Thunder guy” look no further. The 18-year-old Salaun is a raw prospect who brings spectacular size and vision to the table, and if all goes well, he could turn into a high-level score-pass-dribble threat at nearly 6’10.
The issue with Salaun is that very little of his game has been realized, and he has a long way to go before he can realistically crack the rotation for a team that is trying to win a championship.
As a shooter, Salaun shows real promise and it is easy to see how he could turn into a massive asset in that area relatively soon. He shot only 32% from deep last season, but his stroke looks smooth, and he shot more than four attempts per game. Oftentimes, when young players are learning how to be shooters, the attempts will be low, but Salaun had no issue letting fly. He also showed a tendency of willingness to shoot deep threes. The numbers may not support it yet, but Salaun has a real chance to turn into a 6’10 three-point ace.
Salaun was also active in passing lanes and as a shot blocker, and has a 7’2 wingspan to accompany a ridiculous motor that never shuts off. He is anticipatory when it comes to jumping passes and getting steals, and has real instincts on the defensive side of the ball.
Physically and idealistically, Salaun is the perfect fit for OKC, but in actuality, he needs a lot of time and probably needs a good amount of NBA playing time if he wants to turn into the star his profile suggests he could be. He is raw in most areas, showing flashes of excellence, but rarely consistent difference-making ability.
If OKC goes this route, fans would immediately get on board, and for good reason. If Salaun hits his ceiling, it fills OKC’s one pressing need and sets it up to be the prohibitive favorite for years to come.
If Salaun is on the board at 12, something I find hard to believe, OKC should run to the phone and make the call to potentially land its power forward of the future that perfectly fits its five-out system.
Cody Williams – Colorado
Why not add another Williams to the fold? Williams, a 19-year-old, 6’8 wing, is the brother of OKC star Jalen Williams and is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft.
Heading into the season, Williams was one of the handful of players in contention to become the number one overall pick. A weird college season filled with role changes, injuries, and a multitude of other factors caused Williams to come down boards, and it is possible that he could be there at 12.
Williams is the best finisher of all the wings in this class. He finished 74% of his looks at the rim, a ridiculous clip for anyone, not to mention someone who is a skinny two-guard at this stage of his career. His rim finishing will take a hit until he can put on some weight, but the tools are there for him to become an elite inside-out threat. He also shot 41% from three at Colorado, but he probably isn’t that level of a shooter in reality. Williams shot just over one three per game, which is different from Salaun who didn’t shoot a good percentage but was willing to let them fly, and he shot just over 70% from the free throw line, which is often an indicator if a player can or cannot learn to become a good shooter. I would say Williams falls into the “fine” shooter area. I don’t think he will step in and shoot 40%, but he won’t be a player you can leave open either.
Williams is likely to become elite defensively, with some comparing him to Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels. His long, gangly arms are an annoyance to opposing ball handlers, and he uses his length and athleticism to stay in front of most offensive players.
The biggest issue with Williams is his frame. At 6’8, Williams doesn’t even crack 180 pounds, and his slightness is visible at times when watching his drives and defense against bigger players.
The lack of volume from three, his slenderness, and his lack of strength are the biggest issues with Williams right now, but if he can solve them he could be the best player in this class.
Like Salaun, I don’t think Williams will make it to 12, but if he does, there is no reason OKC shouldn’t try and find its own version of McDaniels and complete the Williams family.
Kyshawn George – Miami (FL.)
One of the most unique stories in the draft, George grew up in Switzerland before playing professionally in France, and eventually finding his way to Miami where he spent one season. Prior to his freshman season, George was not thought to be a player who could contribute right away, but his shooting prowess got him onto the court, where he averaged seven points per game. George also had a late growth spurt that saw him sprout all the way up to 6’8, but he never left his point guard skills behind.
George may be the best shooter of any wing who has a chance to be on the board at 12. He shot 41% in his lone college season, and his stroke is as pure as it gets. He also showed the ability to shoot deep threes, and he thrived on catch-and-shoot attempts, something he would see a lot of if he worked out as a member of the Thunder.
George’s past as a point guard is clear on tape. He has moments of high-level passing, both from a standing base and as a live-dribble ball handler. He does well to get his teammates involved and most of his scoring offense came in catch-and-shoot situations.
George’s shooting upside is clear, and he is a good passer already, but there are real concerns to be had with his burst and athletic ability.
There is a chance he is still learning how to play basketball in a 6’8 frame, but he has a lack of dribble creation ability and struggles to get to the rim at this stage, and it is hard to see those abilities dramatically improving at a higher level of basketball.
He also has a startling lack of production across multiple leagues for someone who will be twenty on draft night. George is going to be a slow-burn kind of guy in terms of development, and while his shooting has a chance to get him on the floor right away, everything else needs a lot of work.
If George fails as a prospect, it will be due to his lack of athleticism, and an inability to drive to the rim makes him fall way down the list of potential Thunder guys.
George will most likely be on the board at 12. If OKC buys into the shooting ability, it will be easy to understand why, but it is my opinion that better options are likely to be on the board.
Tristan da Silva – Colorado
Da Silva is the textbook definition of a plug-and-play draft prospect, specifically for OKC.
Offensively, da Silva does everything OKC wants to do at a high level. He is an elite shooter with volume from the outside (39%), he has a good feel for when and where to cut, and he is a decent playmaker for someone who has been a career wing/power forward and is 6’9.
Defensively, he knows where to be and when to be there and has a nose for poking the ball out. He isn’t a special athlete, but he is athletic enough to stay in front of his man at least long enough for the help to come.
Da Silva does have a lack of athletic juice to his game, but his high-level catch-and-shoot game and the ability to be a passable rebounder make that concern less potent in my opinion.
Da Silva’s lack of elite burst limits his upside as an individual creator, but on a team with SGA, Williams, and Chet Holmgren, standing in the corner and having the ability to drive to the rim here and there is all you need to become an incredibly valuable NBA player.
The main thing that could keep OKC from taking da Silva is his age. OKC has never drafted a 23-year-old in the lottery, and da Silva turned 23 in May. His ceiling is limited, but he could be the perfect role player/fifth starter for OKC if he turns out how most expect him to.
That could cause OKC to lose interest, as Sam Presti’s track record tells us he tends to favor the younger, more upside-driven prospects as compared to sure things like da Silva.
If da Silva is there at 12, my instinct tells me OKC will look elsewhere and take an upside swing, but if it takes da Silva, I would be happy with it.
