The center position has been a trigger word in Oklahoma City Thunder fan circles since the playoffs.
OKC is building itself similarly to how the Boston Celtics have. Heavy focus on three-point shooting, perimeter defense, and ball movement. The five-out system is here to stay in OKC, but Boston at least had Al Horford, a big who fits its system but can still bang down low when called upon.
OKC needs to add a big man this summer in some fashion, so just for kicks, lets look at a few options that could present themselves at the 12th pick.
DaRon Holmes II – Dayton
Holmes has become an OKC Twitter draft darling during the predraft process, and it’s easy to see why.
He’s 6’10, 235 pounds, was hyper-productive at Dayton where he averaged more than 20 points per game last season, he shot 38% from three on good volume, and he averaged nearly seven rebounds per game. On paper, he is the perfect fit to play alongside or backup Chet Holmgren.
He is a very good rim protector and defensive player along with his offensive abilities. He averaged over two blocks per game in two of his three seasons with the Flyers
Most of his concerns are related to Holmes’s style of play in college. He got a lot of looks with his back to the basket, he had a high usage rate, and he played against low-level competition. His shot looks smooth, but most of his looks were open and he struggled a bit on guarded looks.
Holmes is 21, but I think he will have some things to put together at the next level before he becomes a productive NBA player. He will need to continue to solidify his three-point shot and prove it is a real weapon, and not just a result of teams sagging off of him at the college level.
Overall, I don’t see why many draft pundits see 12 as “too high” for Holmes, especially relative to other players in this class. As far as I can tell, his floor is a situational big who can hit open threes and block shots, and his ceiling is an extremely useful floor spacer and defender who can punish teams from deep, move the ball, and play the four or the five.
The casual NBA media and fan may act surprised if Holmes hears his name called in the lottery, but I think he has home run potential for the Thunder or any other team.
Kyle Filipowski – Duke
Filipowski is this year’s guy who is falling and no one can put a finger on why.
He was a highly-rated recruit, played well within a team loaded with NBA talent, has a clean shooting stroke that he made at a 35% clip as a sophomore, and is a plus passer.
Defensively, he lacks elite athletic pop, but he knows where to be and how to be in the way, which led to him averaging 1.5 blocks per game for Duke last season.
Filipowski’s only major weakness is his lack of athleticism, and some don’t buy into him as a shooter. My opinion is that he shot well for long stretches of last season in a highly competitive conference, his form is perfect, and he shot over 70% from the free throw line in two seasons at Duke. Needless to say, I think natural maturation and the opportunity to work with one of the best shooting coaches in NBA history in Chip Engelland could lead to Filipowski becoming a good shooter in a short time.
Filipowski also had a few incidents with fans in college, one where he famously was ran into by a Wake Forest student who was rushing the court, but I don’t think there is any reason for long term concern because of that.
If Filipowski doesn’t work out as an NBA player, his athleticism will be to blame, but with a 7’0, 230-pound frame with a high level of feel for the game, I would bet on Filipowski figuring it out.
Zach Edey – Purdue
One of the most polarizing prospects in the draft, Edey’s name is at least worth mentioning for OKC.
Edey is the reigning men’s college basketball player of the year, he is 7’4 and nearly 300 pounds, and he is one of the most productive college players in the history of the game. He is a dominant, overpowering physical force inside who was unstoppable at Purdue, and he led the Boilermakers to the national championship game last season.
Despite Edey’s dominance, he reeks of a college star who doesn’t translate to the NBA, at least in my opinion. His game doesn’t leave the paint on either end unless he is shooting free throws, he shot two threes over four years at Purdue, he is very slow in terms of lateral movement, and a lot of his scoring was due to drawing fouls that he is unlikely to get at the next level unless he somehow becomes the next Yao Ming or Ralph Sampson out of nowhere.
Edey did shoot over 70% from the free throw line in three of his four seasons at Purdue, so a world where he learns to shoot a little bit isn’t impossible, but his complete and total lack of any kind of shooting makes me question the odds of that happening.
I think Edey will have to learn how to move his feet on the perimeter or he will be unplayable in clutch or playoff situations, and with his size, I seriously doubt that will occur.
Edey is interesting due to his college pedigree, but I would be floored if we heard his name called at 12.
Donovan Clingan – UConn
Reliable outlets have named OKC as a team that has an interest in trading up to land Clingan, but I don’t see him as a good enough fit to give up the assets it would require.
Clingan is 1A-1B with Alex Sarr for being the best big man in this class. He is a really good rim protector, can pass at a high level for his massive frame, and showed a willingness to fit into a team concept while arguably being the best player on the most dominant college team in over a decade.
Clingan brings a lot to the table in every facet of the game outside of shooting. He has shown flashes of dominance down low, he is a very good rebounder, his 7’2, 270-pound body aids him defensively in many ways, and he projects to have an immediate impact as a rim runner.
However, for OKC specifically, his lack of shooting, and inexperience playing with another center make him too tough of a fit to pay the premium he would cost to move up.
Clingan is clearly not a shooter and he clearly never will be barring a massive change. He shot only 58% from the free throw line during his sophomore season at UConn and shot 25% from three on eight attempts.
The passing for his size is special, and I think he has a chance to be a really good NBA player, but I don’t think a trade-up makes sense for either side.
