Potential Trade-Down Targets for Oklahoma City Thunder During the 2015 NBA Draft
Who could the Oklahoma City Thunder target if they decide to trade down from the No. 14 overall pick in this month's NBA draft?
Unlike most teams picking in the lottery, the Thunder are so loaded that they don't need a rookie to make an immediate impact. Unless Oklahoma City makes some moves, any selection is likely to spend his first season fighting for time on the second unit or logging minutes in the D-League.
Additionally, this year's rookie class is deep enough that general manager Sam Presti can still find talent at the bottom of the first round. With seven small forwards potentially going in the first 30 picks, Presti can address his need for a backup behind Kevin Durant practically anywhere in the draft.
A move down would save OKC some money as well. The No. 14 overall pick is guaranteed a first-year salary of $1.68 million with a bump up to $1.76 million next season. That price tag drops the lower a team picks in the draft's opening salvo, with the final five selections of the first round making less than $1 million in their rookie campaign.
The Thunder already have $78.2 million committed for 2015-16, not including a new deal for restricted free agent Enes Kanter, which makes hanging onto a few dollars even more beneficial. A move back would also allow the club to nab some additional assets while coming away with a future contributor.
Through the years, Presti has found a comfort zone while selecting in the bottom half of the draft, coming away with steals such as Serge Ibaka (No. 24, 2008) and Reggie Jackson (No. 24, 2011).
Could that trend continue this year?
R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
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Outside shooting was one of the Thunder's biggest weaknesses this season, as injuries to Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka exposed the club's dearth of three-point marksmen. Even with KD and The Serge Protector expected to make healthy returns next season, OKC could use a boost on the perimeter after shooting 33.9 percent from downtown as a team in 2014-15.
Georgia State guard R.J. Hunter has his share of knocks against him, but being able to rise and fire isn't one of them. While he shot a ho-hum 39.5 percent from the field and a pedestrian 30.5 percent from three as a junior, he nailed 35.4 percent of his threes during his career on 7.2 threes per game, according to Sports-Reference.
The bigger issue is Hunter's wispy frame. At 6'6" and a mere 185 pounds, the 21-year-old may need a few trips to Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse to help withstand the physical toll of defending bigger, stronger guards over the course of an 82-game season.
Speaking of defense, Hunter admits there are concerns in that area after playing in a college zone scheme, but he believes he has the chops to hold his own, per Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman: "I’ve always gotten steals. I think the question is the on-the-ball defense. It’s hard to show that in a zone. But I’ve got length and smarts and I think that’s what good defenders have.”
With some time to add bulk and improve defensively, Hunter could develop into a fine asset for the Thunder. His elite shooting stroke would come in handy on the second unit, where Anthony Morrow and D.J. Augustin are the only real perimeter threats.
Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
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For weeks, the Thunder have been linked to Murray State's Cameron Payne, with ESPN.com's Chad Ford going as far as reporting the team promised to take the point guard at No. 14. According to ESPN.com's Ian Begley, though, Payne has caught the eye of the New York Knicks, who are supposedly considering trading down from No. 4 to take him. Payne also worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers, who pick second.
If Payne is off the board, another option for OKC could be Notre Dame's Jerian Grant. While the Thunder already have a backup point guard in D.J. Augustin, the 6'5, 200-pound Grant would be a much bigger alternative to the 6'0", 183-pound Augustin.
Grant is one of the oldest and most experienced prospects in this draft. He started his collegiate career back in 2010 and will turn 23 in October. While that may give him a lower ceiling than other rookies, it also means his learning curve won't be nearly as steep.
He flashed his scoring potential during his last two years with the Irish, averaging 19 points per game as a junior and 16.5 as a senior. In addition, Grant also has a knack for getting others involved. His 253 total assists this season led the ACC and ranked third in the nation, while he also posted a modest assist percentage of 33.6 percent, per Sports-Reference.
In Oklahoma City, Grant could be an upgrade over Augustin, who will be a free agent next summer. Defensively, his elite size makes him better-equipped to handle bigger guards than Augustin, who allowed 110 points per 100 possessions this season, per Basketball-Reference.
Offensively, he's a 34.5 percent career three-point shooter who can space the floor. He could even pair with Russell Westbrook to give the Thunder a physically imposing backcourt in a two point guard set.
As an added bonus, bringing Grant to town would have some local flavor, as he is the son of former Oklahoma Sooner Harvey Grant.
Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville
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If the Thunder strike out on Cameron Payne and aren't interested in Jerian Grant, how about Louisville's Terry Rozier?
At 6'2", 190 pounds, the Cardinals sophomore doesn't offer the elite size that Grant has, but he does possess a 6'8" wingspan and an impressive 38" vertical. He also isn't the facilitator that Payne is, having averaged just 2.4 assists during his two years under Rick Pitino.
However, Rozier has potential as both a scorer and defender. While his 41.1 percent shooting on 14.5 attempts leaves much to be desired, he still managed to put up 17.1 points per game this past season. He also did an excellent job of protecting the ball, committing just 1.9 turnovers in 35 minutes per contest.
He showed off some skills as a stopper as well. His three defensive win shares were seventh-best in the nation, and he allowed just 99.2 points per 100 possessions, which ranked fifth in the ACC, per Sports-Reference.
Also, while he doesn't commit many turnovers, he does a nice job of forcing them, as he led the ACC with 72 steals.
The biggest issue with Rozier coming to Oklahoma City is his inability to space the floor. He shot just 30.6 percent from downtown as a sophomore and holds a mere 33.1 percent career mark. His offensive production in college suggests he can still contribute offensively in other ways, but he will need to improve his outside jumper in order to keep pro defenses honest.
Fortunately, the Thunder already have two established veterans at point guard and can afford to wait on the 21-year-old's development.
If OKC is determined to add a young point guard, it could move down and take a long look at Rozier, who reportedly has a first-round guarantee from at least one team, according to Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears.
Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas
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Based on potential, Kansas freshman Kelly Oubre has the upside and physical tools to be a lottery pick. At 6'7" with a 7'2" wingspan and a 35.8 percent mark from behind the arc, he could be a solid three-and-D guy for a Thunder team that needs depth on the wing.
However, based on his college production, it might be hard to justify taking Oubre with the No. 14 pick, as the 19-year-old averaged just 9.3 points and five boards per game for the Jayhawks. The good news is the Thunder could possibly move down a few spots to secure Oubre's services.
While he still needs to add weight to his 203-pound frame, his jump shot will allow him to contribute right away. Oubre expressed great confidence in his shooting stroke during an interview with Ricky O'Donnell of SB Nation:
"I know I can shoot. I've tweaked a lot of things on my shot. The drop angle on my shot is something I've tweaked by getting the ball to my shooting pocket and going straight up and straight down. I've researched people like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. The drop angle on their shot gives them a high-percentage chance of making it. I've watched film and adjusted things like that.
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Besides shooting, Oubre can also defend. He allowed 92.6 points per 100 possessions, which was sixth-best in the Big 12, according to Sports-Reference.
Best-case scenario: OKC moves down to the late teens to nab Oubre, who becomes the two-way wing the club sorely needs and eventually moves into the starting lineup between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Worst-case scenario: The Thunder roll the dice on a taller version of Jeremy Lamb.
Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia
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There is a lot to like about Virginia junior Justin Anderson. At 6'6" and 230 pounds, he's a small forward who is built like a Mack truck. He also possesses a 6'11" wingspan and an insane 43" max vertical.
However, he is more than just an impressive physical specimen.
After shooting just 30.3 percent from behind the arc as a freshman and 29.4 percent as a sophomore, Anderson boosted his three-point conversion rate to an incredible 45.2 percent this past season. As a result, his scoring average jumped from just over seven points his first two years in Charlottesville to 12.2 per game as junior, per Sports-Reference.
Anderson credits the improvement in his jumper to working on mechanics and increased confidence, per NBA.com's Chris Dortch: "I always thought I could become a good shooter. My shot was never really broken. I just needed to make a few changes, and those changes gave me confidence."
He also believes his solid physique will allow him to step in right away against NBA veterans: "I think I'm a guy who can see the floor right away because of my body. Going through the process [of team workouts], I hear a lot of guys say they're worried about weight and strength and getting pushed around in the NBA. I think I can hold my own at my position."
Anderson's prowess as a potential three-and-D guy would come in handy for a Thunder team that is looking for wings who can contribute at both ends. He could slide into a reserve role behind Kevin Durant and even possibly play alongside KD in smaller lineups.
With experts from CBS Sports' Gary Parrish to Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman to SI.com's Chris Mannix all projecting Anderson to go in the early-to-mid 20s, OKC could move down and still come away with its latest draft steal.
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