The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to convey to OKC than the latter.
With the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament concluded, the top prospects were in the spotlight as they drew national attention for their postseason performances.
Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.
One possibility is Duke guard Jared McCain. He finished with 32 points on 8-of-20 shooting, 5-of-11 from 3, 11-of-11 from the free-throw line and six rebounds in 40 minutes in No. 4 Duke’s 76-64 loss to No. 11 NC State in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
McCain will likely be a one-and-done case; the freshman guard has played a vital role in Duke’s success. In 34 games, he averaged 14 points on 46.5% shooting, five rebounds and 1.9 assists. He shot 41.5% from 3 on 5.7 attempts.
The 20-year-old is a crafty scorer who can stretch the floor. Size is an issue at 6 feet, 3 inches and 197 pounds, but he can grow into a solid frame over time.
On the Thunder, McCain can be a crafty scorer off the bench. He can enrich their deep guard depth and can be another catch-and-shoot option for OKC.
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