Tag: 2020 NBA Draft

The Oklahoma City Thunder were busy on Wednesday, swapping out Danny Green for picks and Al Horford, Ricky Rubio and picks for another pick, and even using some of those draft picks to select players.

Basically, general manager Sam Presti was at it again, picking up future picks, players who will stay overseas for a year including Aleksej Pokusevski, and generally being active on a busy NBA night.

Here are some of takeaways and thoughts about these deals and selections.

Thunder trade Danny Green, Terrance Ferguson to Philadelphia 76ers for Al Horford, No. 34 pick, 2025 first-round pick, Vasilije Micic

Essentially, the Thunder traded Dennis Schroder for two first-rounders, a second-rounder, Al Horford and Vasilije Micic. Now that’s a return for a sixth man on an expiring deal.

Trading Ferguson wasn’t shocking to me. He didn’t feel like a piece of the Thunder’s future, and with a $4 million deal this year and a team option for next, Oklahoma City would’ve had to make a decision soon.

What was somewhat surprising was that the Thunder were willing to take on Horford’s contract, which pays an average of $27 million over the next three seasons, instead of simply trading Green for a second-rounder or letting his contract expire. $81 million is a lot to pay for future a first-round pick.

But this deal seems to indicate optimism that Horford’s trade value can be regained and Steven Adams can be dealt. The Thunder, trying to cut its payroll, suddenly owe $55 million to two centers this year alone. They should try to trade both.

With all that said, Presti trading for a future first-round pick is approaching the “death and taxes” mantra. It’s impossible to know what Philadelphia will look like in five years, and with reportedly weak protections on it, that pick has value.

Also, Oklahoma City got Vasilije Micic. I don’t know him. I haven’t watched film on him. I’ve only had time for a quick stat search, which showed he is a 6-foot-5 guard who is averaging 15 points and six assists per game in the EuroLeague. I like those numbers, even if his assist-to-turnover ratio is not ideal and he shoots poor percentages. Sign me up.

Thunder trade Ricky Rubio, pick No. 25, pick No. 28 to the Minnesota Timberwolves for pick No. 17.

Thunder uses pick 17 on Aleksej Pokusevski

Getting off Rubio’s contract immediately eases the burden of Horford’s deal, and you can’t help but feel happy for Rubio to get back to his original NBA city.

In trading up for pick 17, there was little surprise when Oklahoma City drafted Pokusevski, whom they had been connected to in reports.

It’s a classic Process-esque move. Draft someone with immense potential who won’t actually play for the team next year. Oklahoma City must see Pokusevski for his potential as a 7-foot shooter and playmaker who can fit in with this generation of bigs. I’m worried about his size and generally weak frame — I don’t know if he can defend NBA rotation players, regardless of position — and this is amplified by the fact that he plays in the B league of Greece also concerns me.

But there’s a non-zero chance he ends up not just being good, but the best player in the draft. This is a high-risk, high-reward pick for a team absolutely loaded with draft stock. Pokusevski will stay overseas this year. If he arrives in a couple years and is ready for a true NBA role two years later, Oklahoma City will have found its point-forward of the future. If he ends up not being worth it — well, the Thunder have more than enough picks over the next handful of years to make up for giving up two first-rounders and Rubio for him.

Late Wednesday night — early Thursday morning, actually — Presti held a press conference. He wasn’t allowed to say much, as all these picks involved trades that weren’t official, but he did make one comment when talking about how hard it is to get a draft pick correct that applies here.

“We’re not afraid to take some risk,” he said. “Risk is an important part of trying to gain an advantage.”

Thunder draft Theo Maledon with No. 34 pick

We’re going to need a nickname for this international backcourt. Maledon, who is French, joins Canadians Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort as options at the guard positions.

(I bet you can guess my excitement for the next pick).

I was impressed with a few different areas of Maledon’s play when I did draft research earlier this offseason. He’s a creative passer who can absorb contact. He already shows three-level scoring skill. And he knows how to get his defender on his back or hip.

There’s a real chance that Maledon is the backup point guard this year. If developed properly, he could be a spot starter in the league. There were a couple guys remaining who I liked more on the board — and while I thought it was a longshot that Desmond Bane would last five more picks, I was disappointed for the Thunder when he was taken at No. 30 — but I do see the upside in drafting a player with professional experience like Maledon.

Thunder trade for pick No. 37, use it to draft Vit Kerjci

Let’s take OKC global. The Thunder unfortunately lost Spanish guard Rubio, but they went international with the draft pick they got in exchange for him. They also traded for Micic and acquired the draft rights to Maledon and Kerjci.

If one day we can see a rotation of Maledon, Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort and Pokusevski with Micic and Kerjci coming off the bench, I’ll be thrilled. Coming for that San Antonio Spurs level of international talent.

Presti’s background with the Spurs, where he started in 2000 as a film intern and grew to assistant general manager before leaving for the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007, was on full display Wednesday night.

I’m not going to pretend to know anything about Kerjci, who averaged less than eight minutes a game last season, but he did play in the top-tiered Spanish league, is just 20 years old, and is a 6-foot-7 point guard. If we’re trusting Presti, we’re trusting that this player shows promise — enough that it was worth giving up the rights to Cassius Winston and a future second-round pick.

Kerjci suffered an ACL injury in September and is expected to miss the rest of the season, according to Sportando.

Overall, the Thunder drafted for the future while allowing themselves to creep closer to the top of the 2021 draft. Three players they acquired will remain overseas. They traded three rotation players. They’re on pace to be bad.

With the Cade Cunningham and Emoni Bates drafts coming up and the Western Conference stacked, that’s good. Let’s put these draft picks to use while developing the new players and hoping Pokusevski pans out.