Tag: 2022 NBA Draft Lottery

ESPN reports most within the league believe the Thunder will take Chet Holmgren second overall in 2022 NBA draft

Most teams within league believe Jabari Smith Jr. and Chet Holmgren will go first and second, respectively, in 2022 NBA draft.

In his latest article, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reports those within the NBA expect the Orlando Magic to select Jabari Smith Jr. first and the Oklahoma City Thunder to select Chet Holmgren second.

“Tuesday’s lottery removed one of the big questions from the 2022 NBA draft — who is picking first? — and cleared a path for Smith to make a short trip from Atlanta to join what’s becoming one of the most interesting young rosters in the NBA in the Orlando Magic. While Magic executives have made it clear they will conduct a thorough process — even extending beyond the widely believed top three prospects in Smith, Holmgren and Paolo Banchero — most NBA teams firmly believe that’s a formality and that Smith is all but assured to become the top pick. Smith, for his part, appears thrilled with that development. So is Holmgren over his looming marriage with the Oklahoma City Thunder, which is also the overwhelming expectation from NBA executives with whom we spoke at the draft combine.”

All the pieces to the puzzle were there for one to safely conclude that Holmgren was going to be taken by the Thunder. Following the 2022 NBA draft lottery, most draft experts had Holmgren going to the Thunder in their post-lottery mocks. Givony — one of the best NBA draft experts out there — just added a ton more legitimacy to this with his recent article that detailed many teams inside the league expect Smith Jr. and Holmgren to go first and second.

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Kevin O’Connor questions Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s long-term future with the Thunder

“He’s not necessarily a part of the long-term future. Maybe he’s a guy they flip again, but why would you not want to keep (SGA)? He’s just the guy that you’d be open to moving if the deal’s right.”

During the video version of his 2022 NBA mock draft following the NBA draft lottery, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor expressed his excitement over the Oklahoma City Thunder selecting Jabari Smith Jr. second overall.

During his analysis, O’Connor added an interest side note about how he doesn’t believe Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a guarantee to be on the team for the long run as he thinks Josh Giddey will be.

“I think it’s worth noting as a quick aside here, (Josh) Giddey’s likely there for the long term, that (Shai) Gilgeous-Alexander stuff — he’s already into his second contract. They already had trade talks potentially trying to go for Cade Cunningham last year according to multiple reports. He’s not necessarily a part of the long-term future. Maybe he’s a guy they flip again, but why would you not want to keep Gilgeous-Alexander? He’s just the guy that you’d be open to moving if the deal’s right.”

Hearing this might be a little concerning for the Thunder fanbase as Gilgeous-Alexander is easily the best player on the team currently. He also fits relatively well with a potential Giddey and Smith Jr. timeline as they will all be 24 years old, 20 years old and 19 years old respectively at the start of the 2022-23 season.

From what it sounds like, it seems like this is more O’Connor spitballing with the Gilgeous-Alexander stuff than it is about him reporting anything he knows. The Gilgeous-Alexander for Cunningham stuff is pretty interesting though as some have reported that to be the case, so O’Connor chiming in and saying it happened adds more legitimacy to the rumor.

Either way, it’s too early to worry about Gilgeous-Alexander’s long-term future with the team. There’s always a possibility that he’s not here for the long run, but that shouldn’t be on the fanbase’s mind as of right now as the team prepares to select second overall for the first time since Kevin Durant in 2007.

Gilgeous-Alexander is under contract for the Thunder until 2027 as his rookie extension kicks in next season. To read what else O’Connor had to say about why the Thunder should take Smith Jr. second overall, here’s the full analysis transcribed.

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2022 NBA mock drafts: Oklahoma City Thunder post-lottery picks projections

Here are who the big mock drafts project the Thunder to take 2nd and 12th overall in the 2022 NBA draft.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will select 2nd and 12th overall in the 2022 NBA draft following Tuesday’s lottery results. The Thunder ended up jumping in the lottery after entering the night with the fourth-best and 12th-best (via the LA Clippers) odds.

The Thunder will be selecting second overall for the second time in franchise history, and considering the first time resulted in Kevin Durant in 2007, I’d say general manager Sam Presti has a good track record with top picks.

The team will be able to add another elite talent to its core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey on June 23. Here are what some national mocks are projecting who the Thunder will take as of May 17.

NBA Twitter reacts to the Thunder landing the 2nd pick in 2022 NBA draft lottery

NBA Twitter reacts to the Thunder landing the Xth and Xth picks in 2022 NBA draft lottery:

The Oklahoma City Thunder landed the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft and own four top-34 picks that include three first-round picks and one second-round pick. The Thunder entered the 2022 NBA draft lottery with the fourth-best and 12th-best lottery odds. So the Thunder ending up with the 2nd and 12th picks caused an extremely happy reaction from the fanbase as the team jumped in the lottery standings from fourth to second.

Let’s take a look at how NBA Twitter reacted to the Thunder ending up with the 2nd and 12th picks of the 2022 NBA draft, which will be held on June 26.

2022 NBA draft lottery results: Thunder land 2nd and 12th overall picks

The Oklahoma City Thunder landed the 2nd and 12th overall picks in the 2022 NBA draft.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had a solid night in the NBA draft lottery, and will select 2nd and 12th overall in next month’s draft.

The Thunder entered the 2022 NBA draft lottery with a good chance at a top three pick, but had the odds played out as expected, Oklahoma City would have received the No. 4 and No. 12 picks. Instead, the Thunder vaulted ahead of the Rockets, who will pick third, and the Pistons, who dropped to fifth behind Sacramento.

Detroit, Houston and Orlando entered the night with equal odds of landing the top overall pick, and the Magic’s luck held. The Magic will make the No. 1 overall selection for the first time since 2004, when the organization drafted Dwight Howard.

The Thunder own four top-34 draft picks at 2nd overall, 12th overall, 30th overall and 34th overall.

The 2022 NBA draft will be held on June 23.

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Thunder GM Sam Presti pre-lottery presser takeaways

Biggest quotes from Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti pre-lottery presser that he held on Tuesday.

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti spoke with the media before Tuesday night’s 2022 NBA draft lottery. Presti talked about the lottery system and how it relates to his team, who own the fourth-best and 12th-best (via the LA Clippers) odds.

The draft lottery will be held on Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. Meanwhile, the 2022 NBA draft will be held on June 23.

Here are some of the more noteworthy quotes from the presser with Presti. Shoutout to all of the Thunder beat reporters who were able to attend the presser and tweet out these quotes from their respective Twitter accounts.

Bleacher Report recommends trade that would send Lu Dort to Trail Blazers

While Lu Dort is a fan favorite, the possibility of owning two top-six picks is hard to pass up on.

In a Bleacher Report article that was released on Monday, Grant Hughes suggested one trade all 14 lottery teams could make if they land the first overall pick. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, that involves them trading Lu Dort and their other two first-round picks to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for the sixth overall pick.

“Dort is on a bargain deal and brings valuable defense, but it’d be hard for the Thunder to turn down the opportunity to grab Holmgren and either Duke wing AJ Griffin or Iowa forward Keegan Murray. Neither would be on the board at No. 12, but one or the other should be there at No. 6.

The Blazers could desperately use a stopper if they intend to trot out Damian Lillard and restricted free agent Anfernee Simons together in the backcourt, and OKC should be looking to move Dort now before he hits unrestricted free agency in 2023 and commands a hefty raise.”

Honestly, I would be ecstatic if the Thunder could pull this trade off. While Dort is a fan favorite and an above-average starter, tying down with him with a hefty extension makes me a bit weary. Dort is a nice player but being able to get a top-six pick is hard to turn down, even if it costs the Thunder the 12th and 30th overall picks as well.

A young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Chet Holmgren and whoever is there at six is salivating enough to warrant the collateral damage of losing Dort.

The Thunder will find out soon enough where their two lottery picks end up as the 2022 NBA draft lottery will be held on Tuesday night.

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Nick Collison to represent Thunder at Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery

Can Mr. Thunder bring the franchise some lottery luck?

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be represented on Tuesday’s 2022 NBA draft lottery by front office member Nick Collison, whose number four jersey was the first number to be retired by the franchise as he spent his entire 14-year career with the team.

The draft lottery will be held in Chicago on Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Thunder own the fourth-best and 12th-best odds (via the LA Clippers) in the lottery.

The Thunder own a 48.1 percent chance at a top-four pick and a 12.5 percent chance at the first overall pick with their own selection. Meanwhile, the Clippers’ pick has a 7.1 percent chance at a top-four pick and a 1.5 percent chance at the first overall pick.

The Thunder will be hoping for better luck this time around, as the team fell to sixth overall in last year’s lottery after owning the fourth-best odds as well.

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Oklahoma City Thunder held pre-draft workout with Gonzaga forward Drew Timme

The Oklahoma City Thunder held a pre-draft workout with Gonzaga forward Drew Timme recently, per @Stockrisers

The Oklahoma City Thunder recently held a pre-draft workout with Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, per Stockrisers.

The Thunder will regularly hold workouts with potential draft prospects from now until the 2022 NBA Draft, which will be held on June 23.

The Thunder own four top-34 draft picks, which include two lottery picks whose order will be determined in the 2022 NBA Draft lottery, which will be held on May 17.

Timme averaged 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 58.6 percent shooting in 32 games during his third and final season at Gonzaga. In three total seasons, Timme averaged 15.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 61.9 percent shooting in 97 career games.

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Oklahoma City Thunder to hold pre-draft workout for Miami guard Isaiah Wong

The Oklahoma City Thunder worked out Miami guard Isaiah Wong this upcoming week, per @MavsDraft

The Oklahoma City Thunder held a pre-draft workout with Miami guard Isaiah Wong this upcoming week, per Locked On’s Mavs Draft.

The Thunder will regularly hold workouts with potential draft prospects from now until the 2022 NBA Draft, which will be held on June 23.

The Thunder own four top-34 draft picks, which include two lottery picks whose order will be determined in the 2022 NBA Draft lottery, which will be held on May 17.

In 37 games last season, Wong averaged 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and two assists on 45.2 percent shooting and 30.2 percent three-point shooting on 4.3 attempts. In 95 career games at Miami that span three seasons, Wong averaged 13.3 points, four rebounds and 1.8 assists.

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