Lottery Pick: 14th Overall
After a strange year for OKC which ended with Russell Westbrook having one of the best years of all time, Scott Brooks getting fired (and Billy Donovan coming in), and the reigning MVP, Kevin Durant, missing nearly the whole year, the Thunder need to address some needs in the draft. Fortunately for them, they are in good enough shape here to take a reach. They don't need a player who comes in and starts immediately. This is why I think OKC should take a risk here and take Murray State guard Cameron Payne. Payne averaged 20.3 points and 6.0 assists last year to go along with a PER that is much higher than some higher touted prospects. More options here would be Jerian Grant and Tyus Jones if they are looking for a boost off the bench. The Thunder also have another way to go here: energetic forwards Montrezl Harrell and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson should both be on the board, and they both could provide boosts behind Serge Ibaka.
Second Round Pick: 48th Overall
Honestly, OKC has three approaches when it comes to this pick. Their first option is the old best player available. At 48, that could mean the NCAA's leading scorer in Tyler Harvey, or a player that slipped, potentially Rashad Vaughn out of UNLV or Terran Petteway from Nebraska. The second option is to reach deep down and pick out a stud senior guard that they believe can provide experience and instant offense. If they look here, that could be any number of players. Five potentials are Keifer Sykes (Wisconsin Green Bay), Ryan Boatright (UConn), Joseph Young (Oregon), D'Angelo Harrison (St. John's), and Chasson Randle (Stanford). The third option is one OKC took last year with Josh Huestis: defense. This could be another Stanford player in Anthony Brown. It could also be 2-time All-SEC Defensive Team player Josh Richardson out of Tennessee. But don't sleep on Briante Weber, a VCU senior who was only a few steals away from the NCAA record when he tore nearly everything in his knee.
Hopeful Draft Haul
14th: Cameron Payne
48th: D'Angelo Harrison
