Best, Worst, Most Likely Case Scenarios for OKC Thunder in 2024 NBA Draft

Best, Worst, Most Likely Case Scenarios for OKC Thunder in 2024 NBA Draft

on today’s show it’s Draft Day what’s the best worst and most likely case scenario for pick number 12 you are locked on Thunder your daily Oklahoma City Thunder podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day let’s get it going on the lockdown Thunder podcast and the locked on podcast Network your team every day I am your host media member and beat writer for SI Thunder Ryland Styles follow me on Twitter Ryland Styles follow the show on Twitter L Thunder poot on today’s show it’s draft day and draft day is brought to you by FanDuel check it out today because FanDuel is Awesome every make every moment more with the playoffs winding down Sports aren’t necessarily sporting the way we want them to but this summer FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boost on a bonus daily that’s right there’s something for everyone every day all summer long when you go to f.com lockon to get started it’s draft de and if you’ve listened to the show for a while you know that before big events before the draft before the trade deadline before the season before the post season we do best worst and most likely case scenario SC arios for the Thunder ahead of these big Hallmark dates this year it’s through a bit of adversity the great power outage of 24 but you know what that’s not going to slow anything down because we’re going to do this podcast we have plenty of stuff up on SI Thunder to go check out at Sports Illustrated it’s a lot of fun uh covering the draft from that angle as well this year and it’ll be rolling here right so the draft’s a two-day event now uh so who knows what will happen to tomorrow but today in the first round the Thunder control the 12th overall pick we’ll talk to Sam prey tonight after whatever happens uh and and we’ll recap it all on uh the show we’re also going to have some second round steals on tomorrow’s show that the Thunder should trade into the second round for as this draft despite not having you know Talent at the top in the sense of like Market your franchise around uh build him a statue outside the arena it is deep with NBA caliber contributors uh to the better end of this draft and on through it so it’ll be a lot of fun uh one thing to check out if you know the show if you know myself on Twitter you know that we care a lot about juice I’ve released the first ever all juice Team all three all juice teams on SI thunder you can go check out over there to see what prospects have the juice this year now let’s break it into best worst most likely let’s start with the best case scenario as the draft flips on today what is the absolute best case scenario this is going to take a while to describe because the draft has so many different branches and onions to peel back the best case scenario to boil it down to the prospect that walks across the stage at Pick 12 who is the best possible outcome in that case I think it would be Ron Holland I get if Ron Holland or Cody Williams one of those two guys actually does fall which there are smoke screens there are uh you know projections that have them falling now again you have to know it’s it’s smokescreen season not all this stuff is true and in order for them to truly fall the 12 the amount of people who would need to LEAP into the top 10 um just doesn’t feel all that likely it feels like we’re just kind of getting close to the draft we’re getting tired of the same thing and we’re overthinking things because Ron Holland and Cody Williams falling into the Thunder would be the best case scenario Prospect wise for Ron Holland you get this Ultimate Motor most athletic player in the draft who has that dog in him that will be a ferocious Defender that can score at The Rim that is not afraid to take a shot even without shooting production and oh yeah chip England needs another project to work on now that you’ve sent Josh kidy to the windy city so Ron Holland who I have number one on my board who Derek Parker has number one on his board and you know Jonathan werman has aone on his board like everybody uh you know not everybody but but a lot of people are are big on Ron Holland to get that sort of value at 12 whenever I know what you’re saying like you’ll look at at some places that listen him as a guard and say why on Earth they take another guard the reality of the situation is if the Thunder are relying on the number 12 pick in the 2024 NBA draft to swing their season next year something’s gone horribly wrong or something’s gone horribly right the most likely outcome is this pick will not have like a a massive implication of or or be the difference in what happens for this team so you know again if if if they’re relying on the 12th pick solely to fix their problems and and to get them over the hump that means that you’ve suffered some injuries and you’ve and you’ve wied down the line to the 12th overall Pi in a positive way if that happens it means that they are way better than expected and and they’ve just taken a massive leap during this summer before the rookie year and they are just like Cas Wallace who who people thought would be an instant contributor but an 82 game too good to to to play in the G League too good to um you know have that developmental reps and instead was a was a key force in your rotation you know that that was something that no one knew at this time last year that would happen with KAS so you know it’ll be one of those two outcomes I still have to say this the bottom line is you can afford to take someone like Ron Holland who needs some more nurturing like buob Carrington who’s a who’s a you know a guy that’s popularly mock there like Cody Williams like that someone that needs more nurturing and then you have to also look at these prospects through the lens of what the Thunder are with Cody Williams with Ron Holland first of all you know some of the negative backlash on Cody williamss is is from tape where he’s just gutting through injury on a team that has other NBA guys KJ Simpson Tristan D Silva like that is not you know the the the sort of environment to be you know casting everything about his NBA future on and for Ron Holland there there was no structure with the knite zero so walking into much better environment is going to accentuate some of their skills but those are the two best prospects now there’s another part of this though because what happens on draft night on draft night massive trades go down the league starts moving and shaking and there’s already been Whispers there’s already been big moves one of the big moves was that uh the New York Knicks have sent uh a bevy of picks to the Brooklyn nuts for Michael Bridges and in a subsequent move they’ve swapped their picks back with Houston and like they’ve shuffled around picks with Houston to get their own picks back and in that move WJ tweeted then quickly walked back that the Rockets were going to be targeting Kevin Durant and you couple those Kevin Durant to Rockets Whispers that were quickly squashed with some other Whispers that you’ve heard and are we on the are we on the precipice of a massive massive trade a league altering trade well if there is such a Avenue for a superstar to demand the trade during the draft or right before the draft as it seems time for the for the yearly Kevin Durant trade demand there’s no team better positioned to go capitalize on that than Oklahoma City so as you sit here twiddling your thumbs and tell the NBA draft each Buzz of your phone should make you jumpy at what w is tweeting because we’re getting closer and closer to Star trade demand hours and not to say that the Thunder would ever do something like that but they certainly will explore everything as they’ve openly admitted so one of the best case scenarios could be like goodness if you can I mean if you can add Kevin Durant to this roster that make the Thunder really good now I don’t think that’ll happen uh but you have to include it in like one of the best case scenarios because often times we see these trades you know materialize on draft night but going back to the prospects Ron Holland is my number one Prospect I have Cody Williams in my top five I just think that Cody Williams is really good and that he’ll be someone that um evaluators at least publicly because again we don’t know what the NBA thinks but at least publicly evaluators are like will really kick themselves for um missing on and like for and for over overthinking now whenever you look at the most likely case scenario those names shift but before we go to the most likely case scenario what’s the worst case scenario in this draft what is the outcome that you know would not be pleasing we’ll talk about that coming up but first want to say you right now about good friends over at eBay Motors check out Ebay motors today because they know passion drive and patience the formula for winning a championship is also what keeps your Rider die alive eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle level up to Peak 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mentioned Holland and Williams with Cody Williams this is a guy that I I don’t know that he can ever become like an on ball score but I really believe in his catch and shoot stuff I really believe in his ability to finish up the rim his ability to cut his ability to play transition and I really think that as you get him into an NBA environment you get him into an NBA staff with a healthy season which which cannot be you know discounted uh you can see him add on to his frame and become a more versatile Defender because he has the tools to do all this stuff like he has all the tools it’s about putting it together well that’s the case for every Prospect ever but but it’s spefic spefically in this draft like find me the perfect Prospect and if you’re banking on someone to put it all together banking on someone who has that work ethic I think is a is a solid bet uh so what’s the worst case scenario well honestly there’s not that many I can’t sit up here and uh you know fake any outrage or or or act like any pick would just be disastrous U because I I just don’t believe that at the end of the day the 12th pick will will cost you uh you know the chance to go far in the postseason uh this is this is not the only chance to improve the roster for next year it’s the first chance like you still have top five in the league cap space you still have four open roster spots you still have an abundance of draft picks for the future like to to get where you want to go it’s gon to take proven NBA guys that’s what it’s gonna take so if you pick up someone who can contribute right away at Pick 12 in a in a down draft class that’s awesome and and and all the credit in the world the same prey but but you’re not going to bank on tonight changing the franchise you’re not going to bank on tonight being the difference in getting past the Mavericks in the second round now if if that’s what ends up happening that’ss off but it’s not something that you can just count on draft your guy tonight for example draft your big man the night and roll the balls out and play opening night which is what a lot of you want them to do look a lot of people will be upset if they don’t take a big tonight the reality is the big you draft tonight in all likelihood will not solve every problem that you have like it would be wiser to get a more inba you know experienced player in that spot now let’s talk about the worst case scenario for me personally the worst case scenario for me I can only think of two guys that like real realistically could be selected here at 12 and I would just not I would not be able to to talk myself into it number one yees Mei not because of ye Mei like ye Mei is a member of the all juice team I really like ye Mei as a prospect um but I think that while he does have exciting stuff off the catch that goes away in the NBA until he learns how to shoot which maybe he can I mean he didn’t start playing till he 16 years old but again I’m not going to bank on that so like I think that the have to catch stuff is great the way that he can put the ball on the ground and put the ball on the deck and go to the hole that’s great but whenever you can’t shoot and guys can just play off you that’s no longer a feat of yours it’s no longer uh a skill of yours number two this team this Thunder team for as as vers as they are for everybody being a playmaker for all this stuff they don’t have that excellent live dribble passer in the pick and roll to spoon feed him easy buckets that’s the difference in Derrik Livy’s consistent offensive success and then you know Chad hren has some scoring lows is that you know Lively is getting the benefit of Luca donic just force feeding the ball Kyrie iring force feing him the ball in the pick and roll to get easy easy easy easy easy chances and bending the defense with how they have to shade the screener and and and pay attention to the ball handler coming off that screen and then right there Lively now has the leverage and you have a guard who can whip a pass in there or spin a bounce pass or lob it over the top you have a pass who can make every pass in the world to that big man to take care of that leverage and take care of that that step uh and get easy buckets the Thunder do not have that luxury and so whenever I’m looking at use Mei I’m looking at a guy who has to have a guard be his best friend who has to have a guard SP spoon feed him buckets and while I hope that Jay duub and I hope that Shay can take a step in the right direction in pick and roll playmaking and that’s going to be what they have to work on this summer I believe I’m not drafting a guy at 12 who needs two other guys to get better for him to be maximized in Oklahoma City now be clear when I say this ye Mei will have a productive NBA career so long as he goes to a team with a guard he will be awesome don’t confuse being awesome in Detroit or Dallas or in other environments with being awesome in Oklahoma City and vice versa some guys will be good in Oklahoma City that will not be good anywhere else or or would be good few places other than Oklahoma City it’s about fit with ye Mei the other worst case scenario you know would be Zack Edy for me personally as the way that I evaluate the draft and him as a prospect to take Zack EDI at 12 to me zachi is a break glass in case of emergency guy we can only play Drop coverage uh you know want to impose some size very limiting offensively he sets great screens he rolls to the rim that’s it uh again we have to play Drop coverage we can’t switch everything the way the Thunder like to do and I don’t see being able to play him for more than a 10minute you know per game rooll so This truly is just hey this is a guy that we could hit the red button on if if if we match up with the team that’s too big for us and like yes the Thunder need to address the ability to add a tool to their toolbox of another bag but it’s it’s about the cost benefit of you can get a big man to change a look and throw a curveball at other teams without utilizing a 12th overall pick on one like the this archetype is a is a dime a dozen now you know he didn’t he did improve in his athletic testing and everything but again there’s a difference in athletic testing which is what people are really um touting out right now if you’re in the Ed Camp the athletic testing is great it’s like a guy running a 40-yard dash in football without pads on like it doesn’t really matter we’ve seen it functionally and functionally zakie cannot move and cannot play level with the ball he cannot switch on on screens he’s got to play coverage it makes you UND dimensional when he’s on the floor and if there’s anything about Mark in this under team that they don’t want to be one dimensional so then that’s going to lead to uh you know not playing him a ton which at that point I would say does that just make you feel better because they had bismack bambo sitting there not playing and it didn’t make you feel better it’s tough to Envision like Edy on this team getting heavy minutes by the same token like I I’ll warn you now if that’s the pick at 12 the only selling point would be well Sam’s talked about the need to Pivot and like they’re not afraid to Pivot so maybe they’d be taking a pivot because this would certainly be one and I just don’t think it’s it’s there yet you know for for the team to to Pivot in this dramatic of a direction I think that there’s a useful role for Ed I think as you creep into the 20 2 24 25 and Below range that’s Prime Ed time I look boban like like the bowon comparison is not a disrespectful one like ban started playoff games and he and he and he helped change some series and change some segment of games for the Dallas Mavericks which was later in his career like that’s that’s what you’re getting I don’t even think that you’re truly getting Stephen Adams who’s like the new Big comp for him but I mean if if if Stephen Adams is the highest outcome it becomes interesting but for this team I I I don’t buy it I I think that again they’re resource to at 12 all the factors you can do with pick number 12 and the and the swings you can take and everything else to take it on a guy that I can’t see getting more than 10 minutes per game I just wouldn’t I wouldn’t be a fan and I would you know I’d be I’d be open to admitting that I’d be wrong I’ve been wrong many of times before I was wrong about darus basley I thought he was going to be a really really really good player for Oklahoma City so we’ll see we’ll see what happens but coming up what’s the most likely case scenario for the Thunder and your questions but first want to say right now but our good friends over at FanDuel check out FanDuel right now because we all love sports but Sports aren’t Sports way we want them to but right now with FanDuel uh you can keep the sports going wherever you are if you want to go open the app and dream it up you can uh because right now FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boost and a bonus uh daily that’s right there’s something for everyone every day all summer long so head on over to f.com lockon and start making the most of your summer vanuel is the official sports book and the official Sports partner of Major League Baseball go there right now to FanDuel uh.com and whenever you do if you’re saying to yourself ah I only really like the NBA there’s something at the NBA for you like NBA Finals odds where the Thunder have leaped up to number three now why would they take a jump from 5 to three nearly overnight H I wonder what Vegas thinks is happening you can check it out today at fanduel.com we’re back on the lockdown Thunder podcast on the lockdown podcast Network your teams every day thank you so much for making us your first listen every single morning every single day we’re here for you taken Thunder basketball here we go the most likely case scenario for the Thunder this draft is I think Don Holmes is really likely I think that it’d be Don Holmes ped McCain or bub Carlton and let’s break down all three guys Don Holmes perfect perfect modern day big man perfect fit for what the Thunder one to do you you you kind of maximize your front Court depth of having to be able to throw out chat and Holmes and and Jay will and now it makes Jay will better in a more limited role it makes Chad better because he has a better guy spelling him like they can play together some like chatt and chatt and Ron hommes can play together and in the future might be playing together permanently like if Holmes develops at the clip that you think he could so like this would be a perfect player who can finish at The Rim who can playm in the Ro who can dominate in transition who shoots 38% from three I really really really like Don Holmes as far as Jared McCain I think Jared McCain addresses the biggest need for the Thunder the biggest need is not front Court depth it’s not a big man it’s not whatever the biggest need for the Thunder is they need another table setter who can score and Jared McCain gives you the best of both worlds when you look at Jared McCain when you play him with with j and Shay he is excellent as a movement shooter and he is excellent as as a 6f net for them kick driving and kicking so he can really fit that style of the drive and kick knock down threes right when you play with the secondary unit and your team needs more Direction needs more offensive punch he can set the table playmake lead the charge orchestrate the offense and score off the dribble and really carry your secondary unit scoring that’s the best of both worlds of what the the Thunder need and it’s and it’s nearly the perfect fit for Oklahoma City now here’s the kicker uh while he tries hard defensively well he has a massive motor uh while he’s able to play off ball defense very well he’s not a good Defender he’s not a good POA Defender you would not want him switched on to mismatches that’s the beauty of the Thunder building a roster this way the Thunder have built a roster in such a way that they can they can more easily hide inefficient Defender than almost anyone in the NBA and and almost anyone ever constructed because they’ve built a top defense in the NBA that’s based on guys who fight over screens for a living and guys who fight over screens in January in October in April and they’ll do it in May they’ll do it in they’ll do it in June once they get there like this defense does not wait for the biggest moments to play their best defense this defense uh brings that mentality of uh not not letting you switch on to a mismatch every single time so you can hide Jared McCain’s defense and you can get the offensive punch that he delivers so that’s very exciting and then bub Carrington so bub Carrington’s been uh you know the the newest darling of of Thunder moach drafts the selling point for bub Carrington is that going back to the start of the show you don’t need the 12th overall pick buob carington is extremely young and and the fully developed and maximized version of bub Carrington is this prolific on ball scorer who is just a microwave spark plug off the bench and it’s pretty m i mean again NBA comps are stupid and dumb and I’m not very good at them no one is uh just think of the archetype of like what you envision the role of Trey man to be only actually happening that would be like what you would hope could develop from bu character and perhaps it never materializes but the Thunder of the luxury of of being able to take a shot um I’m not calling Bob Trey man I’m just saying like the role of hey you come in with the secondary group and it’s your show you score score score and help us uh extend this lead or help us get back in this game whatever the case is on that given time I think that he spent a lot of time with the blue to begin with um and and really develop to the pace of the game and and really develop defensively um and refine himself offensively and learn to make good decisions and better decisions because you know I think I think that the passing ability is there I think that sometimes the decision- making um can get a little erratic but that’s that’s common with the young guards so I I would like all three of the realistic picks truly the only picks I’d really be heads scratched about um would be Edy and um you know Missy because even like Fury who’s very tied to the Thunder like and I think that to do the fury thing you’d be getting back to those Knicks picks at that 24 25 um the FY thing I think he can help you and he can help you in a serious way um Jonathan MBO is really tied to the Thunder I think that he’d be like a I think he’s gonna be a really good player like really really good so I would love Jonathan MBO but we’ll talk more about the second round guys tomorrow um in a bonus podcast of course ini tomorrow you’re going to get the recap of the first round what do you think is going to happen in the first round let us know down below unlocked on Thunder we are gonna have uh your mailbag questions on tomorrow’s show up at the second round because we went a little bit long breaking this all down but tomorrow show about the second round will be uh best second round targets to jump up and and leap up into and your mail bag questions uh but initially tomorrow so you’re going to get two pods tomorrow initially tomorrow we’re breaking down the entire first what the Thunder did what other teams did the Ripple effects from it and then around lunchtime you’re going to get uh who the Thunder should go trade for in the second round who the Thunder should go get U you know if if they decide to jump back into the second round plus we’re gonna answer your ma questions um and then we’ll recap the second round recap the draft and get ready for the offseason for free agency for the rookie introductory press conference and for all that jazz so it’s going to be a lot of fun thank you so much for joining us for listening to Today’s Show uh and until tomorrow be good and be good to one

The Oklahoma City Thunder have the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. What is the best, worst and most likely case scenario for Draft Night? Cody Williams, Ron Holland and Kevin Durant would be dream situations. Zach Edey and Yves Missi would be head-scratching. DaRon Holmes II, Jared McCain and Bub Carrington make the most sense for Oklahoma City.

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