5 second-round picks are a drop within the bucket for Oklahoma Metropolis, which has spent years amassing a historic treasure trove of draft picks amid a rebuild that has already yielded outcomes.
The Thunder received 57 video games a yr in the past, climbing into first place within the West en path to their first playoff collection victory since 2016.
After being eradicated within the second spherical, Oklahoma Metropolis bolstered its roster by signing Isaiah Hartenstein to an enormous franchise-first free agent deal and a large commerce that landed the Thunder Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey.
Nevertheless, this summer season started with Sam Presti parting methods with the aforementioned 5 second-round picks to amass Dillon Jones in a commerce with the New York Knicks to maneuver again into the primary spherical of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Whereas many have brushed this transfer apart in favor of the flashier acquisitions Presti would make years later, the funding the franchise made in Jones continues to be spectacular.
Whereas 5 second-round picks signify pocket change for the Thunder, the franchise’s historical past of wanting to pick out Jones a yr in the past within the second spherical of the 2023 draft earlier than the Weber State product opted out to return to highschool and attempt to crack the highest 30. A feat few thought he had completed when evaluating the 2024 draft earlier than the Thunder surrendered the choice.
Having the staff’s man circled for 2 consecutive seasons exhibits a excessive degree of confidence in Jones to develop right into a high-quality NBA participant by one of many sport’s prime evaluators.
Oklahoma Metropolis could should depend on him prior to anticipated with the current harm to Kenrich Williams.
The veteran ahead is barely out till the preseason for now, but when this harm persists into the common season, it is going to put Oklahoma Metropolis in a troublesome spot.
The Thunder have already crammed a roster spot for Nikola Subject, who’s out for the complete 2024-25 season with an ACL harm, whereas leaving a roster spot open heading into the yr. If Williams cannot begin, three of his commonplace 15 roster spots might produce zero minutes in Denver on Oct. 26.
That might propel Jones into Mark Daigneault’s rotation prior to anticipated for the winger whose unorthodox recreation matches the Thunder’s model completely.
With coaching camp quick approaching, the rookie’s efficiency will probably be intently watched.
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