WRG 2012 Mock Draft - #28 Oklahoma City Thunder

One thing we learned in our playoff run is you can never have enough shooting.  You can carefully build your team and come up with a finished product that you are satisfied with, but then in the Finals you have James Harden flailing around trying to guard a monsterous LeBron.  That kind of stuff happens in mid-June.  We couldn't avoid it, but we know the answer is more depth and firepower off the bench.

This year we get back Eric Maynor, who we needed and will certainly help, but we also want to upgrade our perimeter shooting further so even if we have to live with matchup problems on defense, we can at least keep up on the scoreboard.  We couldn't do that with our tired stars and it really cost us.

Here we have what we believe is a top-notch specialist who will almost certainly be able to shoot over 40% from long range and open things up for our many offensive weapons.  We also think he's a better athlete than most players in his role and can be coached to fit in with what we do on both ends.  He's got some room to grow while he's knocking down all those threes.

The Thunder selects John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

It's not an NBA draft unless Vanderbilt has three players go in the first round.

WRG Mock Draft: #3, Oklahoma City Thunder

With the Grizzlies taking Harden, the Thunder are very disappointed that they couldn't get the player they were targeting. Drafting a PG who struggles with his outside shot was SO last year with Russell Westbrook, so I wouldn't draft Ricky Rubio.

The Thunder could use a 2 guard, or some help on the front line, especially at the center position, especially after their trade for Tyson Chandler fell through. With no real shot blocking threats down low, a defensive shot blocking center is a huge need, especially next to an undersized Jeff Green.

If Harden is off the board, the Thunder select:


Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn


Trotting out a lineup with the trio of Westbrook, Durant, and Green, scoring isn't an immediate need. Thabeet will man the center position and help be an eraser on the defensive end, which is something that the Thunder need. Nenad Krstic is the only other center on the roster, and he's more of a jumpshooting big man who doesn't like to get dirty inside, so Thabeet is the pick. He'll add a defensive presence down low and with the defenses constantly focusing on the perimeter scorers, it'll open up some easy dunks for him inside.

The Sacramento Kings are on the clock.

WRG Mock Draft: #2, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizz got a little bit hosed by moving up in the lottery. They have to pay more for whoever they take, and there really isn't a great fit for them at the top of this draft.

As a matter of fact, what they really need is some steady veteran leadership to mix in with their extremely young and inconsistent core.

If I'm using the pick, however, I think the best things I could accomplish is to make the frontcourt tougher defensively or to take a complimentary guard to pair with our best player, OJ Mayo.

Since I would not spend a pick this high on Hasheem Thabeet (who I consider a mid-first round project), frontcourt toughness will have to be addressed another way.

That leaves me with a choice of guards to play with Mayo. Mayo can play off the ball, but he is a playmaker and we want him to be an offensive initiator. That eliminates all the guards who need the ball to be effective. Take those away, and you are effectively left with one choice this high in the draft.

The Grizzlies select James Harden.

He's not a perfect fit, and honestly he could be taken lower, but he has almost no bust potential and I feel very good about our guard rotation going forward. Now I can focus on the other huge holes in the team.

The Oklahoma City Thunder is on the clock.