Oklahoma City Thunder 2022 NBA Draft Best No. 12 Picks
The Oklahoma City Thunder gets three first-round picks in line. They hold the No. 2 pick, likely to involve frontrunners Jabari Smith Jr., Chet Holmgren, or Paolo Banchero. The players mentioned above lead Nitrobetting’s NBA Draft 2022 No. 1 pick odds, and the franchise looks forward to securing one of the three names to bring more momentum to its rebuilding stage.
Moving past the No. 2 pick of the Thunder, Nitrobetting gives attention to the team’s No. 12 pick. The franchise struck a deal with the LA Clippers for the pick and is now in a position to add aspiring talent to the mix. That said, we take a look at the three best targets for Oklahoma City’s No. 12 pick.
Top 3 Best 2022 NBA Draft Prospects for the Oklahoma City Thunder’ No. 12 Pick
our picks entering the 2022 #NBADraft! pic.twitter.com/4suA1ze28w
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READ MORE: Washington Wizards 2022 NBA Draft Best Picks
F Tari Eason – LSU
Eason spent a year with Cincinnati before moving to LSU. Many overlooked him in his freshman year before eventually enjoying a breakout season with the Tigers. Now, Eason is a potential first-round pick. At six-foot-eight and a staggering seven-foot-one wingspan, Eason can make waves on both offense and defense. He is great at swiping the ball when playing defense, averaging a striking 4.5% steal rate and a 6.3% block rate in his previous season. The 21-year-old also does great when forcing turnovers and converting them to baskets.
Tari Eason’s offense needs more buffing. Although he hit 36% of his long-range attempts and recorded an 80% free-throw percentage, we see little hesitation with his slow release. He also needs to work out his left hand. Nonetheless, despite coming off the bench the entire year, Eason played a key role in their campaign and led the team in scoring and blocks while recording second-best numbers in rebounds and steals. His size, athleticism, and drive make him a steady pick for the Thunder.
SG Johnny Davis – Wisconsin
Davis took on his college career as a three-star recruit. He went from a second-choice player to one of the biggest stars of Wisconsin as a sophomore. The strong, six-foot-five combo guard combines shot-making abilities and impressive durability on defense to emerge as a prospective two-way pick in this class. While he falls short of speed and top-end agility, he displays solid basketball IQ when he makes shooting space for himself. He lights up the floor on midrange pull-ups and finds contact when attacking the rim. On top of all that, Davis can drag small defenders into the post for easier baskets.
Defensively, Davis works his feet well and separates driving lanes. He’s an efficient rotational defender off the ball and should be able to adjust to bigger players for a few moments. That said, Davis looks more like a high-floor prospect rather than a high-ceiling player, but his shooting intent, one-on-one scoring skill, and undeviating defense should play well in Oklahoma’s environment.
F Ousmane Dieng – International
A question mark sits right next to the French national who plays for the New Zealand Breakers. Dieng could be a long-term project for the Thunder, but is likely to pay dividends under the right system. He could end up being the steal of the 2022 NBA Draft in the late lottery. Of course, the risks are still there and he might never end up playing at an elite level. However, taking a swing on Dieng makes sense for the team. He has the elements of a perfect modern forward with length and versatility to offer.
Dieng’s ability to cover the perimeter at six-foot-ten is what makes him an appealing prospect. He can handle the ball, orchestrate secondary pick-and-roll plays, and started to improve his shooting potential leading up to the draft. The French player sparks flash plays defensively while keeping his shooting composure intact. Ultimately, he resembles last year’s first-round pick by the Grizzlies, Ziaire Williams.
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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.
