Only a week remains before the first round of the 2024 NBA draft on June 26. The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter it with just one selection of the No. 12 pick via the Houston Rockets.
The free lottery pick gives the Thunder a chance to add another intriguing young prospect to the youngest first seed in league history. OKC’s trio is set up with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. It’s now about building depth around those three pieces. As the draft nears, the final versions of mock drafts are being published.
Here’s who the latest rounds of 2024 NBA mock drafts have the Thunder selecting with the No. 12 pick:
Jonathan Givony, ESPN, June 19 projection: Tidjane Salaun, France (6-foot-9 forward, 218 pounds, 18 years old)
“It’s hard to find many prospects who share the upside Salaun does at 6-10, with an outstanding frame, length, shot-making prowess and defensive intensity. He is also one of the youngest players in this draft at 18 and will likely need patience and reps to find his footing with the questionable awareness he shows and mistake-prone style he displays on both ends of the floor at times.”
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report, June 19 projection: Tidjane Salaun, France (6-foot-9 forward, 218 pounds, 18 years old)
“Though the Thunder are officially in win-now mode for a title run, Salaun started playoff games in LNB Pro A. He could be ready for a smaller role, but the same one he had with Cholet, playing to his strength as a rim-runner, finisher and spot-up shooter.”
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer, June 17 projection: Zach Edey, Purdue (7-foot-4 center, 300 pounds, 22 years old)
“Edey addresses Oklahoma City’s need for size and adds a totally different interior ingredient to its offense with his interior scoring, offensive rebounding, and screening. And if there’s anyone who can turn his touch into reliable 3-point shooting, it’s assistant coach Chip Engelland.”
Krysten Peek, Yahoo! Sports, June 17 projection: Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor (6-foot-4 guard, 195 pounds, 19 years old)
“Walter’s pre-draft process has been kept under wraps, and anytime that happens teams are likely trying to withhold information so he drops and is available when they pick. He recently worked out for Detroit and Portland and will be an option at 12 if the Thunder choose to keep the pick.”
Gary Parrish, CBS Sports, June 17 projection: Cody Williams, Colorado (6-foot-7 forward, 190 pounds, 19 years old)
“Williams is the brother of Oklahoma City standout Jalen Williams — but taller and a lot more heralded at the same age. He needs to add weight and continue to develop as a 3-point threat, but there are reasons to believe he’ll do both things in time and prove to be a steal outside of the top 10 after a mostly off-the-radar one season at Colorado.”
Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation, June 18 projection: Rob Dillingham, Kentucky (6-foot-1 guard, 176 pounds, 19 years old)
“The Thunder are smart enough to spot a great value when they see one. Dillingham might be the best ball handler in the class, and he has a case as the best shooter available, too. He’s deadly at ripping deep shots whether he’s on or off the ball, and his passing vision is underrated, too. OKC has so much length and defense already in place that it can accommodate a small guard bursting with offensive talent like Dillingham.”