Monday’s NBA draft-week rumors: Latest Thunder reports on June 19
It’s draft week, which means the 2023 NBA draft is mere days away. The Oklahoma City Thunder enter this year’s class with two draft picks at No. 12 and No. 50.
During this time of the year, rumors and reports are amplified and contradict each other most of the time. For the Thunder, this involves the possibility of staying put, trading up and trading down from their lottery pick.
It also includes OKC’s interest level in several different lottery prospects — ranging from Dereck Lively II to Bilal Coulibaly.
Let’s look at the recent rounds of reports and rumors that hit the internet on the Monday before Thursday’s draft.
Thunder could trade up for Dereck Lively III
“The Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans are all potential suitors in the lottery, a range we no longer expect Lively to slip out of.”
(Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report)
Thunder could trade down from No. 12
“There are plenty of clubs in addition to the Mavericks, such as the Thunder at No. 12 and the Lakers at No. 17, sources said, that will consider trading down with teams that hold multiple picks near or in the 20s such as Utah (Nos. 16 and 28), Brooklyn (Nos. 21 and 22) and Indiana (Nos. 26 and 29), who are all considering options at trading up, sources said.”
Thunder could trade up from No. 12
“They have so many future picks that again they’re the kind of team that can give someone at 4, 5, 6, 7 something to think about. Getting more picks, more depth, over perhaps the quality of staying in that spot.”
Thunder watched Bilal Coulibaly
“Despite his unavailability to work out for teams, his stock appears to be in a good place. The Jazz and Thunder both sent decision-makers to Monaco this week to take another look at Coulibaly, where he bounced back from a difficult first game in the Pro A finals with a strong performance in Game 2.”
