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NBA draft: Chet Holmgren prefers to land with Thunder at No. 2?

hoopshype
·6 min read

With the No. 1 pick Thursday night, league executives widely project Auburn forward Jabari Smith to be the Magic’s choice. Among Smith and fellow top prospects Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero, Smith and his representatives have long expressed the most enthusiasm about joining the Magic, sources told B/R. Holmgren’s and Banchero’s camps have operated with greater desires to land elsewhere, according to league personnel familiar with both players. While Holmgren visited Orlando, it’s believed the Gonzaga product and his representatives would prefer to land with the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2, as they view the Thunder as having a stronger infrastructure to support Holmgren’s development. Holmgren has only collaborated with Orlando and Oklahoma City during predraft activity, sources said. The same goes for Smith.
Source: Jake Fischer @ Bleacher Report

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Jeff Stotts @InStreetClothes
The latest In Street Clothes Podcast is up! ⁦@BrianSuttererMD⁩ and I discuss the injuries of Machado and Strasburg before digging into the NBA Draft, including the debate over Chet Holmgren. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-… – 10:02 AM

Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
ICYMI, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren is the tall, thin, silent (about his draft night destination/preference) type heading into NBA draft houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n… via @houstonchron – 8:35 AM

David Aldridge @davidaldridgedc
Yes, the NBA plays smaller than ever. But teams still covet talented big men, & they will again in Thursday’s draft. The final installment of my annual Draft Confidential looks at some of the top bigs, starting w/ Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren. In @TheAthletic: bit.ly/3QAQJgw – 7:00 AM

Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Jaden Ivey and Chet Holmgren talk Thunder, plus other draft news and notes from today: oklahoman.com/story/sports/n… – 8:33 PM

Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
New #Rockets at #TXSN – Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren is the tall, thin, silent type on NBA draft ift.tt/zb7pytC – 8:18 PM

Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Chet Holmgren on what he’s learned about the Thunder and Presti: “It’s a great organization. They know what they’re doing. They have a proven track record of what they’ve done in the past and they have a vision for what they’re going to do in the future.” – 2:19 PM

Jason Anderson @JandersonSacBee
Chet Holmgren isn’t disclosing which teams he has met with or worked out for, but he says based on his own research and discussions he believes the Kings are a “good organization with a bright future.” – 2:16 PM

David Hardisty @clutchfans
Chet Holmgren kept things very close to the vest. The NBA kept the media availability short, too. It ended after 15 minutes and there were still 14 reporters waiting to get their questions answered.
OKC questions definitely dominated the interview. – 2:16 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Chet Holmgren chose not to divulge who he has and hasn’t worked out for or met with in the pre-draft process, but he does like the potential fit next to Domantas Sabonis, a fellow Zag. “I feel like I could work really well with Domas.” – 2:14 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Chet Holmgren on OKC: “It’s a great organization, great people within it. They know what they’re doing. They have a proven track record. And they have a vision for the future.” – 2:13 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Chet Holmgren said OKC is a “great organization. Great people. They know what they’re doing. They have a great track record and a vision.” – 2:13 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Chet Holmgren “I’m not trying to be any one player, I’m trying to be the first me.” – 2:11 PM

Jason Anderson @JandersonSacBee
Chet Holmgren says he could envision a “Zag connection” with Kings center Domantas Sabonis “whether it’s high-low or however we do it, I feel like I could work really well with Domas.” – 2:08 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Chet Holmgren on his perimeter defense “I put a lot of work into my physical tools. I’ve been blessed with tools you can’t teach. I feel like I can hold my own playing defense away from the rim.” – 2:08 PM

Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Chet Holmgren said he’s planning to work his body more and more in his rookie season in the NBA. #NBADraft – 2:08 PM

Jason Anderson @JandersonSacBee
Chet Holmgren on potentially playing with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis: “Those are obviously two great players and a former Zag, so obviously I have high regards for Domas.” – 2:08 PM

Tony East @TEastNBA
Chet Holmgren has done a few workouts with teams, he said, but he won’t disclose which teams. – 2:06 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Chet Holmgren on OKC: “I’ve had a few workouts with teams. I’m not gonna disclose as far as who that is or what went down in those workouts. – 2:04 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Chet Holmgren “I feel like I can fit in with anybody, I can highlight other players skills.” Mentioned playing with a point guard like Josh Giddey “would make life easy for me.” And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is “a helluva player” – 2:04 PM

Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Chet Holmgren doesn’t want to disclose who he’s worked out for but says “I can fit in with almost anybody. I’m somebody who highlights other people’s skills” and can also display his own skills. pic.twitter.com/D3k2NRv1lw – 2:04 PM

Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
Chet Holmgren says he’s worked out with a few teams but declines to disclose which teams – 2:03 PM

David Hardisty @clutchfans
Chet Holmgren says he has worked out “for a few teams” but isn’t going to disclose which teams. – 2:03 PM

Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Chet Holmgren, the last prospect to meet with the media today, said he’s had a few workouts with teams. He did not disclose which teams. – 2:03 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Jalen Duren on facing Chet Holmgren “two top guys going against each other I loved it, I loved the atmosphere. It was fun. Chet is a great player, it was a good match up.” – 1:46 PM

More on this storyline

Joe Mussatto: Holmgren on if he has a preference between OKC and Orlando: “At the end of the day, it’s gonna be a complete blessing to have an NBA jersey and put that hat on. I’m gonna lace my shoes up and get to work as soon as I touch down in the city. I’m excited for that wherever that is.” -via Twitter @joe_mussatto / June 20, 2022

Khobi Price: Chet Holmgren said he’s had “a few workouts” with NBA teams, but said he wouldn’t disclose which teams. -via Twitter @khobi_price / June 20, 2022

Brandon Rahbar: Chet Holmgren on his fit with OKC: “I feel like I could fit in with almost anybody. But especially a point guard like Josh Giddey… he would make life easy for me. With Shai, he doesn’t need any help from anybody. He’s a hell of a player.” -via Twitter @BrandonRahbar / June 20, 2022