Roundtable mock draft: Thunder make 2 trades, get Kuminga and Sengun

In the second annual NBA Wires simulated draft, The Thunder Wire assumed the role of general manager for Oklahoma City and put together a mock draft with editors from other sites.

The Thunder failed to trade up to the top of the draft and ended up taking Jonathan Kuminga at No. 6. Overall, Oklahoma City drafted based on potential instead of fit and, at times, even over best available.

In the mock draft, Oklahoma City made a pair of trades: The Thunder used pick No. 55 to move up one spot from 18 to 17 and secure Alperen Sengun, and then they traded down from No. 36 for Carsen Edwards, cash considerations and pick No. 45.

Here’s a rundown of each pick. Find full explanations for each and the results of the entire draft at The Rookie Wire.

No. 6: Jonathan Kuminga

I know James Bouknight rumors have been flying around, but this pick is about whoever is remaining between Scottie Barnes and Jonathan Kuminga (unless, somehow, Jalen Suggs is still available. I don't see a reason he would be). As noted in the explanation on the mock draft itself, I offered five total picks to Detroit Pistons "general manager" Ky Carlin for the No. 1 pick in the draft: No. 6, No. 18 and No. 34 in 2021; his choice of future Clippers first-rounders; and a top 1 protected 2023 pick from the best of the Thunder's stash of first-rounders that year. No counteroffer was made. That means it isn't even a starting price for Cade Cunningham. Sam Presti is a lot smarter than I am and a lot better at being a general manager than I would ever be, but I'm not sure if even he could pull off that magic. Anyway, the Thunder take Kuminga, who has elite potential on both ends of the court but is the least NBA-ready of the group of six players widely considered to be the best in the class.

Mid-first round picks: Keon Johnson and Alperen Sengun

No. 16: Keon Johnson Trade: No. 18 and No. 55 for No, 17, select Alperen Sengun I was willing to give up No. 55 to make sure the Memphis Grizzlies didn't take Sengun or Keon Johnson. If they had rejected, I would have had to decide whether to take Sengun or Johnson at 16 and then, if the Grizzlies took the other at 17, gone with Kai Jones (if Sengun was selected by Memphis) or someone like Usman Garuba (if Johnson was gone) at 18. Luckily, I didn't need to have that internal debate. Bryan Kalbrosky, who is as draft-obsessed as they come and was acting as the Grizzlies' GM, accepted it. I get both my guys. Johnson is starting on the summer league team for me and may begin the season in the G League if I feel he needs development of the basics that aren't athleticism-related. Sengun is starting summer league and may be my starting center in the NBA. I'm really excited about him based on his offensive showcase in Turkey.

Second-round picks: Isaiah Jackson, Day'Ron Sharpe

No. 34: Isaiah Jackson Trade: No. 36 for No. 45, Carsen Edwards, cash considerations Isaiah Jackson has potential to be an athletic, rim-running big and nice defensive presence. I don't love him -- if I'm a team in the mid-20s trying to compete now, I would not take him -- but based on what the Thunder want, I'm comfortable enough grabbing him and seeing what happens. As for the trade: I accepted an offer for pick No. 36 instead of taking Vrenz Bleijenbergh. I know Thunder fans are excited about him. I think he'll probably end up in OKC. If you hate that trade, I get it. But it's a second-round pick, and I liked the idea of adding two pieces in exchange for it. Carsen Edwards needs development, but he can get a chance as a backup guard when Kemba Walker rests. In the 10 games that Edwards played double-digit minutes last season, he scored at least 10 points in five of them and shot at least 50% in all but two. I'm not saying he's good, or else he'd be in Boston's rotation. But with a team option next year, a solid season could allow the Thunder to get a second-rounder in return for him at this deadline or next offseason. Assets on assets. With pick No. 45, I took UNC center Day'Ron Sharpe, who I think could be a first-round pick and is certainly one of the 35 best players in the draft. Here are his stats in 19.2 minutes per game:

These are the per-36 numbers:

I don't like 36-minute stats because he would not play that consistently for nearly double the minutes, but it does put general skill in perspective for a guy who played fewer than 20 minutes per game yet was productive. I didn't want to take this many bigs, but at this point in the draft, I'm going for best available no matter what. If it plays out this way (it will not), Sharpe may be on my 2021-22 Thunder and Jackson may start on the OKC Blue.

Overall thoughts

That's my draft. It's all subjective and of course you'll likely disagree with some of my picks. If you like Kai Jones as one of the picks in the teens, or maybe you would have not traded away the rights to draft Bleijenbergh, it's understandable. I do wish I could have made more substantial trades and gotten a draft-and-stash guy instead of loading up the end of the roster and G League team with rookies. All in all, though, I ended up with players who I rank relatively high compared to the draft position I got them. I'll see you at the real draft. Tune to ESPN on Thursday, July 29 at 7 p.m. Central Time to see how the Thunder shape their next roster.

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