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If there's a draft to take Mirotic, it's this with the reported lack of talent. He won't arrive at the NBA for several years, but IMHO he's a far better prospect than Montejunas who is projected as a lottery pick. It's a similar case to Pleiss, with the advantage that Mirotic is playing regularly againt the best power forwards outside the nba. If I were Presti and had the chance to draft him, I wouldn't hesitate

I'm most impressed with Jenkins understanding of shot selection combined with his passing ability. Clips on YouTube show the kid's got handles and a lot of crafty moves to get inside, not unlike Harden, actually.

The Randy Foye comp on DX seems accurate for him... Jenkins shoots better than Foye ever did in college though. Foye's probably a better athlete.

Yeah I have never heard of him either... What day is the draft exactly again?

@ Sammy

Senior, lots of people think he's an undersized two, average athleticism. He can shoot the ball though.

@ fivesheff
@ justin

How had I never heard of this guy? He seems perfect.

Doesnt Honeycutt seem like a Presti type player?

We can all say who we'd take. The question is, who does Presti like?

@fivesheff

Charles Jenkins is an interesting name...

Greg :
That is correct – Harden and Westbrook working out separately but hanging out in LA. Harden said he’ll be working out with some other NBA guys and I assume Russ continues with Rose and Love (why mess with a good thing).

true true.

That is correct - Harden and Westbrook working out separately but hanging out in LA. Harden said he'll be working out with some other NBA guys and I assume Russ continues with Rose and Love (why mess with a good thing).

I don't know much about the draft prospects as I don't watch a lot of college ball anymore but I've said it before and I'll say it again, dang it feels good not to be looking for yet another big man.

Thoughts RE: draft

JaJuan Johnson - a 4 with good length, senior who is ready to contribute, who could bring a bit of a post-up game off the bench.

Charles Jenkins - good outside shooter, can play the 2 bringing offense off the bench (assuming Harden starts), and also be the third point guard on the team, making it a useful roster spot.

Jimmy Butler - defense first, solid all around game, character guy that would fit well with this team, would be satisfied as back-up to KD, might be able to defend a 2 on occasion(??).

@DJ 7
I didn't get the impression that Russ and JH were working out together so much as hanging out together. Those were the words that JH used anyways. I got the impression that that was primarily because they are both from the LA area. That's not to say that they won't or shouldn't but I don't think they are spending the summer trying to figure out how to play together.

My real expectations is for Ibaka to develope a sort of KG type of game on the scoring side. Develope the range, and ability to pass the ball. That would be real nice, and he could compliment Harden and Russ so much.

I don't remember who asked what Ibaka's expectations on the offensive end are during the off-season, and i don't remember who answered it but thank you.

Yes, PnP/R, and better screening is what i'm talking about. Even just knowing when your man is ganna dump it off to him so he can get into shooting rythem, or ready to drive in would be better.

For every Kobe there are a bunch of ball hogs...

Sorry i wanted to make one up.

Perkins Game Face :@walrusmuse

If KD’s scoring is gonna have any chance of going up with harden starting he’s gonna have to move off the ball more and better. Working on that along with (and maybe more importantly than) getting stronger should be his and the coaching staff’s priorities for KD.

I wonder if thats why Russ and Harden may even work toghether in the off-season. I know Perk said he's going to be working out with the both of them but i wonder if thats hinting that both Honey Badger and Bearded one are going to learn to play with each other. The few flashes we saw of RW/JH/KD running well on offense must have been terrifying for the opposing team. I mean, i just can't imagine who can stop them if they learn to play with each other, and actually learn offensive sets.

@Sammy

Mirotic doesn't even seem like he has any interest in coming over, he signed an extension didn't he? Why waste a pick? For every Ginobili there's dozens of guys who don't pan out...

@Perkins Game Face
Yeah, that's what I'm hoping for-that a lineup pressure change would push his game to another level yet-or at least focus an area for him to work on.

GAP :
Yea all we need is someone that can replace Harden. Maybe Vaden or that Goudelock kid can. They were already the best bench in the league.
Yessir, looks like you’re tracking what I’m saying.

@okc baby

Yea all we need is someone that can replace Harden. Maybe Vaden or that Goudelock kid can. They were already the best bench in the league.

Yessir, looks like you're tracking what I'm saying.

@Thomas
rather, he "said staying in OKC" was his first choice. Fricking typos.

@walrusmuse

If KD's scoring is gonna have any chance of going up with harden starting he's gonna have to move off the ball more and better. Working on that along with (and maybe more importantly than) getting stronger should be his and the coaching staff's priorities for KD.

My apologies if this has been talked about already today but did you all see that Nazr said he staying OKC was his first choice today on twitter? He said more or less he would get to mentor young players, learn how to run a top notch organization and play before unbelievable fans.

I'm so out of my depth in the draft talk, but I love that so many here aren't and I can do some major catching up while shivering from Thunder withdrawls / having to watch Jason Terry in the Finals.

Also I think it's interesting to look at what some of the players will be working on in the offseason, or what we hope they are working on (like Ibaka in PnP/R I know saying he could work a post game is a little rich at this point-and if he keeps a consistent jumper...).

Earlier a point was made that Durant's scoring could increase with Harden starting with him-I think this could be true, and for sure the offense would develop a whole squadron of options to open up to Harden or Russ (or to a lesser extent Perk and Ibaka) if KD is being doubled or denied somehow, then watch a defense try to pin down 3 versatile scorers and 2 quality screeners (if Ibaka can get better at being patient on screens and Perk isn't getting called for moving ones...).

@DSYIII
Bojan just signed a bigger contract this month making his extraction more complicated. Unlike Mirotic, he atleast seems interested in playing in the NBA. I really like the overall fit though.
Does anyone else feel like the draft is somehow more interesting when you are not looking to fill a starting position?

@shiki
Oh. bummer! I liked his stats/skill set.

@Cpt. C-note
He cannot join NBA in 4 or 5 years and he doesn't want to join NBA

Looks like a good prospect. Id like him more if he could dribble penetrate

@Sammy

I don't think he'll ever be a consistent enough shooter but if serge could mimic bosh's pump fake and drive that would be nice. I'd even take Noah's ugly/offensive game for serge to have right now. It's not pretty basketball but it's effective....

Has anybody mentioned this guy in the 2nd round?
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/nikola-mirotic
I like a jump shooter to replace The Beard/KD off the bench. He's long.

GAP :
I really think we need a player similar to Harden as far as playmaking and facilitating the ball with EM, off the bench. That’s what I’m looking for, with this pick anyway.
We don’t need another homerun, just a athletic 2/3 player who can make shots from the 3pt line consistently, but dribble the ball well enough to create plays. That’s an upgrade from keeping Cook, who’s strictly a shooter.
Don’t forget, this player will need to have some D on the perimeter…… ok guys/gals, who fits this mold is the real question for our Thunder IMHO.

GAP :
I really think we need a player similar to Harden as far as playmaking and facilitating the ball with EM, off the bench. That’s what I’m looking for, with this pick anyway.
We don’t need another homerun, just a athletic 2/3 player who can make shots from the 3pt line consistently, but dribble the ball well enough to create plays. That’s an upgrade from keeping Cook, who’s strictly a shooter.
Don’t forget, this player will need to have some D on the perimeter…… ok guys/gals, who fits this mold is the real question for our Thunder IMHO.

Yea all we need is someone that can replace Harden. Maybe Vaden or that Goudelock kid can. They were already the best bench in the league.

I still have hope for ibaka's dribble drive game. And by dribble-drive I mean one, maybe two dribbles, a la Amare or Bosh when they get the ball.

Heck, in this draft I'd be perfectly happy trading out of the first round, and then taking bojan bogdanovic

I really think we need a player similar to Harden as far as playmaking and facilitating the ball with EM, off the bench. That's what I'm looking for, with this pick anyway.

We don't need another homerun, just a athletic 2/3 player who can make shots from the 3pt line consistently, but dribble the ball well enough to create plays. That's an upgrade from keeping Cook, who's strictly a shooter.

Don't forget, this player will need to have some D on the perimeter...... ok guys/gals, who fits this mold is the real question for our Thunder IMHO.

@justin
Agreed, my love for Ibaka is due in no small part to the fact that you, me, and everybody with eyes knows exactly what position he should play. I'll be happy as long as we draft a swingman with at least one elite offensive skill. If we draft honeycutt or singler I may go berzerk.

I don't want to draft Brooks purely cause I don't want to have to root for some one who talks about themself in the 3rd person. He's gonna dominate the ball, take a bunch of ill-advised shots and make more than his fair share of them. He might develop into a star but off the bat I think he's a poor man's Kobe without the passing but with all the attitude. I.e. Nick Young. Pass.

The more I think about it the more I think we'll just take Mirotic and have nothing more to say about this draft for several years, especially with Latavious waiting in the wings for a roster spot.

@DSYIII
I agree. Fantastic athleticism isn't very useful without drive and coachability. For every Serge Ibaka there are a lot more ...well people you haven't heard of

justin :
If we’re going for a home run pick why not take Marshon Brooks if he’s available?

Does his ball handling skills look good or even his playmaking ability?

@DSYIII
Joe

@Bryson
tell that to joel alexander, gerald green, and james white...

I want us to take the best athlete available. Athletes can do anything, even if they don't specialize well in any category.

kreese29 :
If the thunder can’t get Honeycutt the I say draft Harper. Those are two guys I could see playing for us next season and not for the 66ers

Harper's in the second round in a lot of mocks now. I still like him, he can actually shoot!

I don't think combine testing can test for explosiveness very well, especially with the ball in your hands. A good example is Westbrook vs. Harden. Harden had a better max vertical, and standing vertical. But Westbrook is definitely the more explosive leaper and athlete. Harris doesn't seem to get off the floor quickly to me...

Maynor / Cook / Sefolosha / Harris / Collison would face a lot of problems with only one real shooter on the floor + the lack of size. I think if we have something like that you should do a 9-man again and just eliminate Sefolosha from the equation, hanging a starter over. We don't need a Harden-less bench if he starts.

I'm just sick of tweeners, LOL.

@Perkins Game Face
He's just so raw its hard to see what he'll become. Right now at the NBA level he'll foul out in 5 minutes from offensive charges. He's a fantastic slasher but doing anything else isn't on his radar.

If the thunder can't get Honeycutt the I say draft Harper. Those are two guys I could see playing for us next season and not for the 66ers

@justin
Initially, I liked the idea of Marshon Brooks and I haven't met him or anything but he doesn't seem to much of a team player. I don't know how bad his team was but his highlights are chock full of him pulling up for a contested jumper with 3 out of 4 teammates wide open.

One mock draft I saw had us taking Travis Leslie. Isn't that the kid who caught a lot of flak for saying he's better than Tony Allen? Read he's not much of a shooter but is really athletic. Any more info on him, would he be a good pick?

As important as shooting is for the team, I believe that having someone who can consistently get a decent shot is the most important thing for a harden-less bench. A run-and-gun bench lineup of maynr, cook, sefalosha, harris, and collson sounds pretty good to me. Combine testing would disagree with you about jeff's athleticism, but even if true, harris PLAYS more athletic, which is what it ultimately comes down to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RasZRzv2mA

considering this is a chubby high school tobias harris, I remain optimistic about his athletic potential. We probably won't draft him, but of all the prospects projected to be drafted near the 24th pick, he remains the most intriguing to me.

If we're going for a home run pick why not take Marshon Brooks if he's available?