The #14 Pick

The Thunder hold the #14 pick. Trade it?  If its a piece of a really good deal (shipping out Novak to bring in JR Smith or something), then the pick could move. But that's not gonna happen and they're looking to add to the roster here rather than dump out (and again at #48). I really wanted to put PF Portis on OKC: something of a project but I think he could be really good in the right environment, (one year of tutelage from Kevin Durant would do this guy a world of good). But looking over the Thunder roster, they need ball-handlers not more shooters, they need fewer turnovers and more steals. So I think I'll give in to the conventional wisdom: Thunder take PG Payne.

Next year for the Thunder is all about one thing: health. If Durant and Westbrook and the gang are healthy, they're gonna play many many minutes and Mr. #14 pick is barely gonna see the floor; but if the big guys are hurt, then Mr. #14 is gonna get thrown in there. In case of emergency, I'd rather have a spunky PG than a lumbering PF project. Don't get me wrong: I think Portis can be really good but his maturation will take time whereas a guy like PG Payne already is what he is, so at least you feel like you can play him right away. The Thunder are lousy with scoring options, they need sure-handed-ness to minimize turnovers. I also liked PG Grant: he's a senior, little older, more seasoned, could be better sooner. And though he is graded pretty far behind Payne and Grant, I can see the Thunder reaching for Tyus Jones: some teams really respect going deep in the NCAA tourney (some don't), successful Duke players get reached for.

Thunder also have the #48 pick. They're likely looking to add size with the pick, which falls within a clump of C/PF types, a smattering of foreign players mixed with a few NCAA kids. I suspect OKC will aim for a NCAA player ready to play now  as opposed to a Euro player that needs to marinate. They're looking to add to the roster now, this is not a pick for the future.