The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder gained the NBA Finals, and so they added an elite younger expertise with the fifteenth choose within the NBA Draft.
For the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the NBA Draft is the reward that retains on giving, even after they don’t want it anymore.
Days after profitable their first title in franchise historical past, the Thunder picked fifteenth within the draft, courtesy of the Miami Warmth and a deal made in 2019. With the center choose within the first spherical, they drafted Thomas Sorber from Georgetown College.
Sorber averaged 14.5 factors, 8.5 rebounds, and two blocks for the Hoyas throughout his lone season in faculty, making the All-Huge East group, and he landed in one of the best developmental scenario potential.
The Thunder are already trying to repeat as champions, and Sorber is aware of he’s anticipated to contribute to profitable. Nonetheless, with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams already in OKC, Sorber gained’t should play a giant function from day one.
Nonetheless, he’s nonetheless trying to be a gritty participant for the Thunder whereas he seems to be to earn an even bigger function and extra minutes.
“I believe I’m bringing a defensive-minded kind of depth,” he defined.
“Simply giving all of them I’ve acquired on the defensive finish. After which on the offensive finish, simply being an important participant, an important offensive participant. Simply studying the proper issues, studying the proper issues to do. Studying the issues on protection, hedging, or coming again. Simply being there always, simply having the ability to be defender.”
Sorber was one of many higher defenders within the nation earlier than a foot harm minimize his season quick, though he has recovered and might play a large function for the Thunder as a rookie.
Because the NBA institutes guidelines just like the second apron to stop long-term dominance and promote parity, the Thunder could have discovered a method round it. After this season, OKC is predicted to select up Hartenstein’s $28.5 million group choice, though after that, he can be a free agent.
OKC merely can not pay Holmgren, Hartenstein, Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins their honest market worth for the remainder of their careers.
Nonetheless, with draft picks like Sorber, they’ll let contributors like Hartenstein stroll in free company and easily substitute them with gamers on low-cost rookie contracts.
Sorber can lay low for a season, getting used to the NBA tempo and physicality, earlier than hitting the bottom working in his second or third season.
Within the subsequent six drafts, the Thunder have 9 first-round picks and swaps, so not each choose must be one for his or her mannequin of group constructing to be sustainable.
