
2025 NBA mock drafts: Post-lottery projections for OKC Thunder
2025 NBA mock drafts: Post-lottery projections for OKC Thunder
While the Oklahoma City Thunder are busy with their Round 2 playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, the 2025 NBA draft lottery was revealed. The randomness always creates chaos. It happened again as the Dallas Mavericks landed the No. 1 pick and will likely add Cooper Flagg.
Despite having the NBA's best record, the Thunder were interested in the lottery results. Sam Presti attended the event to see if the Philadelphia 76ers' top-six protected pick would land on OKC. Nope. Philly was bailed out as it jumped up to the No. 3 spot.
Rats. The Thunder will settle for three draft picks ahead of the 2025 NBA draft. They own the No. 15 pick from the Miami Heat, the No. 24 pick from the LA Clippers and the No. 44 pick from the Atlanta Hawks.
After the lottery, publications everywhere posted their post-lottery 2025 NBA mock drafts. Here's who several had the Thunder adding to their championship-caliber roster:
No. 15 (via Heat): Nolan Traore, France
Jonathan Givony, ESPN, May 12 projection: Nolan Traore, France (6-foot-3 guard, 175 pounds, 19 years old)
"The Thunder would have little use for a player such as Traore, but they have very few needs that this draft would help resolve anyway. The team will likely go for a best-talent-available approach if it ends up using all its picks."
No. 15 (via Heat): Danny Wolf, Michigan
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic, May 14 projection: Danny Wolf, Michigan (7-foot-0 center, 250 pounds, 21 years old)
"Over their recent history, the Thunder have valued players with terrific positional size as well as the ability to dribble, pass and shoot for their position. Wolf is exactly that, as he's a real creator at nearly 7-feet tall with the ability to play in ball screens as a ballhandler as well as pass and make plays as a big man"
No. 15 (via Heat): Nique Clifford, Colorado State
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report, May 12 projection: Nique Clifford, Colorado State (6-foot-6 forward, 200 pounds, 23 years old)
"He had come off as a prospect to watch this season based on his ability to play a Swiss Army knife role by finishing plays, passing, defending different spots and making enough open threes. But he quickly turned into a top-option skill player who can get his own shot or serve as the offense's playmaker."
No. 15 (via Heat): Carter Bryant, Arizona
Draft Digest, Sports Illustrated, May 12 projection: Carter Bryant, Arizona (6-foot-8 forward, 225 pounds, 19 years old)
No. 15 (via Heat): Danny Wolf, Michigan
Kyle Boone, CBS Sports, May 12 projection: Danny Wolf, Michigan (7-foot-0 center, 250 pounds, 21 years old)
"OKC will have plenty of options here at No. 15 to add to its No. 1-seeded Western Conference team — and here I have them selecting Danny Wolf. He has a funky but functional game as a dynamic passer, playmaker and occasional point guard. His IQ and feel would fit a team like the Thunder."
No. 15 (via Heat): Egor Demin, BYU
Bryan Kalbrosky, USA Today, May 12 projection: 6-foot-9 guard, 190 pounds, 19 years old)
"But his relatively poor overall performance and shooting with an unreliable jump shot against top-100 competition caused some room for concern. However, he measured at 6-foot-8 barefoot at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine and his playmaking still makes him beyond intriguing. The Thunder could develop him in the G League, where he would not need him to make an impact right away."
No. 24 (via Clippers): Hugo Gonzalez, Spain
Jonathan Givony, ESPN, May 12 projection: Hugo Gonzalez, Spain (6-foot-6 forward, 207 pounds, 19 years old)
"It's difficult to envision Oklahoma City using all three of its first-rounders with its current roster situation. Nevertheless, the Thunder have several months to determine a plan, and there will be no shortage of suitors if they decide to trade some of their picks."
No. 24 (via Clippers): Noah Penda, France
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic, May 14 projection: Noah Penda, France (6-foot-7 forward, 225 pounds, 20 years old)
"Penda ticks a lot of the developmental dribble, pass, shoot and defend boxes that the Thunder has tended to value at 6-8, 245 pounds. He's averaging nearly 10 points per game to go with five rebounds and three assists. I think his defense is slightly overrated by his counting stats, as he can gamble from time to time, but he's physical and projects to be switchable on that end long-term as long as his footspeed stays at a solid level as he ages."
No. 24 (via Clippers): Walter Clayton Jr., Florida
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report, May 12 projection: Walter Clayton Jr., Florida (6-foot-3 guard, 195 pounds, 22 years old)
"Confidence in Walter Clayton Jr. peaked after his 34 points against Auburn. The fearlessness and clutch shotmaking have scouts starting to buy in and ultimately look past the size questions for a scoring guard."
No. 24 (via Clippers): Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph's
Draft Digest, Sports Illustrated, May 12 projection: Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph's (6-foot-9 forward, 240 pounds, 20 years old)
No. 24 (via Clippers): Drake Powell, North Carolina
Kyle Boone, CBS Sports, May 12 projection: Drake Powell, North Carolina (6-foot-5 guard, 185 pounds, 19 years old)
"OKC has enough on its roster and in its treasure trove of assets to be afforded big swings in this draft. Powell is indeed a big swing. He was just-OK as a freshman at UNC but has length, shooting and defensive tools to be a special role player."
No. 24 (via Clippers): Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph's
Bryan Kalbrosky, USA Today, May 12 projection: Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph's (6-foot-9 forward, 240 pounds, 20 years old)
"One of the most pleasantly surprising prospects in this class is Saint Joseph's Rasheer Fleming, who has great positional size and shooting feel. He was the only player in college basketball to record at least 40 dunks and 50 shots from beyond the arc."
No. 44 (via Hawks): Boogie Fland, Arkansas
Jonathan Givony, ESPN, May 12 projection: Boogie Fland, Arkansas (6-foot-2, guard, 175 pounds, 18 years old)
No. 44 (via Hawks): Bogoljub Markovic, Serbia
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic, May 14 projection: Bogoljub Markovic, Serbia (6-foot-11 forward, 190 pounds, 19 years old)
No. 44 (via Hawks): Koby Brea, Kentucky
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report, May 12 projection: Koby Brea, Kentucky (6-foot-7 guard, 215 pounds, 22 years old)
"Koby Brea was silent during Kentucky's loss to Tennessee, and the performance reminded scouts that he's not offering much else when his shot isn't falling. But some scouts think he's too skilled of a shooter to let go undrafted."
No. 44 (via Hawks): Sergio De Larrea, Spain
Draft Digest, Sports Illustrated, May 12 projection: Sergio De Larrea, Spain (6-foot-5 guard, 175 pounds, 19 years old)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thunder's Jalen Williams reveals biggest issue in 4th quarter meltdown vs Pacers
The post Thunder's Jalen Williams reveals biggest issue in 4th quarter meltdown vs Pacers appeared first on ClutchPoints. OKLAHOMA CITY — After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addressed Tyrese Haliburton's game-winner in the Indiana Pacers' 111-110 win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams delivered his take on what went wrong. Advertisement The Thunder coughed up a 15-point lead amid a 12-3 Pacers run in their colossal fourth-quarter collapse. Williams identified Oklahoma City's most significant shortcomings. For Williams, the issues that hindered his team's fourth-quarter performance were reminiscent of when the Thunder surrendered a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter of losing their series opener against the Denver Nuggets. 'We had a couple of defensive breakdowns that cost us, a couple of offensive rebounds that cost us, just little stuff down the stretch,' Williams said. 'I thought we had a really good offensive process. We got some good shots towards the end. But when shots aren't falling, you can't have defensive breakdowns like we did.' In a final frame where Jalen Williams and the Thunder were outscored 35-25 by the Pacers, the Thunder went 6-for-17, including 0-for-5 from deep in the fourth quarter. Indiana's six threes in the final frame catapulted their comeback. Advertisement After Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander came up empty on back-to-back Thunder possessions, Haliburton, with 11.3 seconds left, dribbled the ball up the floor before finding his spot from inside the three-point arc over Cason Wallace for the go-ahead bucket. Haliburton's game-winner topped his NBA Finals debut performance, finishing with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists while helping the Pacers steal Game 1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander downplays Tyrese Haliburton's 'crazy' shot Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacted to Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton's game-winning shot. After Gilgeous-Alexander missed a shot that would have given the Thunder a three-point lead with less than 14 seconds left, Tyrese made him pay. In a game where the Pacers finished with a whopping 25 turnovers, they took care of the ball when it mattered most. Advertisement The Thunder failed to preserve a 15-point lead. After the loss, Gilgeous-Alexander took reporters through the motions of the Pacers' final possession toward the end of the fourth quarter. 'I don't know; it happened so fast,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'He got down going right, pulled up for the middy, and knocked down the shot. I don't know, it didn't feel like anything crazy. He just made a play with time winding down, made a good play.' In his NBA Finals debut, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 38 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals but will look to even the series in Game 2 on Sunday. Advertisement Related: 3 adjustments Thunder must make after NBA Finals Game 1 catastrophe vs. Pacers Related: Pacers-Thunder Game 1 hits record low in views for Finals
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thunder's unexpected Game 2 performer gets ‘huge' praise
The post Thunder's unexpected Game 2 performer gets 'huge' praise appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Oklahoma City Thunder have evened the NBA Finals at one game apiece with a dominant 123–107 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 at Paycom Center. Advertisement Just days after their heartbreaking collapse in the series opener, the Thunder came out with intensity and never looked back, delivering a statement win that reignited their title hopes. This time, they executed with poise and avoided the costly late-game errors that doomed them in Game 1, thanks in part to a surprising spark from Aaron Wiggins off the bench. Wiggins emerged as a game-changer, earning widespread praise for his energetic and efficient play. He poured in 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three-point range, while adding four rebounds in just 21 minutes. His timely contributions helped maintain Oklahoma City's momentum and keep Indiana at bay. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault lauded Wiggins' impact during the post-game press conference. 'He was huge tonight. I give him a lot of credit,' (h/t Thunder reporter Michael Martin). 'He's been a huge part of our success this season. In the playoffs, his role has been very night-to-night, but he hangs in there. He was huge in that Game 4 in Denver.' Daigneault continued to emphasize Wiggins' importance, adding, 'He was massive tonight. Went in there with great confidence. Didn't go in until the second quarter and just dove right into the game. Great professionalism. Great readiness. A huge performance for us.' Wiggins' performance was a genuine surprise for the Thunder. Entering Game 2, he was averaging just 5.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists this postseason, while shooting 40.0% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the arc. Advertisement MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the charge, cementing his superstar status with a 34-point performance. It marked his second straight 30-point outing in the Finals after scoring 38 in the opener. While his brilliance set the tone, it was Wiggins' spark that gave the Thunder a new edge. With the series now tied and the Thunder finding their rhythm, the spotlight isn't just on Gilgeous-Alexander. Aaron Wiggins' breakout showing has given Oklahoma City a fresh spark heading into Game 3. Can the Thunder carry this momentum on the road, and will Wiggins continue to be the unexpected X-factor in the Finals? Related: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 'best fans' revelation that fuel Game 2 win Related: Thunder HC Mark Daigneault drops truth bomb on 'acquired taste' of playing Pacers
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's honest reaction to NBA Finals record
The post Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's honest reaction to NBA Finals record appeared first on ClutchPoints. Thanks in large part to another monster scoring effort from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder have evened up the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers courtesy of a 123-107 win in Game 2 on Sunday night. Gilgeous-Alexander put up 34 points, five rebounds, and eight assists while shooting 11-21 from the field and 11-12 from the charity stripe. Advertisement In so doing, Gilgeous-Alexander became the player to score the most points through the first two games of one's NBA Finals career, dropping 72 during that span after he scored 38 in their Game 1 loss. But Gilgeous-Alexander's mind is not too fixated on setting scoring records. He and the Thunder are in the NBA Finals for one reason and one reason only — to win a championship. And if he had a choice, he would much rather be up 2-0 over the Pacers, although he made it clear that he's not crying over spilled milk. 'I'm being myself. I don't think I'm trying to reinvent the wheel or step up to the plate with a different mindset. Just trying to attack the game the right way. I think I'm doing a pretty good job of that thus far. I would trade the points for 2 Ws for sure. This is where we are [however]. Can't go back in the past, you know, you try to make the future better,' Gilgeous-Alexander said in his postgame presser, via Clemente Almanza of Thunder Wire. Gilgeous-Alexander was the MVP of this past season for a reason, and it's because of his relentless pursuit of his ultimate goal — winning a championship. He is certainly doing his part, playing his game to perfection even if he's become a lightning rod for criticism for his foul-drawing tendencies. Advertisement Regardless, the momentum is now on the Thunder's side heading into Game 3, and it's looking like the Pacers don't have any answers for the 2025 NBA MVP. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder even up the series Kyle Terada-Imagn Images It would not have been the end of the world had the Thunder lost Game 2 of the NBA Finals, but it would have put so much pressure on them to win Game 3 down 2-0 heading on the road. But Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder managed to shake off whatever emotional damage the Pacers' Game 1 win was able to inflict on their psyche to even up the series at 1-1. With the Pacers being at their most vulnerable in Game 3, expect the Thunder to bring the same ferocity they did in Game 2 on Wednesday night. Advertisement Related: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shouts out Aaron Wiggins' 'impressive' Game 2 performance Related: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 'best fans' revelation that fueled Game 2 win