Chet Holmgren Wants To End Up With OKC Thunder In 2022 NBA Draft?

Chet Holmgren, NBA Draft, OKC Thunder
NBA Analysis Network

The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the winners during the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery, as they landed the No. 2 overall pick. That is a great spot to be, as many people thought this draft had a consensus top-three forming and the Thunder will be able to land at least one of those players.

Many people believe that Jabari Smith Jr. will ultimately go first overall to the Orlando Magic. That is something that sounds like it would be perfectly fine to the Thunder, who reportedly have their eyes set on Gonzaga’s big man, Chet Holmgren.

Sam Vecenie and Ryen Russillo talked extensively about the draft in a recent episode of the Ryen Russillo Podcast. The best fit for Holmgren was discussed and both agreed that Oklahoma City is the logical fit.

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Russillo took it even a step further, saying that is where Chet Holmgren and his camp want him to end up in the draft.

“Well, there’s also something that backs it up to his agent Bill Duffy, very powerful agent doing this a long time. I’ve been told this is where Duffy and Chet want to go. They want to go to Oklahoma City because you just mentioned that the players that they’ve been playing in the frontcourt and you start thinking about that second contract and the opportunities and he has way more freedom because of the roster in front of him than maybe he would in Orlando… That’s the preference that I’ve heard and it makes a lot of sense from a basketball standpoint”

Based on what the Oklahoma City Thunder have done with recent draft picks, Holmgren fits the mold as the type of player that they are looking for. It also makes sense from a roster standpoint as the Thunder have arguably the clearest avenue to extended playing time from the start.

The Gonzaga product has a unique skill set that would fit alongside the pieces already in place. WIth Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey locked into the backcourt, it is time for the Thunder to find a complementary piece in the frontcourt and Holmgren can be just that.

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He is ahead of Paolo Banchero when it comes to the defensive side of the ball, offering rim protection and length that would bother even the craftiest finishers. Strength will be an issue in the early going, as Holmgren needs to get stronger to survive in the NBA but his skills are excellent.

Able to play on the perimeter like a guard on offense, he should be able to find some success on that end of the court as his body fills out. The sky is the limit for Holmgren, as the only real knocks against him all can be drawn back to size and strength.

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