NBA Mock Draft: Taking Swings Outside of Lottery

With their second and third picks in the first round, the Oklahoma City Thunder could take swings on prospects.

For the second consecutive year, the Oklahoma City Thunder have three selections in the first round of the NBA Draft. Last year, they traded away one of their picks for two future firsts and also took Josh Giddey and Tre Mann. This time around they could do the same, or take a swing on three players.

Along with their own pick, Oklahoma City will be selecting in the first round via picks from the LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns. The Thunder's own pick is projected to be in the top five, while the other two will likely land outside of the lottery.

With that in mind, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman recently released a mock draft that has OKC taking two solid prospects with their second and third overall picks.

Let's take a look at how the non-lottery portion of the 2022 NBA Draft could unfold.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Blake Wesley (Guard | Notre Dame)

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16. Houston Rockets: Kendall Brown (Forward | Baylor)

Chris Jones / USA TODAY Sports

17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jeremy Sochan (Forward | Baylor)

Scott Sewell / USA TODAY Sports

18. San Antonio Spurs: Walker Kessler (Center | Auburn)

Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

19. San Antonio Spurs: Christian Braun (Guard | Kansas)

Evert Nelson / The Capital-Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK

20. Indiana Pacers: Mark Williams (Center | Duke)

Rob Kinnan / USA TODAY Sports

21. Dallas Mavericks: EJ Liddell (Forward | Ohio State)

Barbara J. Perenic / Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

22. Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jovic (Forward | International)

Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports

23. Milwaukee Bucks: Dyson Daniels (Guard | G League Ignite)

[Ken Blaze]

24. Brooklyn Nets: Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Forward | Milwaukee)

MARK HOFFMAN / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL-USA TODAY NETWORK

25. Chicago Bulls: Bryce McGowens (Guard | Nebraska)

Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

26. Memphis Grizzlies: Jean Montero (Guard | Overtime Elite)

Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports

27. Miami Heat: Jaden Hardy (Guard | G League)

Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA TODAY Sports

28. Memphis Grizzlies: Malaki Branham (Guard | Ohio State)

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

29. Golden State Warriors: JD Davison (Guard | Alabama)

Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK

30. Oklahoma City Thunder: Trevor Keels (Guard | Duke)

Rob Kinnan / USA TODAY Sports

Although the lottery is where the Thunder will have the best chance to land a franchise-altering talent, there's also quality players later in the first round.

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