NBA Mock Draft: Thunder Double Down on Rim-Protecting Big Men

In an updated mock draft, Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer slotted Duke freshman and former 5-star recruit Dereck Lively II to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 12 overall. This would mark back-to-back drafts that OKC nabbed a 7-foot shot-blocker in the lottery after picked Chet Holmgren in 2022.

Lively has earned polarizing reviews from Thunder fans due to his playstyle, with some of the OKC faithful convinced that he and Holmgren could become a powerful defensive duo, while others believing that Oklahoma City is not in the market for a traditional center.

In his lone season with the Blue Devils, Lively averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.4 blocks per game. Listed at 7-foot-1 and 230 pounds with a 7-foot-7 wingspan at only 19-years-old, it is easy to see how Lively could develop into a stalwart on defense.

The talented freshman's efforts earned him ACC All-Freshman and All-Defensive honors. Coming out of high school, Lively was rated as the second-best player in the nation.

Hailing from Philadelphia, Lively attempted only 12 3-pointers during his freshman year at Duke, knocking down just 15.4% of his shots from beyond the arc. Some scouts, however, believe that the big man has the potential to become a much better perimeter shooter after watching him shoot in the pre-draft process.

It’s after midnight here in Chicago and I’m still in the gym editing a podcast I just recorded.

Derek Lively II is on the court draining corner 3s with ease.

3rd straight day I’ve seen him consistently making shots from deep.

Draft stock 📈#NBACombine
— Rafael Barlowe (@Barlowe500) May 19, 2023

If Lively II is OKC's pick at No. 12, the team would have a chance to develop what could become one of the league's top defenses, anchored by high-level defenders like Lu Dort, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Holmgren and Lively.

In the second round of his mock draft, O'Connor slotted two UCLA standouts to the Thunder; former 5-star Amari Bailey and yet another defensive star, Jaylen Clark.

In his freshman year with the Bruins, Bailey averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. In the Pac-12 and NCAA tournament, Bailey shined, helping lead UCLA to the Sweet 16.

As a recruit, Bailey was ranked in the top 10 of his high school class, attending the Sierra Canyon School in California.

Clark, who played three seasons with the Bruins, averaged 13 points, six rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.6 steals per game last year. The junior's impressive performance earned him Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and All Pac-12 honors in 2022-23.

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