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)
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