The 2024 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching, and there’s a buzz that this year’s class might not be as strong as previous ones. 🏀💭 While some believe this draft lacks the superstar potential that tanking teams crave, there’s a silver lining for franchises sitting in the middle of the lottery and beyond. 🌟🔍
On NBA Draft Lottery night, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured the No. 12 pick, a position they’ve historically thrived in. 🚀✨ Despite some skepticism about this year’s draft class, Sam Presti, the Thunder’s top decision-maker, is optimistic about the talent available.
2024 NBA Draft: Sam Presti’s Optimism
“I like the draft. I think it’s pretty good. I think every one of these is so different. One thing we know historically is that there are good players in there, and they never go in order,” Presti shared during his end-of-year exit interview.
Presti emphasized that while this draft might not feature the most eye-popping names, the talent is undoubtedly there. “Someone is going to come out of the second round and have a huge impact.
Someone is going to be picked in the 20s—there’s, like, a 3 percent chance or something you can get, like, a top starter or really good player in the 20s, an all-NBA player in the 20s. That’s really, really hard to do, but it happens,” he added. 📈🏅
Finding Hidden Gems
The key to navigating this year’s draft lies in the meticulous evaluation and development of players. 🧐🔧 “They’re in there, but a big part of that is obviously you observe the players, then you evaluate them to decide, and then you have to onboard them, and then you have to develop and work with them, try to understand where they’re going and how to get there,” Presti explained.
Oklahoma City is poised to find the best prospect who can make an immediate impact. While this draft class might lack instant stars, the Thunder are confident in their ability to identify and cultivate complementary talent. 🌱🔍
Sam Presti: "I like this draft. I think it's pretty good.
pic.twitter.com/U8NPU2vzHp— ThunderTalk⚡️ (@ThunderTalkYT) May 28, 2024
