Thunder Draft Prospect Visits: (Updated) List

With the NBA Draft three weeks away and the Oklahoma City Thunder owning six picks, three in the first round and three in the second, noting which draft prospects have visited with the team is important.

The Thunder currently hold 6, 16, 18, 34, 36 and 55 in the 2021 NBA Draft.

This post will help keep track of the Thunder’s interest and will be periodically updated every time a new player has visited Oklahoma City.

Obviously, every player that the Thunder meet will not be drafted by the team. But, it does show that OKC’s interest in that player is higher than usual.

This is also going to be the only time that Thunder GM Sam Presti will likely have to sit down and talk with these players for the next few years. Once a player is drafted by a team, it will be impossible to talk with them if they are under contract with another franchise.

This draft process is a good opportunity for Presti to get to know this class for not just this draft, but also for the future when some of these players are on the move. It will give the Thunder front office a decent look at how a player is, personality wise, and it will provide insight into whether this player would be a good addition to the team.

With all that said, here is a list of draft prospects the Thunder have met with over the last couple weeks:

Chris Duarte: The Oregon guard met with the Thunder before he declined his Draft Combine workout, which caused speculation that a team has given him a first round promise. The Thunder are notorious for handing out promises to prospects. But, Duarte is already 24 years old and too finished of a product for the Thunder’s taste in this rebuild. It will be surprising to see OKC use one of their midround first round picks on him.

Jordan Hall: Hall worked out with the Thunder early on, around June 16. Hall was part of the final cuts for the USA Basketball U19 training camp roster.

Isaiah Todd: The G League Ignite player met with the team on June 24. Todd averaged 12.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in 15 games. Many project him to be a second round pick.

Sharife Cooper: The former Auburn Tiger met with the Thunder on June 24. Mocks project him to go in the first round, so it looks like OKC will need to use either 16 or 18 to land the guard.

Trey Murphy III: The wing met with the Thunder on June 24. Mocks project him to be an early second round pick. He is described as a skilled, mobile wing.

Jalen Johnson: The five-star recruit met with the team on June 25. If OKC were to draft him, the team will likely need to use either the 16th or 18th overall pick. But chances are, despite his stock recently dropping due to off court issues, he will be gone by then.

Keon Johnson: The Tennessee product met with the Thunder early on in the draft process. Many view the very athletic and raw guard as a late lottery pick. It would be very surprising and shocking to see him get picked sixth overall. It would be quite the reach for the Thunder front office.

Sandro Mamukelashvili: The Georgian-American big’s game reflects the modern NBA; he can spread the floor and facilitate the ball well for a person his size (6’11). The 22-year-old spoke highly of the Thunder when asked about his workout with them, praising their talent and youth.

Austin Reaves: The former Sooner met with OKC on June 25. The 23-year-old averaged 18.3 points with OU last season.

Matthew Hurt: The former Duke player met with the Thunder on June 25. Hurt is an excellent 3-point shooter and averaged 18.3 points last season. Mocks project him to go in the second round.

Josh Primo: The youngest prospect met with OKC on June 30. Primo is mocked to go in the late lottery. Primo is a big guard who plays physically when going to the rim. His shooting needs polish.

Corey Kispert: Kispert is projected as a lottery pick. The 22-year-old finished his storied career with Gonzaga this past season. In terms of profile, many view him as one of the best snipers in this class.

Aamir Sims: The 22-year-old is a strong, mobile big who can shoot serviceably. Sims is projected to be picked in the second round.

Ayo Dosunmo: The Illinois guard worked out for the Thunder on July 2. Mocks project him to be a mid to late first round pick.

Vrenz Bleijenbergh: The Belgian player met with the Thunder on July 4. Many compare his game to the Thunder’s own Aleksej Pokusevski. Which is to say he is a very long and skinny body who can play guard well but is still very raw.

EJ Onu: The big met with the Thunder on July 5. Onu is projec.ted to be a second round pick.

Tre Mann: Mann is a knockdown shooter and a solid playmaker. The Thunder met with him recently. Mann is expected to go in the mid first round.

Brandon Rachal: The Tulsa guard met with the Thunder on July 8. He is described as one of the better defensively talented players in this draft with his use of his athleticism and wingspan.

Carlik Jones: The Louisville guard met with the Thunder on July 9. He is described as a tough, gritty guard that can shoot respectively. The fifth-year-senior is a projected second round pick.

Jaden Springer: The other Tennessee guard met with several teams on July 13, one of which included the Thunder. The 18-year-old is the third youngest player in the draft and is projected as a lottery pick in most mocks. Springer’s game resembles the 3 & D model, as he shot over 43% from three last season.

Justin Champagnie: The Pittsburgh wing worked out with the Thunder on July 15. The 20-year-old averaged 18.8 points and 11.1 rebounds last season.

Scottie Barnes: Scottie Barnes is the first big name that is publicly known to have worked out for the Thunder. Up to this point, the list has consisted of guys who could be drafted by the Thunder outside of sixth overall.

Barnes is the first of the Big 6 guys to have made it known that he has worked out with OKC. The Florida State Seminole is projected to go in the top six of this class. Many compare his game to Draymond Green with his point forward skills and defense versatility.

Nah’Shon Hyland: Bones worked out with the Thunder on July 19. The VCU guard is a lengthy scoring guard with a chance to be a good perimeter defender if developed properly. He is projected to go in the first round.

Feron Hunt: The SMU forward is projected to be a defensive specialist who will need to improve on his shooting and ball handling skills.

Neemas Quetta: The Utah State center is scheduled to workout with the Thunder on July 26. The junior averaged 14.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks last season.

Moses Moody: The Arkansas guard worked out with the Thunder on July 20. Moody is projected to be a high level 3&D player. Where he ranks among prospect varies among evaluators. Some believe that he could go as high as sixth to OKC while others think he will most likely settle in the teens.

Regardless, outside of Barnes and Kuminga, this is the most famous draft prospect who has made it publicly known that he has worked out with the Thunder.

Jonathan Kuminga: The G League Ignite player worked out in front of several teams recently including the Thunder. Kuminga’s stock has fallen the most out of the Big 6 of this class in recent weeks. There is a chance that he will be available at sixth.

Kuminga is described as a poor shooter with defensive potential who could develop into being a bucket getter. The biggest knock against the 18-year-old is his rawness and his poor performance in the G League Bubble.

Kai Jones: The Texas big posted on his Instagram story that he recently visited the OKC National Memorial, which means it is safe to assume he has worked out with the Thunder. Jones is seen as a first round pick that can go from the early teens to the twenties. If OKC is to select him, it must be with their 16 or 18 pick.

Jones is seen as an upside pick who needs to develop his shooting. But he has real potential to be a starting big who can switch on guards and has elite athleticism. He will need time to develop, but OKC would be a good destination for him.

Yves Pons: The Tennessee wing worked out with the Thunder on July 25. He is a long wing that has defensive potential. Pons won SEC DPOY in 2020.

Aaron Wiggins: A second round and UDFA target for OKC. He is is seen as a potential 3 & D project.

Alperen Sengun: The Turkish big man announced in his Zoom presser that he worked out with Oklahoma City. Sengun is projected to be a lottery pick. Many view the 19-year-old as a modern offensive big who excels at rebounding. His most noteworthy accolade is winning Turkish League MVP last season.

Cam Thomas: In his Zoom presser, the LSU guard revealed that he worked out with the Thunder. Thomas is described as a microwave scorer who can heat up. But his biggest flaws seem to be that he is too one dimensional of a player and lacks defensive pedigree.

James Bouknight: The most likely sixth overall pick said in his Zoom presser that he worked out and had dinner with Presti and other FO members. The UConn guard has been linked heavily to OKC in the past week and is expected by many to be taken sixth if OKC stays put.

The idea of a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Bouknight backcourt seems to be get the 20-year-old excited:

“Me and Shai in the backcourt, that could be a real deadly, young backcourt,” said Bouknight in his Zoom presser.

We want to thank and credit Locked On’s Rylan Stiles for keeping Twitter updated with who the Thunder have met with throughout this entire draft process. Give him a follow @Rylan_Stiles!