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The goal for the Thunder in any draft is to identify and secure players who will add value to the organization both on and off the court. With a trove of draft capital heading into the 2021 NBA Draft, Thunder General Manager and Executive Vice President Sam Presti and staff had the flexibility to pursue just that on Thursday night. By the end of the night, after countless hours of scouting and preparation by the Thunder staff over the past year, the organization welcomed four new players to its roster and to Oklahoma City: Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins.
Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images
The 2021 NBA draft will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET in Brooklyn, New York with the Detroit Pistons holding the top pick. The Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic will round out the top five selections. The Pistons, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, have settled on taking Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick.
We’re tracking each pick as it happens and providing instant reaction with draft grades.
No. 30: Memphis Grizzlies Santi Aldama: B
Aldama performed well for the Loyola Greyhounds, shooting 51.3 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent from deep last season. He’s a good developmental prospect for the Grizzlies, who need floor spacing and size.
By: Nate Kotisso
OKLAHOMA CITY -
In an early draft surprise, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Australian guard Josh Giddey with the franchise’s first NBA Draft lottery pick in five years.
Giddey, who is 18 years old and hails from Melbourne, is OKC’s first lottery pick since the Thunder chose Domantas Sabonis with the 11th pick in 2016.
He is also the first graduate of Australia s NBA Academy selected in the NBA Draft.
Giddey played for a mediocre Adelaide 36ers club in 2020-21 (according to Basketball Reference, the 36ers finished 13-23), but he posted some impressive numbers in his age-18 season.
RUMOR ROUND-UP: With hours left, not much to say
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Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Bobby Marks is suggesting that there could be more than two dozen trades tonight. By 4 p.m., though, there’s only been one transaction. The Sixers paid $2 million to the Pelicans for the 53rd pick.
The biggest rumor involving the Nets? Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report says the Nets are among four teams still trying to move up.
A handful of teams Houston, New York, Brooklyn, Atlanta still have desires to trade up, and the Pacers are a prime possible partner at No. 13. But Indiana officials also are being patient waiting to see which players will still be available tonight. https://t.co/CRjK1JM6fW Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 29, 2021