2013 NBA mock draft 2.0
1 / 4
Kelly Olynyk
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (From Toronto Raptors via Houston Rockets)
Kelly Olynyk (C, 22, 7-0, 234, Gonzaga, junior): The Thunder's season ended in disappointing fashion, in no small part because of an injury to All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, which put too much pressure on Kevin Durant to carry the load offensively. Fortunately for the Thunder, the James Harden trade returned a pick in the late lottery, which can be used to add an immediate contributor on a cheap salary. With Westbrook back at full strength, what do you give the team that has everything? More offensive firepower is one option, particularly from the frontcourt, which struggled to establish itself as enough of a threat to keep Memphis' big men honest defensively. With the status of free agent Kevin Martin very much up in the air, the Thunder could look to add more talent at the wing. Olynyk’s ability to score inside and out could be attractive at this stage of the draft. His average rebounding and defensive skills would be more easily masked alongside big men like Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison, and he comes ready to play at age 22.
Kelly Olynyk (C, 22, 7-0, 234, Gonzaga, junior): The Thunder's season ended in disappointing fashion, in no small part because of an injury to All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, which put too much pressure on Kevin Durant to carry the load offensively. Fortunately for the Thunder, the James Harden trade returned a pick in the late lottery, which can be used to add an immediate contributor on a cheap salary. With Westbrook back at full strength, what do you give the team that has everything? More offensive firepower is one option, particularly from the frontcourt, which struggled to establish itself as enough of a threat to keep Memphis' big men honest defensively. With the status of free agent Kevin Martin very much up in the air, the Thunder could look to add more talent at the wing. Olynyk’s ability to score inside and out could be attractive at this stage of the draft. His average rebounding and defensive skills would be more easily masked alongside big men like Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison, and he comes ready to play at age 22.
DraftExpress.com's Jonathan Givony provides his second NBA mock draft. For more in-depth scouting reports and analysis of the 2013 NBA draft, visit DraftExpress.com.