The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the 2024 NBA Draft with all their options on the table. A plethora of future draft picks that allowed for trades, a lack of draft needs that allowed for a trade to be made, and the luxury of a 57-win club that can afford to make a move upward.
With a draft class that lacked consensus throughout the cycle and the Thunder’s usual unpredictability, no one could really track which way the organization was leaning before being sidelined in Wednesday’s first round. Holding the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft — as they have in the last three drafts — the Thunder stayed put and made their selection.
The Oklahoma City Thunder used the 12th pick to select Serbian guard Nikola Topic, who is set to redshirt after suffering a partially torn ACL a few weeks ago.
Topic is a giant point guard who has shown good free throw touch and a 68 percent field goal percentage, making him a weapon inside the arc with high-level passing. Given his free throw percentage and touch around the cup, many predict the youngster could take a leap forward in shooting, but it’s certainly a risky bet for Oklahoma City.
The Thunder have had success with No. 12, using it to acquire Cason Wallace last season, Jalen Williams in the 2022 NBA Draft, Steven Adams in the 2013 draft and Nick Collison in 2003, and are hoping this pick will be the next prospect to join that list.
For now, Oklahoma City has no other choice in the 2024 NBA Draft, but with the new two-day format and the war chest of future picks the Thunder have, Presti could return to the draft if he so chooses.
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