Oklahoma City Thunder Draft Nikola Topic in 2024 NBA Draft

Oklahoma City Thunder Draft Nikola Topic in 2024 NBA Draft

the pick is in the Oklahoma City Thunder have made a selection in the 2024 NBA draft I’m tanra batist and we’re joined by Ryland styles from lock on Thunder to break down the Thunder selecting Nia topage with the number 12 pick from Houston presented by LinkedIn LinkedIn jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to faster post your job free at linkedin.com on NBA so Ryland the Thunder finished number one in the Western Conference last season big part of that was their depth but what is topage add depthwise to this thunder back court yeah I think that immediately he doesn’t add anything for OKC because he’s going to be out for the first season and that was partly the plan by the Thunder because the Thunder have experience with this they just had Chet hren who needed a red shirt injury season and that was part of what made the Thunder comfortable making this selection was that they know they have a blueprint to handle uh how to maximize that quote unquote rookie year for a player even when he’s not on the court how to handle his rehab how to handle his film sessions how to handle everything that they can uh without the the full-blown practices and game aspect of things so uh in the first year the Thunder will get to catch their breath and and rearrange their roster that’s the luxury they get by being a 57- win team they did they do not need the 12th overall pick uh to be an instant impact he obviously won’t be because he can’t play this year uh and I think that when whenever you look at the other options available while those are extremely talented players that are available in Dalton connect in Devin Carter Jared McCain even if they were the pick here they would have trouble catapulting up the depth chart to to overtake and and Andrew and Aaron Wiggins a uh you know Isaiah Joe a case Wallace they’d have difficulties in that aspect so the topic pick is a swing for the F’s pick that could end up not panning out for OKC which they would just move forward and and not really care but it also if he pans out could be huge as many people believe this is a top five talent in this Draft before the injuries yeah and I think you make a great point about them setting the blueprint with what they were able to do with Chad Holm and maybe not for OKC Ryland maybe the concerns aren’t necessarily there because obviously they picked him at 12 but with that partially torn ACL and his left knee obviously won’t play Summer League will take part this year but are you concerned about that injury long term yeah I think that they’re to be a level of concern of how how you know quickly he’s had a couple knee injuries now uh for the Thunder it’s again a a gamble that they’re willing to take uh they understand I believe that this could just not pan out at all and this could be a blip on the radar that we look back on and say uh you know that the 12th overall pick this year did not contribute to an NBA organization they also could look back on it and say this was a top five talent in this draft and the the former point if that were the case it wouldn’t really impact OKC that much because they have all these future draft picks they have an already loaded roster what would be which would make it hard for minutes to come by to whoever they would have taken at pick number 12 they have a get at of jail free card so to say if this doesn’t work if this does work they have a premier Talent on a cost control deal right as you’re paying Chad JB and Shay Max money so it’s a it’s a real no risk extremely high reward move yeah and you’re right they have an embarrassment of riches with the depth that’s currently on the roster and to come with the stack of draft picks that they have been able to acquire along the way for more on the Thunder subscribe to lockon thunder on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts and for more on nicoa topic let’s get an inside look on his path to the NBA nicoa topic a Serbian guard who plays for red star in belgrad Serbia as an interesting player and it will be interesting to see where he lands due to tearing his ACL recently but he does boast unique skills a big point guard who thrives in the pick and roll I’m Le tulen of locked on NBA big board and toage to me if everything goes perfectly could have the most desirable skill set of the draft as an offensive weapon who will distribute and score out of the pick and roll using his 6 foot6 200 pound frame topit averaged nearly 15 points and six assists this season and demonstrated that skill set with an 89 percentile pick and roll operating ability which is classified as excellent percentage and then his shot becomes the question is it good enough to punish the defenses that dare him to shoot or gr under screens as he’s a crafty driver to the basket who couples size and strength and creativity to finish off plays himself despite lacking top-end speed nor Elite topend athleticism time will tell and tune in to locked on NBA bigboard or on YouTube or your favorite podcasting app to hear more thoughts on topage and for continuing coverage of the 20124 NBA draft subscribe to locked on NBA on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day

Oklahoma City Thunder Draft Nikola Topic in 2024 NBA Draft

The Oklahoma City Thunder have selected Nikola Topic with the twelfth pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

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