Jalen Wilson is an Ideal Second Round Target for Thunder
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Jalen Wilson is a surefire second-round pick, and will likely fall late in the second round. As a 22-year-old, that’s not too surprising. He’ll be an older rookie, and that would hurt him in most cases, but for the Oklahoma City Thunder, that might not be a bad thing.
The Thunder recently drafted Jalen Williams, who was considered old for the draft, especially for pick no. 12. Franz Wagner was an older draft pick. Mikal Bridges is amongst the more popular recent older draft picks.
All three of these guys have found ways to improve in their short times during the league and be impact players immediately.
After four years at Kansas, one of the better college basketball schools, Wilson has had plenty of time to sharpen his skill and evolve his knowledge for the game. If he gets a big man in a mismatch, he’s going to get a bucket, and if a guy his size or smaller is on him, he will rely on his skill and strength to get a basket.
As an older, late second-round pick, Wilson would hypothetically assume a bench role, and given the Thunder’s current status in their rebuild, he would get opportunities to show his skill and value to the squad. By playing to his strengths and playing smart, he could complement the Thunder’s system, allowing him to expand on his role and potentially carve out a journeyman-like career, benefitting both the team and Wilson.
What seals Wilson as a player worth taking a shot at in the late second round, as the Thunder’s final pick of draft night will come at pick No. 50, is his potential as a shooter. The Thunder have seen developments with their current players and their jump shots after the addition of Chip Engelland, and if Wilson gets a piece of that pie, he could see himself become a solid shooter in the NBA.
Evidently, the Thunder would have to essentially bring Wilson in and use him off the bench while having him play within their system, which could benefit from his ability to play the wing position at 6-foot-8. He’s also 225 pounds, and with the current Thunder squad, that would qualify him to play small ball center minutes.
With pick No. 50, the Thunder might not be shooting for the stars in terms of a young player with shiny potential, but rather a solid prospect that has the tools to play within the team’s system and see early production, which could be Wilson.
Not to mention, Wilson has both a National Championship and experience playing alongside other NBA talents.
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