NBA Draft: Adama Sanogo Could Be Inexpensive Solution to Thunder’s Frontcourt Woes
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It’s the first day of June which means that we are just 21 days out from the NBA Draft, a special night that gives franchises around the league the opportunity to rebuild, retool, and replenish their rosters however they might see fit.
But this isn’t just any draft. There is an abundance of talent in this class, extending all the way into the second round and beyond; teams just have to know where to look. And one player that might be being overlooked in this class, and could certainly make an impact for the Oklahoma City Thunder, is 6-foot-9 center and national champion, Adama Sanogo.
On paper, Sanogo’s size and numbers don’t seem super appealing. Yes, he scored over 17 points while grabbing almost eight rebounds per game for the Connecticut Huskies this season, but he also recorded a negative assist-to-turnover ratio, a subpar rebounding rate, and a fairly low free throw rate for such a physical center. It also doesn’t help that he measured just 6-foot-7 without shoes at the combine.
However, look closer and you’ll see what really makes Sanogo a potentially exciting get for the Thunder.
Though shorter than almost all centers in the NBA, at 240 pounds with a nearly 7-foot-3 wingspan, Sanogo boasts incredible strength and plenty of length to go along with some surprising mobility and a fine motor. Those tools intersect to make Sanogo a formidable force on the defensive end where he uses sound footwork, active hands, and his sturdy frame to wall off and bother defenders both in the paint and on the perimeter.
Offensively, there is more to Sanogo than meets the eye. The Malian center showed great patience, timing, and touch in the paint and shot 36.5% from 3-point range. But it’s the jarring screens, the precision cutting, his ability to quickly get up and down the court, and the ability to knock down free throws that ultimately make him so interesting.
Projected to go anywhere in the back half of the second round, or even fall into unrestricted free agency, Sanogo could be an inexpensive addition — and maybe even a solution — to the Thunder’s frontcourt woes and promises to pair well with last year’s second overall pick, Chet Holmgren, to form a potential mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses.
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