NBA Draft: Mouhamed Gueye, A Perfect Project For Thunder
One of the bigger holes in regards to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s roster right now is unquestionably the center position as they head into the off-season armed with just two rookies: Jaylin Williams and Chet Holmgren.
And while both are talented, the Thunder could stand to improve their depth and size.
With Williams listed at just 6-foot-9 and Holmgren listed at 7-foot-1 and just 195 pounds, adding a bigger center to the roster certainly wouldn’t hurt. The good news is that the Thunder will have the chance to do just that in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Sure, they could make a godfather offer for the projected number one overall pick, the 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama, but it would almost assuredly be turned down as the French prospect is being heralded as the arguably the greatest prospect ever.
But what if the Thunder didn’t want to invest a ton of capital into the center position just yet? Well, there are some other options. Among them is Washington State’s Mouhamed Gueye who is projected to go somewhere in the second round.
Gueye, listed at 6-foot-11 and 210 pounds, is just a little bit bigger than the current options on the roster but has the frame to pack on more muscle. And with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and, it’s easier to feel good about his size and length giving the Thunder more rim deterrence.
And though unpolished right now, the flashes that Gueye showed in his two years in college are incredibly intriguing.
At just 20 years old, Gueye is still figuring out his offense, but watching him rise up and bury mid-range jumpers, knock down the occasional 3-pointer, or slither past his initial defender to get to the rim leaves the mind wondering how he might grow his game in a league that offers more space.
Not to mention his improvements as a passer where he jumped from a 4.7 assist rate in his freshman season to a 14 in his sophomore season, a remarkable improvement.
Defensively, Gueye might just be one of the most mobile centers to ever set foot in the NBA. While imperfect as a defender, his potential as a switchable big is there as he has all the tools to become one with the right coaching and at the very least he can be an impactful drop big if necessary.
Overall, Gueye offers big time potential if his game pans out. And if the Thunder can help him along, they could be staring at not one, but two centers on the roster that are mismatch nightmares long-term that can also play on the floor together.
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