NBA Mock Draft: Oklahoma City Opts Again for Positional Size

The Thunder has made it clear that positional size is key in the current rebuild.

Each and every year, quality talent slips to the second round of the NBA Draft. As such, teams are always seeking a diamond in the rough following round one as impactful players can be found in that range.

After selecting a lottery talent in the first round, who could the Thunder target with its first pick in the second?

Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report recently released a mock draft for the 2023 class following end of the regular season, which gives insight into where some of the top players in the upcoming rookie class could land. His projection has the Thunder selecting a versatile, defensive-minded guard in the second round.

Sidy Cissoko fits exactly what Oklahoma City is building. At 6-foot-5, he has great size for a guard and a long wingspan. He's a defensive-minded prospect that also showed flashes of being a productive scorer towards the end of the recent G League season.

When playing for the Ignite this past year, his ability to make plays on both ends was impressive against quality talent. Cissoko is a prospect with a wide range that could easily be taken in the first round. However, if he does fall to the second, he would be an ideal candidate for the Thunder to snag with its first selection of that round. The upside is tremendous with the 19-year-old.

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