UCONN’s Adama Sanogo Provides Chance at Interior Depth in Second Round

Oklahoma City has the chance to fill out the lacking parts of the roster this off-season and using its second round pick on a center could be a top priority.

It’s been clear for two straight seasons that Oklahoma City’s lack of a true big man depth in the paint has hindered their ceiling as a team.

The Thunder struggled to stop the top NBA big men due to the large size advantage they had over OKC’s paint help. Jaylin Williams stepped up as a second rounder to provide a solid option. However, more size and depth can still be utilized to help build the Thunder’s interior presence.

While OKC could take size with their first round pick, which is projected to be in the top 12, it is in a position filled with a heavy dose of stretch wings, who could make more of an immediate impact. The Thunder do have an early second rounder, which has a better chance to be used on a true big man.

Adama Sanogo is projected to be available when OKC makes its second pick in this year’s draft. Sanogo was a key piece to the UCONN men’s basketball team that made a run to a national title this season. He starred on the team alongside Jordan Hawkins and earned the nod as the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player.

The 6-foot-9 and 245-pound center, averaged 17.2 points and 7.7 rebounds this season as a junior on the Huskies team. Sanogo showed a large increase in his field goal percentage this season as it rose from 50.4% in 2021-22 to 60.6% this season, the mark also included 36.5% from beyond the arc, but on just over one attempt per game.

He doesn’t fit the mold of a more modern NBA big man, but with his ability to rebound on both ends of the court and adding the occasional glimpse to be able to pick and pop to his repertoire he shouldn’t have a hard time carving out a role as a back up big man at the next level.

With OKC’s starting lineup fairly set for next season, and the unlikely chance they’ll be searching for a starter in the second round Sanogo would fit the mold of a player the Thunder could look at. He fills a glaring gap in the roster for more interior depth and has the chance to be a solid bench piece for his NBA career.

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