Why Julian Strawther Makes Sense for the Thunder in Second Round

The Oklahoma City Thunder have proven they can find value in their second round picks.

In recent years, they’ve taken Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams. It’s not lost on the Thunder that they can find good prospects in the latter half of the draft.

This time around, the Thunder have two second round picks, those being picks no. 37 and 50. There’s two opportunities to hit, but their best bet will be at pick no. 37.

Strawther resembles a lot of what the Thunder would like in a prospect. He’s 6-foot-7 with a positive wingspan, and he's a pure scorer. Sure, he may not have star potential, but he’s a second round pick that will be able to come in and contribute early.

With the Thunder on the upward trend, bringing in a 21-year-old that is ready to provide scoring at the highest level in the second round is appealing.

Though not having the ideal, eye-popping athleticism, Strawther can lead the break, which is an aspect of the game where the Thunder want versatility, and he adds passing vision when doing so.

There are plenty of cases of drafting older guys in the draft and having that pick pan out, which erases any worry of Strawthers age, being 21-years-old. Jalen Williams and Franz Wagner are recent examples, and Mikal Bridges is another great example.

Being an older, ready-now prospect, Strawther could join this Thunder team and provide both size on the wing and scoring off the bench, making him a seamless fit and putting him in the position to succeed early. Also, he played college basketball, which adds another dynamic to the potential addition.

Strawther would have to develop as a ball-handler to be a perfect match for the Thunder’s system, but he shows early signs of being able to excel in the system early, as he can bring much more than solid shooting to the game.

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