Considered one of the top three prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, Chet Holmgren can potentially be the first to be called by Adam Silver on Thursday night. But obviously, the Gonzaga-trained unicorn would prefer to come out second story to land in Oklahoma City rather than Orlando. So why don’t we like Disneyland?
It’s a classic of the days leading up to the big Draft ceremony. Every year, there are rumors that cross the corridors of the NBA concerning this or that prospect who prefers to play in this or that place, for one reason or another, with a view to influencing the final choice of the franchises concerned. 2022 is no exception to the rule. According to several sources such as Sports Illustrated and Ryen Russillo of The Ringer, Chet Holmgren would have his sights on Oklahoma City rather than Orlando, which has the first pick Thursday night just ahead of the Thunder. The reason behind all this? According to Russillo, the player camp perceives OKC as a better destination for Chet’s development. Already because the organization of the Thunder is widely known throughout the League for its ability to train and develop youngsters, and then because it is currently a bit of a desert within the frontcourt of Oklahoma. Unlike Orlando where the racket was composed this season of the duo Wendell Carter Jr. – Mo Bamba with the very promising Franz Wagner on the wing, the Thunder is today building its project on the duo of exteriors Josh Giddey – Shai Gilgeous- Alexander, a duo alongside which a pivot like Chet Holmgren could shine through his qualities on both sides of the field.
“I think I have a variety of skills that would go well with a point guard like Josh Giddey, who has a great game vision. It would make my life easier. And I could free up spaces for him through my ability to clear the ground and be an aerial threat. As for Shai, he doesn’t need anyone, he can do whatever he wants on the pitch. […] I think with those guys it would be an easy transition. »
– Chet Holmgren, via DailyThunder
More opportunities and a fit which corresponds well to his very atypical profile, these are mainly the two reasons which explain why the Holmgren camp would have a penchant for the Thunder two days before the Draft. If Mo Bamba is obviously not the man who will stand in the way of Chet in the event of the latter’s arrival in Orlando (Bamba is also a restrictive free agent), we can understand the reasoning. But how ready is the player’s entourage to get the message across to the different franchises? According to Ethan Fuller of BasketballNews, Holmgren refused to share medical information with a large number of teams, potentially to “manipulate the draft” and thus end up in the franchise where he wants to evolve for the start of his career. No additional details have been given about this, but it gives an idea of what is potentially going on behind the scenes. According to the latest trends, Chet Holmgren would in any case be on the way to getting what he wants. Indeed, most Mock Drafts see Jabari Smith Jr. exit at number one to join Orlando, with Chet then landing in Oklahoma City at number two.
If Holmgren therefore seems to be heading for the Thunder, we also know that the boss of the franchise Sam Presti is capable of carrying out madness on the evening of the Draft. Nothing is therefore guaranteed, especially since OKC also has pick #12 which could be at the heart of a trade in order to climb several spots within the Lottery.
Text sources: Sports Illustrated, Ryen Russillo, BasketballNews, DailyThunder
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