NBA Mock Draft 5.0: Final first-round predictions before the draft

NBA Mock Draft 18th Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder – Usman Garuba

For the same reasons as drafting Sengun, Oklahoma City should draft another big man, this time for defensive purposes, especially with the Thunder’s lack of any semblance of rim protection projected to aggravate their already-paltry team defense.

If things go well and Sengun indeed lands with OKC, then drafting Spain’s Usman Garuba will give the Thunder a promising one-two punch at the frontcourt position for the future. The latter’s interior defense is ahead of his draft class despite being relatively undersized as a 5-man. It’s worth noting that his offensive arsenal is quite limited at the present, though he has shown flashes of becoming a steady scoring hand.