2019 Draft offers motivation for OKC Thunder to aim for play-in berth
The NBA changed the draft lottery system and teams with the best seeding have better odds of landing the top pick. The Pelicans won the lottery in the first year of the new system. In 2020, the Hornets followed up the Pelicans’ fortune by leaping up to the third seed (LaMelo Ball) and in 2021, Raptors were the team taking the leap from the projected seventh seed up up and ended up selecting the Rookie of Year (Scottie Barnes).
2019 Draft offers motivation for OKC Thunder to aim for play-in berth. All 14 lottery picks from the 2019 Draft have roles on their teams. The class produced an unprecedented number of prospects who are featured on teams to various degrees. Scoot Henderson is a player who is valuable for teams with a playmaking, versatile guard in mind. The Thunder cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a break-out season. Chet Holmgren is sitting on the sidelines. He gives Sam Presti and the front office more choices. It is possible that the Thunder will try to sign him.
