The Thunder surprisingly pushed for a playoff berth last season and their NBA Draft picks from 2022 were a big reason why they were in that spot.
The Thunder had very weird 2022 draft class results. The player that they drafted at No. 2 did not play at all this season due to a foot injury that he suffered in the Drew League. They drafted two players with almost identical names and who both seem to be rotation players. Jalen Williams (No. 12) was one of the best rookies this season and could be a future All-Star in this league. They also landed Ousmane Dieng, a 19-year-old project who barely saw the court.
Altogether it seems like Thunder fans will look back at this draft class as the one where the rebuild stopped and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finally got all the talent he needed to make a playoff run.
Re-grading the Thunder 2022 Draft picks: 3. Chet Holmgren and Ousmane Dieng, Grade: Incomplete
Chet Holmgren was selected with the second overall pick. He never saw the NBA court at all this season due to an injury in a Drew League game over the summer. Holmgren's rookie season is this year. For the Thunder fans this season, Holmgren is the most exciting thing that they are watching for this season.
Dieng played just 500 minutes, most of which came in garbage time and it's far to early to really assess what the Thunder have in him.
Re-grading the Thunder 2022 Draft picks: 2. Jalen Williams, Grade: A+
Even though Jalen Williams was the 12th overall pick in this year's draft, he was arguably the best rookie last season. He averaged 14 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor this season. After one season, it seems like Williams will be a quality 3-and-D player in this league.
He has flashed potential as a player who could beat you off the dribble. It will be very interesting to watch him play this season due to the fact that the Thunder will not be the tanking Thunder anymore. Williams will be facing teams that aren't sleeping on them and will still to need showcase that he can continue to beat guys off the dribble and get to the basket.
Because this pick was near the end of the lottery and he was still able to showcase some star potential, this is a instant A. It is quite hard to find a player who the Thunder would have rather drafted over Williams.
Re-grading the Thunder 2022 Draft picks: 1. Jaylin Williams, Grade: B+
Jaylin Williams is not as good as his name counterpart but he looks like a player who at the very least will have a long career as a rotational player in this league. Williams was selected with the No. 34 overall pick in last year's draft.
Williams is 6-foot-10 and can play both frontcourt positions. He could develop a reliable outside shot but right now his contributions are mostly on defense, on the glass and as a ball-moving, connector on offense.
For a second round pick, getting someone who can be a rotational player is a win no matter where you select him in the second round. Although that is true, he was selected shortly after the first round was over and those players usually have first round grades on them by most scouts.
The Thunder found a role player on a cheap-four year deal. With that in mind, I am gonna give the Thunder a B+ for this, due to the draft slot. He doesn't look like anymore than a rotational player but the second round draft slot commands a higher grade boost.
Check out The Step Back for more news, analysis, opinion and unique basketball coverage. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our daily email newsletter, The Whiteboard.