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Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 Options In The 2015 NBA Draft

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Jerian Grant (22) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Jerian Grant (22) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma City Thunder
Feb 17, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) moves the ball against Tennessee Volunteers guard Josh Richardson (1) during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Kentucky won 66 to 48. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Devin Booker

As the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks showed us this year, the league is heading in a new direction where spacing and a potent three-point shooting attack are intrinsic to competing — contrary to what Phil Jackson would have to say about how that’s “goink.”

Despite attempting the 14th most three-pointers in the NBA last year, the Thunder connected on only 33.9 percent of them — ranked 22nd in the league, per NBA.com. Obviously that number will go up with Durant’s return, but a three-point sniper like Devin Booker could really help with this problem area for OKC.

Pegged as the best pure shooter in this year’s draft, Booker is definitely on Oklahoma City’s radar after impressing during Kentucky’s Final Four run with his high basketball IQ, his 41.1 percent three-point shooting and his solid perimeter defense. The prospect of stopping an offense that already has Westbrook and Durant is frightening enough; adding a floor spacer like Booker who can make defenses pay from down makes it downright terrifying.

So why isn’t Booker ranked higher? Well, unfortunately for the Thunder and their spacing needs, it’s seems unlikely that Booker slides all the way to No. 14 in the draft. The Detroit Pistons (No. 8) and Charlotte Hornets (No. 9) are legitimate options to take Booker, and there’s almost no way he slides past the Phoenix Suns at No. 13.

Next: No. 3

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