Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 options for pick No. 21 in 2019 NBA Draft

3. Grant Williams

A common theme for those studying the draft will be analysts ranking Grant Williams very highly and mock drafts slotting him in toward the back of the first round. NBA teams are likely to pass on him well past the end of the lottery, but Williams has the best chance of anyone outside the lottery to end up as a top-14 player from this class.

His production in college stands out in a tremendous way, as Williams is a two-time SEC Player of the Year despite being just 20 years old. He scored 18.8 points per game, pulled in 7.5 rebounds and shot a strong 81.9 percent on a whopping 260 free throw attempts. He’s been one of the nation’s best players the past two seasons.

At the next level, Williams should be a plus at both ends of the court. He should be able to quickly move his shot out to the 3-point line, and his free throw shooting and touch in the mid-range suggest he should make the move successfully. He can handle the ball in the post or at the elbow and drive, face up or make plays passing the ball.

On defense Williams is incredibly intelligent, directing traffic and making sure to be in the right place at the right time. He is a patient defender who does not foul often, and is hard to keep off the glass. He’s not a super bouncy athlete, nor is he the most agile player on the court, which could put him at a disadvantage against the best opposing scorers.

The Thunder can deploy him at the 4 alongside Steven Adams in a bruising frontcourt pairing that would lock down the paint. Williams could spot up around pick-and-roll actions or move inside with bench units to facilitate the offense. If Williams is available at No. 21, the Thunder will get a steal who will fill a major need from the jump.