Oklahoma City Thunder: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Alec Liebsch
Darius Bazley trade
The NBA Draft is of crucial importance to every team, but it’s especially vital to a luxury tax team like the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have to hit on their selections and locate cheap labor; otherwise, they will severely lack depth.
Originally in control of the 21st overall selection, the Thunder traded it to the Memphis Grizzlies for No. 23 and a 2024 second-round pick. Memphis used that pick on Brandon Clarke, a big out of Gonzaga who the Thunder probably should’ve just taken instead.
In an effort to stay lanky, though, the Thunder selected Darius Bazley with the 23rd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Bazley’s background is one of the more unique in the NBA’s recent history.
Instead of playing for a college team, Bazley took the Mitchell Robinson route, opting to sit out a year and train for the NBA. Should Bazley succeed at the next level like Robinson has, there may be an uptick in players who avoid the NCAA entirely.
Bazley’s blend of size, length, athleticism and skills make for a very intriguing prospect. If he can grow into his body and refine those unique tools, he could be one hell of a mismatch problem at the next level.
Why the Thunder used their selection on a project like Bazley, as opposed to a proven role player like Clarke, is a question best answered on the next slide.