25) Oklahoma City Thunder—Nique Clifford
The team with the best record in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, appears unlikely to pick up the top-six protected firsts via the Philadelphia 76ers.
Fortunately, they still have their own, including the right to swap picks with the L.A. Clippers and a first via the Miami Heat. That will give them the 15th and 23rd picks, and they should use them to select one of the most NBA-ready prospects, Nique Clifford.
Clifford will be 23 and a half years old by the time he is drafted, and that has likely tamped down interest in him. However, for a playoff team in need of more shooting, he would make sense, given that he would be ready to play NBA minutes next season for the Thunder.
Clifford posted strong numbers during his senior season, averaging 19 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and an impressive 61.4 true shooting percentage.
Clifford drilling nearly 40% on 4.8 3-point attempts per game is tantalizing, giving them another weapon from outside, but he is more than a floor spacer. He can also put pressure on defenses by using his quickness to penetrate the paint and attack the rim. He is also a crafty finisher, helping him maintain his terrific efficiency. Add in his passing and rebounding, and Clifford would be a safe selection for the Thunder.
26) Brooklyn Nets—Noa Penda
Noa Penda has been compared to fellow Frenchman Nic Batum, though not just because of his nationality. Penda is a versatile player who fits the mold as a three-and-D wing, to say the least, at 6'8" with a 7'1 wingspan.
That is the perfect size and length to be an effective wing in the NBA, particularly on the defensive end. Penda looks like he can be an impact player on that end of the floor. He is quick enough to guard guards and big enough to go up against larger wings.
Not just that, but he is an active defender, forcing turnovers by jumping passing lanes and contesting shots at the rim as a weak-side shot blocker. Penda already has the defensive part down, but his biggest swing skill will be his ability to knock down threes. He shot just 30.3% from deep this season, but his shooting stroke actually looks good, and he did shoot nearly 75% on a decent amount of free throws.
Those things suggest that he could at least develop into a decent to good 3-point shooter. If that is the case, then he could emerge as a rotation player in the NBA, which would be a win considering how few players selected in the twenties have that career outcome.