Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman released his latest mock on Tuesday for the 2022 NBA draft and he still has the Oklahoma City Thunder taking Gonzaga forward Chet Holmgren second overall. Afterward, Wasserman reported to keep an eye out for the Thunder potentially surprising everybody and taking Purdue guard Jaden Ivey with the second overall pick.
“We’ve heard to keep an ear out for OKC’s potential interest in Ivey at No. 2. While Holmgren has been perceived as a top-three pick all season, some scouts prefer Ivey. His fit isn’t ideal for a roster that already has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, but a team who sees Ivey as a surefire star won’t pass on him due to fit questions. Of course, there is a difference between OKC being high on Ivey and actually making the pick with Holmgren and Banchero on the board.”
Other players mocked to the Thunder include Memphis center Jalen Duran going 12th, Notre Dame guard Blake Wesley going 30th and Arizona center Christian Koloko going 34th overall.
The reporting doesn’t sound super assuring that the Thunder would be willing to throw a curveball and take Ivey second overall. It appears that while the Thunder might like Ivey more than most, it’s not enough to take him at second when someone like Holmgren will most likely be available. With ESPN already reporting that most teams around the league believe Holmgren will be drafted by the Thunder, it’s hard to envision that not being the case suddenly. It’s important to keep in mind that it’s that time of the year where rumors run wild and there are an infinite amount of contradicting information.
