2015 GBB Community Mock Draft: OKC Thunder trade into pick #20

Pick #20

OKC Thunder

GM: ljjung

The trade that brought us here:

Raptors trade: Pick #20, DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross, Patrick Patterson

for

Thunder: Kevin Durant, Nick Collison

And with the 20th pick in the draft, GM ljjung and the Thunder select:

20) Trey Lyles, PF from Kentucky

Photo credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

From GM ljjung:

His numbers don't jump off the page, but his size along with his mobility and his high basketball IQ makes this an easy buy.  When you have a player with this much talent it's hard to pass on them even when you don't have a ton of need in the front-court.  Because of that, he can take the time to develop and adjust to the speed of the game.  He's 6'10 with a wingspan of 7'3, which makes him perfect to guard prototypical 4s in the league.  His excellent footwork along with his offensive awareness could really help him contribute in a fast-paced offense, which I would like to the Thunder switch to with DeRozan and Westbrook.  Although his 3pt shooting is not up to par (only shot 14% last season) he has a very good shooting stroke inside the arc.  Developing his 3pt shot should be top priority so Lyles can grow into a spread 4 in the NBA.

Watching some film on Lyles, he reminds me a lot of Draymond Green. People were very concerned about his place in an NBA system and it turns out he worked perfectly in the Warriors system. I could see a very similar scenario occur with Lyles if he develops his 3pt shot.  His explosiveness does worry me a little bit, but as mobile as he is, he should be able to handle slower 4s and with guys like Westbook and DeRozan, Lyles will never be asked to create for himself.  So again this will give him time to develop.  Lyles will definitely be a project, but at the 20th pick in the draft I'm not really looking for someone to come in and make an impact right away.  Lyles is only 19 years old so it is completely understandable for him to ride the bench for a season or two.

Next we've got the Dallas Mavericks and GM ethanwi11iams who will select the 21st pick in the draft. Stay tuned!