The Thunder were reportedly looking into using the No. 21 pick as a sweetener to unload salary.
Instead, Oklahoma City will trade down a couple spots.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Oklahoma City will get the No. 23 pick tonight and a 2024 second-round pick in the trade, league source tells ESPN. https://t.co/4qVdrV6mOP
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2019
The Grizzlies chose Brandon Clarke with the No. 21 pick. It was worth it to trade up for him.
Clarke and Jaren Jackson Jr. could form a nice big-man pairing offensively – Clarke inside, Jackson outside. Defensively, I’m not sure who can guard opposing centers. But the most important thing is adding a productive player. Memphis can figure out the rest, including how this affects Jonas Valanciunas, later.
After the Celtics took Grant Williams No. 22, Oklahoma City got Darius Bazley with the No. 23 pick. Bazley took an unconventional route to the draft, sitting out last season. With his athleticism and versatility, Bazley is a typical Thunder pick. I bet he would’ve been their choice at No. 21.
Now, Oklahoma City still gets him, an extra second-rounder and savings in the difference between the No. 21 picks’s and No. 23 pick’s salaries – no small consideration for a team facing the repeater luxury tax.