NBA Mock Draft 7.0: New York Knicks trade up for an answer at point guard

NBA Draft prospect James Bouknight (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
NBA Draft prospect James Bouknight (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA Draft
NBA Draft prospect Usman Garuba (Photo by Sonia Canada/Getty Images)

16. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Boston) – Usman Garuba, F, Spain

For the Oklahoma City Thunder, acquiring talent is the most important objective in the 2021 NBA draft. Usman Garuba is an interesting possibility here at No. 16 considering that he’s going to take a few years to develop and that the Thunder actually has the time to be patient.

OKC recently made the acquisition of Kemba Walker last week and while that is somewhat of a win-now mold type of move, the Thunder is not in any rush to make a push up the West standings.

If it comes naturally, they’ll take it but this is not a team that is pressing on winning many games the next season. That’s why this could be the perfect landing spot for a developmental project such as Garuba.