NBA Draft Rumors: Mystery lottery team has given promise to surprise riser Bilal Coulibaly?
NBA Draft Rumors: There are whispers among the NBA Draft community that the Oklahoma City Thunder have given a draft promise to surprise riser Bilal Coulibaly.
You know it’s officially NBA Draft season and that the draft itself is just around the corner when you begin to hear rumblings of promises given to prospects by teams. On cue, we have what may be the first of this year’s draft season. Or at least the first one that has been reported on.
According to a recent report, a mystery lottery team has been given a draft promise to surprise riser Bilal Coulibaly. As somewhat of a late riser, it’s extremely surprising to see a lottery team give Coulibaly a draft promise, assuming this report is accurate.
However, there is a lot to like about Coulibaly and his potential in the NBA. Coulibaly is 6-foot-7 with a 7-plus-foot wingspan. He’s considered an explosive player in and around the paint and has all the physical tools and athleticism to be a good and versatile defender at the next level.
His offensive game is still very much in development but he showed flashes of a consistent 3-point shot this past season. If he can continue to build off that heading into his rookie season in the NBA, there’s a chance he could play a role for a team right away.
Still, you’d have to think that whichever team drafts him (in the lottery or not), is looking at the long-term potential when it comes to Coulibaly.
Did the Oklahoma City Thunder give Bilal Coulibaly the draft promise?
There’s a growing belief that the team that gave Coulibaly the promise is the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s not for certain but they do make sense.
I find it hard to believe that the Dallas Mavericks would make that type of high-risk selection with the No. 10 pick. The Orlando Magic could make that pick at No. 11 but with a clear need in the backcourt, I find it hard to believe they’d give that type of promise.
The Thunder makes sense. As do the Toronto Raptors at No. 13. I’d be shocked if the New Orleans Pelicans didn’t select a guard with the No. 14 pick.
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Either way, this is the type of report that will only inject the next few weeks leading up to the NBA Draft will more intrigue.