NBA Draft 2021: Mock Draft 1.0
player. 149. . C. Oklahoma City Thunder. Kai Jones. 16
2021 NBA Draft — 16. Kai Jones, Oklahoma City Thunder
Kai Jones is a work-in-progress, but his flashes are as tantalizing and interesting as any prospect on the board. OKC shipped Moses Brown to Boston in the Al Horford trade, and is in need of a long-term anchor at center. If the cards break right, Jones could operate as both a foundation on defense, and a key piece on offense.
The Thunder are in no particular hurry to do anything besides develop young talent. OKC does not want to win, and Jones has the upside of a gold expedition in the 1800s. You may come up empty — he didn’t even play basketball until his mid-teens — but the 7-footer’s trajectory points high. He can move gracefully on the perimeter, he has the touch of a promising shooter, and his explosiveness is untouched by other centers in this draft.
Jones’ length and burst should make him an intimidating shot-blocker and deterrent inside. He will benefit from added strength and discipline, but the basic tools are there. He can also switch screens, move his feet on the perimeter, and pressure ball-handlers without getting cooked. You can’t ask much more of a modern defensive center. This is a gamble worth taking for the Thunder, who have picks to burn.