2021 NBA Draft — 18. Ziaire Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Many projected Ziaire Williams as a top-10, maybe even top-5 pick before the season. He struggled at Stanford, however, both with injuries and inefficiency. At 6-foot-8, his upside as a big shot creator on the wing is enough to draw attention, and his fluid athleticism makes him an easy sell for a rebuilding franchise with (again) picks to burn and players to develop.
Williams was not without his moments at Stanford, and his averages were not bad. OKC doesn’t have a ton of shot creation on the roster outside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, so adding Williams to the mix — along with Davion Mitchell in the lottery — could boost the Thunder’s young core in a big way.
Generally speaking, five-star wings who can handle, shoot, and defend like Williams deserve a shot. He will need to add strength in order to handle the physicality of NBA basketball, but he’s a heads-up defender with too many offensive flashes to fall past OKC here. He’s the exact kind of prospect OKC should jump at.