Thunder Linked to 'Raw Project' in 2025 NBA Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By JH Kubicek | Last updated Apr 6, 2025 4:00 PM ET

It's hard to imagine what the Oklahoma City Thunder need. They are one of the most dominating teams ever on both sides of the ball, are led by MVP-frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and All-Star Jalen Williams, and boast the best supporting cast in the NBA.

It's downright unfair that they have more draft picks between now and 2031 than anyone, but that's the vision Sam Presti has been allowed to work towards. In 2025, they will only have one pick, courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers, and are projected to roll the dice with Joan Beringer.

Hailing from France, Beringer is playing for Cedevita Olimpija of the Slovenian League. In 25 games, he is averaging only four points and four rebounds, but posts 1.5 blocks per game as a 6-foot-9 center.

"Beringer would be a classic Sam Presti pick," opined Yahoo's Kevin O'Conner, who mocked Beringer to the Thunder with the 19th overall pick.

"Beringer began playing basketball only three years ago, which makes him a raw project, but also makes his natural talents all the more impressive playing this season in the ABA League and the EuroCup. The Thunder don’t really need him to contribute today considering how deep the roster is. But he’s a massive, long-term swing as a center with the quickness of a guard, giving him immense defensive versatility to build on for years to come."

Let's imagine for a second that he hits his ceiling as an uber-athlete with elite shot-blocking. Would the Thunder ever lose again?

He's not without faults and might slip out of the first round. While he seems to be an elite defensive player, he is prone to fouling, can't space the floor that well, and needs to add weight. However, with no rush for him to enter the NBA, the Thunder would be smart to make a risky pick this year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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