As the time ticked off the clock before each draft pick of the 2015 NBA Draft was announced at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY, the anticipation in Oklahoma City amongst fans, and those within the Thunder organization only increased.
At long last, it was time for the Thunder to make its first pick at number 14 overall, the final lottery pick. The team welcomed Cameron Payne, a point guard from Murray State, with open arms.
34 selections later, at pick number 48, the Thunder selected center Dakari Johnson from the University of Kentucky. Both players were successful during their two seasons at the collegiate level and are people who General Manager Sam Presti and his staff believe in moving forward.
“We are excited to have Cameron and Dakari as part of the organization,” Presti said. “I’m thrilled to have both of them. Both are really high character people.”
Payne was one of the most dynamic, skilled offensive players in the draft, a point guard who scored over 20 points and registered over six assists per game during his sophomore year at Murray State. His understanding of the game, vision, tempo with the ball and ability to both facilitate and attack are strengths as he can create scoring opportunities for himself and others. Manipulating pick-and-rolls, finding teammates in high percentage scoring areas and finishing with a soft touch from multiple areas of the floor are all impact areas for Payne that can translate to the next level.
“He has really got a good feel for what is taking place on the floor,” Presti explained. “He has good instincts, passes the ball well and is a pretty efficient shooter from just about all areas of the floor.”
“He’s cerebral and he’s crafty,” Presti continued. “He understands angles. They did some really good things with him off the ball coming off some screening action where he makes really good decisions because he is able to anticipate the different looks that the defense is giving him based on how he is being defended.”
It’s not just Payne’s abilities on the floor that the Thunder brass is looking forward to bringing into the program, but also the demeanor and verve that he exudes. Confident and hungry, Payne is a player and person that not only believes in his own abilities, but more importantly trusts in his own work ethic and knack for continual improvement. With Russell Westbrook and D.J. Augustin on the roster at the point guard position, Payne will have two unique veterans to learn from, which he is eager to do.
“I think there is a competitiveness to him as well. The thing that we really like about him is there is not a lot of entitlement to him,” Presti continued. “This is a guy that really, really turned it on and took big steps as a player.”
“He just has a good natural energy to him,” Presti said. “At the same time, I think he understands that he has work to do and I don’t think he is expecting anything to be handed to him and I like that because that hasn’t been the case for him coming up. He has been able to meet expectations and exceed expectations.”
Payne is also a person who has displayed perseverance, loyalty and a commitment to the group during his two years at Murray State, located in Murray, Ky., 115 miles from Nashville, Tenn. and 230 miles from Louisville, Ky. Murray itself has a population of around 20,000, so Payne understands what it’s like to play in an environment where an institution and a basketball program hold an significant, influential place in the community.
“This is a guy that once he started to really excel had chances to go from Murray State to bigger schools and chose to stay with Murray State because that was the school that gave him his opportunity,” Presti explained.
“The basketball team there is really important for a lot of different reasons, not just winning and losing,” Presti said. “We talked about that in relation to the Thunder and I think he really understands the importance or the role that a team can play in a smaller place and really connected with that. I thought that was an important thing for us when we spent time with him here.”
As for Johnson, the Thunder staff has done its due diligence over the years to determine its own internal evaluations of players. When the clock started on the Thunder’s 48th selection, it was clear to Presti and his staff that the physical, burly center from Kentucky was the best prospect available. It remains to be seen what role he’ll have in Oklahoma City – be it with the Thunder, the Blue or otherwise - but the skill set and type of person that Johnson is should be an excellent addition to the organization.
“Where guys were projected for us, that was a really easy one,” Presti explained. “He is a really, really great kid. He has a great disposition to him. He is a really smart guy. He is really efficient around the bucket and he rebounds the ball. His rebounding percentages were really good. He has played a role on a really good team and is a pretty tough-minded kid.”
The Thunder will introduce its newcomers officially over the weekend and then begin play at Orlando’s Summer League starting on Saturday, July 4th. Be sure to stick close to okcthunder.com for more information on the Thunder’s draft selections and all the action in Orlando.