June 26, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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4 June 26, 2021 Who are the best No. 6 picks in NBA Draft history? Joe Mussatto, The the Celtics as a rookie in 1979. himself in Utah. 1990-91 when he averaged Oklahoma City. seasons. Oklahoman Bird is in his own class of No. 6 Dantley was a six-time All Star 22.1 points per game. The Italian forward was He averaged 14.1 points and picks. with the Jazz, and he led the Battier was never an All-Star, drafted sixth by the Knicks 4.0 rebounds for his career. The Thunder slid to the No. 6 The hall of famer won three league in scoring in 1980-81 but he won two NBA titles and and played for the Nuggets pick in the NBA Draft Lottery NBA championships in Boston and 1983-84. was twice named to the All- and Clippers before landing Woolridge was known as a on Tuesday, and history (1981, 1984, 1986) and he was Lillard is the best No. 6 pick in Defensive second team. with the Thunder. ferocious dunker, competing suggests stars aren’t easily twice named Finals MVP. the last decade, and it’s not Battier spent his first five NBA He crossed the 10,000-career in back-to-back dunk contests found at that slot. Bird was a three-time MVP, a close. seasons in Memphis, but his points threshold this season. in 1984 and 1985. Sure, the Thunder might find a 12-time All-Star and a 10-time Portland’s star point guard was two championships (2012, The Colorado product was way to trade up, but let’s say it All-NBA selection. named second-team All-NBA 2013) came at the end of his drafted by the Kansas City- The 6-foot-9 forward from stays at sixth. He averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 this season after averaging career in Miami. He won his Omaha Kings with the sixth Notre Dame played his first If so, Thunder fans might want rebounds and 6.3 assists in his 28.8 points, 7.5 assists and 4.2 first ring against the Thunder. pick. five seasons in Chicago before to look at the 1978 and 2012 13-year career — all with the rebounds per game. The 6-foot-8 forward was a He later played for the bouncing around with several drafts for inspiration. Celtics. Still only 30 years old, Lillard career 38% 3-point shooter. Cavaliers and Celtics, winning teams. Here’s a look back at the best In 1974, a freshman Dantley ranks 12th among all active Downtown Freddie Brown two championships with Bird No. 6 picks in the common led Notre Dame to a 71-70 win players in career points. played his entire 13-year career in 1984 and 1986. Woolridge, who wore No. 0, draft era (since 1966) sorted against UCLA. It snapped He has six All-NBA nods to go in Seattle. Wedman was a two-time All- averaged a career-high 25.1 by win shares, according to UCLA’s 88-game winning along with six All-Star He ranks second only to Gary Star and was named to the All- points per game with the Basketball Reference. streak — the longest in college selections. Payton in both games and Defensive team in 1979-80. Nuggets in 1990-91, and he The Indiana State star fell to basketball history. Hawkins was the AP Player of points in a SuperSonics Szczerbiak, now a college the Celtics at No. 6 after Two years later, the Buffalo the Year at Bradley in 1988. uniform. basketball analyst for CBS had career averages of 16 Mychal Thompson, Phil Ford, Braves drafted Dantley with The Clippers selected the Brown was an All-Star in 1975- Sports, averaged 18.7 points points and 4.3 rebounds. Rick Robey, Micheal Ray the sixth overall pick. 6-foot-3 guard with the sixth 76, and he led Seattle to the with the Timberwolves in 11. Kenny Smith, 1987 Richardson and Purvis Short Dantley was traded from the pick before trading him on 1979 NBA championship. 2001-02 and was named an All 12. Tom Gugliotta, 1992 went off the board. Braves, to the Pacers, to the draft night to the 76ers. Thunder fans know him well. Star. 13. Antoine Walker, 1996 Bird actually returned to Lakers and finally to the Jazz Hawkins spent his first five Gallinari, now with the Hawks, That was Szczerbiak’s only All- college for his senior season all in his first four seasons. The seasons in Philadelphia, averaged 18.7 points on 41% Star appearance, but he was a 14. Brandon Roy, 2006 after the draft before joining 6-foot-5 forward established including an All-Star year in 3-point shooting last season in good NBA player for 10 15. Trent Tucker, 1982 Cowboy wrestling mesh camps to NBA Draft Lottery 2021: Thunder lands sixth pick, optimize opportunity for teams Pistons get No. 1 pick Jason Elmquist, Stillwater NewsPress morning, afternoon we’re going wrestling from a long distance and kind of get back Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman building a sustainably great and then wrestling at night — unless it’s to normal, because they were talking team in Oklahoma City, I Oklahoma State wrestling has traditionally not going the way we like it, and we will do about they had a hurricane (Tropical Luck wasn't on the Thunder's think good things will been a destination for youth wrestlers another hour of technique at night,” Storm Claudette) down there and they’ve side Tuesday night. happen." looking to spend part of their summer Montalvo said. “So, it’s been more of a Oklahoma City's pick fell to I think we should be optimistic got tin thrown everywhere, roofs ripped training under the watchful eye of the one split of half live, half technique.” No. 6 in the NBA Draft about that and continue to be off,” Oklahoma State redshirt junior Jalin forward-facing with that of the top NCAA Division I wrestling Despite the late notice of having a Lottery, and Houston kept its Harper said. “So, they said they drove up No. 2 pick that would've fallen respect. programs in the country. wrestling camp this summer, the teams Last year, however, that was derailed due still clamored to work with the Cowboy here and it’s good to see normal again. ... to the Thunder had it landed The front office will now get And then one of our teammates is from at No. 5. to work now that it knows the to the pandemic that prevented college wrestling program. The Thunder will pick No. 6, order. athletics programs from hosting youth One of the top Class 4A programs in one of the Louisiana teams, as well. So, it’s No. 16 and No. 18 in July's "I'm not really much for the camps. Kansas made the trip to Stillwater. The cool that they get to come up here and see suspense or made-for-TV draft. And the notice for camps to return to Chanute wrestling program — located in him.” drama or moment, but just There was a 75% chance that campus this summer came late in the the southeast corner of Kansas — was the Most of the recent freshman class was OKC would land at least one getting ... to know where we're school year, leaving the Cowboys to state’s runner-up this past season after helping work the camp, which was a bit of top-five pick, but it didn't going to be picking, that's a scramble on a new approach to the camp winning the crown in 2020. happen. huge thing for us. I'm really a new experience for them. that typically run about two weeks and There is also a program from El Paso, Thunder general manager looking forward to that." Traditionally, the incoming class would Sam Presti has the features both a team camp and a technical Texas, several from throughout Oklahoma The top 14 picks in July's NBA get to work with campers in their first ammunition to move up in camp — that has typically been open to and a pair of programs that traveled from Draft: summer on campus, but last year’s the draft if he chooses. elementary-aged wrestlers, as well. the bayous of Louisiana — from opposite "There's one thing that I've 1. Detroit “I wish we would have had more kids, but ends of the coastal area of the state. departure from the norm meant this was learned over my time in the 2. Houston we also get a little more one-on-one time Archbishop Rummel High School, located the first experience helping run a camp for NBA since the year 2000, is 3. Cleveland with these kids here at this camp this in Metairie, Louisiana — a suburb of New many of them. And Tuesday, several of that luck really presents itself 4. Toronto year,” said Oklahoma State redshirt junior Orleans — made the trek from the east on a given day, but skill is 5. Orlando them were tasked with serving as a something that shows up over Anthony Montalvo, who is one of the half of the state, while Saint Louis Catholic officials for the dual matches in the 6. Oklahoma City the course of time," Presti said Cowboy wrestlers serving as a camp traveled from Lake Charles, Louisiana, on before the lottery. 7. Golden State (from afternoon session. counselor. “So, that part has been nice.” the western half. "In between these moments Minnesota) “They’re doing great,” Harper said. “A With roughly 150 campers arriving in But Saint Louis Catholic had one of its where you get distributions of 8. Orlando (from Chicago) couple of them were out there reffing, and good or bad fortune, as I said 9. Sacramento Stillwater this week, they combined the alumni also serving as a camp counselor. I think they’re really liking it and getting before, if you stick to your 10. New Orleans two traditional camps where teams get a OSU freshman Alexander Yokubaitis, who the hang of it. principles, you stick to your chance for technical training, while also wrestles at 125 pounds and redshirted 11. Charlotte values, you think in the best squaring off against one another in a dual this past year, is a recent graduate of the “I think they’re enjoying it a lot, they fit interest of the organization 12. San Antonio format. Lake Charles program. right in. A lot of those guys know what long-term, and in our case 13. Indiana “This year, we’re doing technique in the “It’s really good to see those teams come they’re talking about.” we're really focused on 14. Golden State 'Pretty simple': Thunder GM Sam Presti calls Kemba Walker-Al Horford trade with Celtics a win-win Joe Mussatto, The role of running the front NBA," Presti added. "That's expand his game and "be on Oklahoman office, it was just a natural really, really rare. It's also rare the ball full-time." conversation that came up. to find guys where almost If the Thunder is to restore Deals like the one the Thunder "It made I think a lot of sense every single person you speak $50 $75 Walker's value, Walker will also and Celtics made last Friday for both teams. I think it's a to has the same impression of are rarely agreed to before great trade for the Celtics. I him." need the ball in his hands. draft night, but Thunder think it's a great trade for us ... Walker averaged 19.3 points Presti downplayed that general manager Sam Presti I don't think it's super and 4.9 assists last season, but potential dilemma. described the swap as "pretty complicated." a left knee injury limited him "I don't think anything's gonna simple" for both sides. Boston cleared cap space and to 43 games. change with Shai," Presti said. The Thunder traded five-time All-Star Al Horford to the got back the center it had from 2016-19. The Thunder The 31-year-old has two years left on his contract. He's owed "Good players learn to play 6 Months 1 Year Celtics along with 21-year-old received a valuable first-round $36 million next season and together. center Moses Brown. In return, pick and Walker, who, if has a player option for $37.7 "We've had that situation here. Add the e-paper to a print subscription for $1 per month the Thunder received four- healthy, could be flipped for million in 2022-23. We've played three guys time All-Star Kemba Walker more assets. If Walker isn't traded again together at different points in and the 16th pick in July's "Obviously with Al, he's an this summer, he'll be an NBA Draft. extraordinarily high-character, interesting fit alongside star time. That's not something The teams also traded future positive professional," Presti point guard Shai Gilgeous- that's really, I don't think a big second-round picks. said. "We feel like with Kemba Alexander in the Thunder's factor over 48 minutes. And "The Celtics had some interest we're getting a very similar backcourt. the way we play, which is in Al," Presti said Tuesday person. A little bit different After the Thunder traded pretty democratic in general, night before the draft lottery. "We had a few different personality, but values-wise very similar." Chris Paul and Dennis Schröder last offseason, Presti the way that Mark (Daigneault) 109 W. Broadway really sees the game, I think conversations. I think when Brad (Stevens) assumed the "It's hard to find guys that score and create shots in the said the team was "clearing the way" for Gilgeous-Alexander to it'll be fine." 580-225-3000 • www.elkcityoknews.com