The NBA season is almost over, and many teams are shifting their attention to the upcoming NBA Draft.
At one stage, it seemed likely that the Oklahoma City Thunder would secure a top-10 pick in the draft, but the 76ers’ recent defeats could trigger pick protection, keeping the pick with Philadelphia.
Despite this, OKC is still expected to secure a pick within the top 20, thanks to a well-known trade with the Clippers, giving them a chance to land a solid contributor or high-potential prospect.
In a recent mock draft by Draft Digest, writer Derek Parker projected Israeli guard Ben Saraf to the Thunder at No. 18 overall.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 200 pounds, Saraf is putting up 12.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany’s pro league. At just 18 years old, turning 19 in April, Saraf has been impressive for his age.
Although Saraf started the season ranked higher in mock drafts, his shooting struggles have lowered his stock. However, given his good size and solid production for his age, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sam Presti take a chance on his upside.
In the second round, Parker paired Oklahoma City with Syracuse freshman Donnie Freeman.
At 6-foot-9 and 205 pounds, Freeman was a 5-star recruit out of high school and ranked No. 15 in the 2025 recruiting class. Originally from the Bahamas, Freeman moved to Washington D.C. at six years old but still competes for his home country in international events.
In the summer of 2024, Freeman played for Team Bahamas in the Olympic Games alongside NBA players like Buddy Hield, Eric Gordon, Deandre Ayton, and fellow draft prospect VJ Edgecombe.
As a freshman, Freeman averaged 13.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, shooting 50.4% from the field and 33.3% from three. With his size and strong production, Freeman could develop into a solid NBA rotation player if he improves his outside shooting.
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