2014 NBA Mock Draft: An in-depth look at both rounds
By Joe Nardone
Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
21. Oklahoma City Thunder – P.J. Hairston, SG, North Carolina/NBA D-League
H: 6′ 5″ W: 229 lbs DOB: 12/24/1992
2013-14 D-League (26 GP) 21.8 PPG 3.5 RPG 0.8 APG 19.2 PER
I’m going to catch slander for this but P.J. Hairston could be the closest thing the Thunder have had to James Harden since…James Harden. I’m not going to get caught up in his impressive D-League stats from last season, but from an offensive perspective Hairston’s the total package, and a lot more athletic than he looks.
Hairston’s already proven he can play with men, as his 6’5, 230lb frame can take hits and finish strong at the rim, as well as get up and knock down three’s at an efficient rate (.396-percent on 6.6 attempts his last season at UNC). The Thunder are in desperate need of a scorer who can create for himself and take some pressure off of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, and I think either Hairston, UCLA’s Jordan Adams, or Washington’s C.J. Wilcox make the most sense here. — Jared