B/R: Thunder should target Kings big Harry Giles III in free agency

As the Oklahoma City Thunder enter the offseason, questions abound for the direction of the team. Decisions involving veterans Chris Paul, Steven Adams and Dennis Schroder, along with the impending free agencies of Danilo Gallinari and Nerlens Noel, will dictate which direction the organization goes in free agency.

If Gallinari’s price tag is too high and he leaves the Thunder for a contender like the Miami Heat, OKC would be in the market for a power forward.

Bleacher Report thinks that Sacramento Kings big Harry Giles III would be a good target.

Giles, energetic on the court and charismatic off, has become a fan favorite in Sacramento. The Kings declined his fourth-year option, so the 22-year-old is an unrestricted free agent.

His potential in the league is still unclear. Giles was once the top prospect in high school, but ACL and MCL injuries before entering the NBA have set him back.

Over the two seasons he played with the Kings, he averaged 7.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assist in 14.3 minutes per game.

He is more impressive than those stats indicate. The Kings began running some plays for him, and he is a good passer, though maybe not to the level that he has proclaimed.

After Nikola what big in the league pass better 👀👀 https://t.co/cxJY7cymvN

— Harry Giles III (@HGiiizzle) May 2, 2020

Bleacher Report thinks he’d fit well with the Thunder. Reporter Zach Buckley wrote:

“He’s still just 22 years old and clearly skilled. He filled out this season’s per-36-minutes stat line with 17.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks. Stick him in the same frontcourt with Darius Bazley and put Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort on the perimeter, and OKC might already have a young nucleus to build around.”

Depending on his price tag, Giles certainly looks like he could be an option for the Thunder.

Especially if other free agency moves go the way B/R projects.

Bleacher gave one free agency idea for every team under the premise of finding the best free agent each had a realistic chance of signing.

In the projections, Gallinari departed for the Heat. That would not be a surprise. Miami targeted him at the trade deadline and has made quite a pitch to free agents over the past month by getting to the NBA Finals. If Gallinari wants a contender who can pay him well, he has no better option than the Heat.

Bleacher Report also recommended the Portland Trail Blazers to go after Noel as a replacement for Hassan Whiteside.