OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder improved its depth on Thursday night, selecting Devon Hall and Kevin Hervey in the second round of the NBA draft and reportedly trading for Hamidou Diallo, the 45th overall pick, from the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets got Diallo in a trade from Dallas, which drafted him.
“It’s a real team effort to get these things done, and I am really excited about the guys we were able to add this evening,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said at a late-night news conference. “Anytime you are picking in the late 50s, your main objective is to shift the odds and give yourself a chance of finding a player that has a chance to play in the NBA.”
With just two picks in the draft, Presti opted to stay put at Nos. 53 and 57 instead of moving up. The news of the trade with the Hornets was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski following the draft. That trade, which Presti said he could not comment on, will not become official until July 6, according to Wojnarowski.
Hall, 22, was the 53rd pick and played at Virginia for four seasons, averaging 11.7 points per game as a senior. He shot 89.4 percent from the free-throw line and 43.2 percent from 3-point range last season. He started in every game during his junior and senior seasons.
“We had him in here for a workout and got time with him at the the Portsmouth Invitational, so we feel like we know him really well,” said Will Dawkins, Thunder vice president of identification & intelligence. “He’s a guy who was an All-ACC defender and improved his shooting each year. We are interested in seeing him get on the floor and fit in with our other wings.”
