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OKC Thunder lands Ajay Mitchell via trade 38th in 2024 NBA Draft: Get to know UCSB guard
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- OKC Thunder lands Ajay Mitchell via trade 38th in 2024 NBA Draft: Get to know UCSB guard
The Oklahoma City Thunder traded back into the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday , landing UC Santa Barbara guard Ajay Mitchell 38th overall in a trade with the New York Knicks .
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Mitchell started 87 of the 91 games that he played for UC Santa Barbara and shot 50.4% from the floor during his senior season. Over three seasons, he averaged 16.1 points, three rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
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Earlier Thursday, the Thunder reportedly dealt former Oklahoma State and Norman North guard Lindy Waters III to the Golden State Warriors for the No. 52 pick.
Mitchell is the Thunder's third pick of the draft. OKC selected Nikola Topic at 12th and Dillon Jones at No. 26 during the first round.
MUST READ: Who is Nikola Topic? Get to know new OKC Thunder guard, No. 12 pick in NBA Draft
Ajay Mitchell was an asset at UC Santa Barbara
After playing three seasons for UC Santa Barbara, Mitchell is the 14th player from the university to be drafted to the NBA.
He had an immediate impact on arrival and averaged double-digit points and made at least 50% of the field goals he attempted all three years. Mitchell is coming off his best season yet and averaged 20 points, four rebounds and four assists over 29 starts during his 2023-24 campaign.
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Last season, he tied the school record for the most points scored in a game with, 39 and tallied 1,463 career points, which puts him in the Top 10 in UC Santa Barbara history.
2024 NBA Draft tracker: Every pick made in second round on Thursday
Ajay Mitchell is familiar with the EuroLeague
Mitchell was born in Liege, Belgium , and went to high school at Sainte Marie Namur in Namur, Belgium.
While in Europe, Mitchell became acquainted with the EuroLeague. He played for Limburg in Belgium's top pro league and was a member of the Belgium National Team at the 2018, 2019 and 2021 FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers. He also played in the 2019 NBA Academy Games.
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When Mitchell was with Limburg, he averaged 7.4 points and 2.9 assists per game and averaged 11 points, 4.7 assists and four rebounds during his third year with the Belgium National Team.
More: Mussatto: OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti left breadcrumbs with NBA Draft pick Nikola Topic
Ajay Mitchell needs work
Although Mitchell would make a great addition to Oklahoma City's G League team, the Oklahoma City Blue, he is probably not ready for the caliber of play presented at the NBA level.His 6-foot-3 frame will serve as a good basis that he can build on, and defensively, he already had a solid showing at UC Santa Barbara, where he averaged 1.2 steals per game. However, he will have to work on his shooting speed and mechanism and his lateral quickness.
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However, his size and speed allow him to serve as a quick cutter who can get to the rim and score around the basket or be efficient in an off-the-ball roll.
More: OKC Thunder draft picks: Grades for Nikola Topic, Dillon Jones in 2024 NBA Draft
May 15, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; Ulrich Chomche (62) and Ajay Mitchell (53) participate during the 2024 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Thunder knows what Ajay Mitchell brings to the game
Mitchell reportedly had a predraft workout with the Thunder, per HoopsHype .
Over the course of several weeks, OKC hosted players who served as potential draft prospects. This included players like Mitchell, who the Thunder traded for in the second round, as well as other players outside the lottery range.
Although Oklahoma City only had one guaranteed pick, which it used to select Topic, it also traded back in for both Jones and Mitchell.
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The predraft workouts allowed Oklahoma City to see those probable first and second-round picks, while also evaluating players that might go as undrafted free agents after the draft is over.
More: What is OKC Thunder's 'plan of action' for Nikola Topic injury? Sam Presti explains
Ajay Mitchell is solid around the rim
Although Mitchell was 33 for 84 at the 3-point line last season, he is solid around the rim.
Scoring at all three levels, Mitchell was best when he could get to the paint. While shooting his go-to floater, he shot 55%, and he also made 62% of the shots that he took in the paint.
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Away from the ball he shot 44% off catch and shoot.
Mitchell is OKC's third pick of the draft. The Thunder selected Nikola Topic at 12th and Dillon Jones at No. 26 during the first round.
More: What's next for the OKC Thunder? Player report cards, key offseason dates
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder adds Ajay Mitchell via trade with Knicks 38th in NBA Draft
