The Thunder are a long shot to move all the way up to No. 2 from No. 28, but Beal told ESPN today that when he spoke to
Sam Presti in Chicago, the Oklahoma City GM expressed a desire to draft the Florida shooter.
"I've heard it a lot," Beal said of the Thunder scenario. "It's really interesting. I would love to play with Kevin Durant. [Russell] Westbrook, great point guard. Just the whole team. It's young, I would love to play with a young team. They play fast. I'd love to get up and down, shoot the ball. Overall, whatever situation I Iand in I'll be happy."
Presti has long coveted Beal, according to Katz, who hears from sources that the GM spent three days in Gainesville during last year's lockout, watching Beal and the Gators. However, in order to put together a realistic package for the second overall pick, the Thunder would likely have to include James Harden. For Oklahoma City, giving up the Sixth Man of the Year and breaking up a team that made the NBA Finals, would be a steep price to pay. It wouldn't necessarily be a coup for the Bobcats either, since Harden will hit free agency next summer, and would be no guarantee to remain in Charlotte long-term.
According to Katz's report, the Nuggets and Spurs also expressed interest in finding a way to move up to snag Beal. While a team picking in the 20s is unlikely to pull off a blockbuster of that magnitude before tomorrow night (the Spurs indicated that such a move would represent a "parting of the red sea"), there appears to be no shortage of trade possibilities for the Bobcats.
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