In an interview with Zach Lowe of Grantland, former Oklahoma City Thunder analytics consultant Ben Alamar said that the team considered drafting Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez instead of point guard Russell Westbrook.
Alamar said that the Thunder had questions about Westbrook’s ability to be a point guard. When Westbrook’s UCLA teammate Darren Collison got injured, he took over the point guard duties and the Thunder were satisfied with what they saw which resulted in him being drafted with the number No. 4 pick in the 2008 NBA draft. Alamar also talked about the thought process behind them possibly drafting Brook Lopez.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDqdEiQm2XU?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360]