Alex Caruso and Luguentz Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JUNE 22: Alex Caruso #9 and Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 22, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Not satisfied with winning the first championship in franchise history, the Oklahoma City Thunder are now trying to bend the NBA Draft to their whims as well.
Per draft expert Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the Thunder are trying to trade into the top ten of tomorrow’s draft. The Thunder currently have the #15 and #24 picks in the first round, as well as the #44 pick in Thursday’s second round, and want to consolidate them via moving up.
Thunder Moving Up Despite Already Being On Top
Top ten picks are supposed to be for the bad teams. Notwithstanding the adjustments made via the lottery process, the NBA’s system of reversing the draft order relative to the standings is supposed to bolster the fortunes of the teams at the bottom of the pile. The idea is that, if everyone eats, everyone benefits.
The Thunder, though, are uniquely positioned. Finishing with the best record in the regular season means their own pick falls at #30 – and is owed to the Los Angeles Clippers anyway – yet the three picks they have this season are just the start of the absolute bounty of future picks they are owed by other teams in upcoming drafts.
Oklahoma City’s problem is not with the picks. Rather, it is the lack of space on which to put the players that they yield. NBA roster spots are capped at 18, three of which are for “two-way players” only – and as things stand, the Thunder already have 15 for next season.
Never Can Have Too Many Picks, Except Right Now
The risk with having so many draft picks becomes one of diminishing returns. Each pick’s individual value is degraded when the urgency of the roster crunch – after all, while they can afford to be patient with high-ceiling talents such as trend-setting rookie Nikola Topic, they can only carry a few non-contributors, and high roster spot demand in turn demands immediate returns.
It therefore makes sense for the Thunder to want to package multiple picks for a smaller number of better ones. The problem becomes finding willing suitors.
The Dallas Mavericks will not be trading the first overall pick and will be selecting Cooper Flagg. That has been known for some time. In the second spot, the San Antonio Spurs have reportedly been rebuffing trade interest, and are expected to take Dylan Harper.
The rest is far less certain.
Thunder Might Be Targeting #10 Specifically
Once the Durant trade is completed, the #10 pick will belong to the Phoenix Suns. But prior to its usage as the crux of the Durant deal, the Thunder were – according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line – targeting it for themselves.
They still can. The disjointed Suns – who are short of wins, talent and picks – will be one team for whom a multitude of picks might be the best possible outcome. The same package of #15, #24 and #44, as suggested by Stein might be enough. And if it is not, the Thunder have plenty of picks in future seasons to negotiate with.
Oklahoma City, though, are not the only team trying to trade into or up to the top ten. The Washington Wizards – already active in the trade market with their deal for C.J. McCollum – are also reportedly trying to get in there, while numerous teams have engaged with the Philadelphia 76ers at #3.
Nevertheless, precisely because of the volume of their assets, the Thunder can pay whatever the price for the right pick is. They spent years monopolizing the pick market to be in a position to buy the good ones back when the time comes. Seemingly, that time is now.