The Oklahoma City Thunder have an embarrassment of riches. Thus far in the 2026 NBA playoffs, the defending champions are 7-0, and it seems unlikely that anything will stop them from repeating. This championship core was built through high-level trades and a surplus of draft picks, but despite Oklahoma City's current contention, they are still built for the future. The Thunder are loaded with young players and still have more draft capital than almost any other team.
Even if they win the NBA Finals again this year, they are set to replenish their roster with an overabundance of draft picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. After the draft lottery concluded, the Thunder were confirmed to possess pick number 12, coming their way by right of the Los Angeles Clippers and the infamous Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trade. The Thunder also own the 17th pick because of a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Thunder are in a position where, despite their on-court successes, they can still outbid almost any team in the league in any trade. Their unmatched depth means they can't employ all of their future draft picks, either, so a consolidation trade seems likely. So, what move should the Thunder make involving their 2026 first-round picks?
The Thunder should move up in the 2026 NBA Draft
Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti speaks during the championship ceremony after his team defeated the Indiana Pacers in game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center.
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: Pick number four
Chicago Bulls receive: Pick number 12, pick number 17, 2027 first-round pick (via San Antonio Spurs), 2029 first-round pick (via Denver Nuggets)
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There is great depth in the 2026 NBA Draft, but the true premier prospects will go inside of the first four picks. Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer all have a case to be drafted number one overall, and Caleb Wilson rounds out a loaded top four. The average rookie will struggle to find court time with the Thunder, but whichever top-four prospect falls to pick four would be talented enough to be a part of the Thunder's long-term core.
The Thunder should trade both of their 2026 first-rounders to move up and take any of Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, or Wilson, with the UNC product being the most likely to fall. Dybantsa just led the nation in scoring as a freshman, Boozer was the Naismith Player of the Year, Peterson is the best three-level scorer in this class, and Wilson moves with more fluidity than a frontcourt player should physically be able to.
Such a move would better the Thunder's chances at becoming a dynasty. Now, teams may be hesitant to trade with the Thunder, but the Chicago Bulls team that currently owns pick four doesn't play in the same conference as Oklahoma City. Plus, they are a ways away from contending, so a haul that includes four first-round picks might be intriguing enough for them to sacrifice the opportunity to select a potential star, especially because prospects aren't guaranteed to pan out.
On top of one of the picks that the Thunder would send over being in the lottery and the other being just outside of it, the Bulls would also be getting first-round picks in 2027 and 2029. The 2029 first-rounder that comes via the Denver Nuggets would be particularly enticing, because it is possible that Denver will no longer be one of the top teams in the Western Conference by that point.
This still might not be enough to persuade the Bulls to give up pick number four. It might take including one of Oklahoma City's young role players, like Ajay Mitchell or Jared McCain, to facilitate a trade. If the Thunder can get away with moving up in the draft by leveraging their draft capital, though, they need to do it. The Thunder already have too many talented players to roster all of the players they are set to draft in the coming years, but they shouldn't stop making aggressive trades, and dealing for a top prospect would make the scariest team in the league truly unbeatable.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have an embarrassment of riches. Thus far in the 2026 NBA playoffs, the defending champions are 7-0, and it seems unlikely that anything will stop them from repeating. This championship core was built through high-level trades and a surplus of draft picks, but despite Oklahoma City's current contention, they are still built for the future.