The Thunder's cache of draft picks is the largest in league history. And it's not like the team is actively tanking. This season, they may make the playoffs with players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (All-NBA First Team), Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort and incoming rookies Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace.
When the time comes to go shopping in trade, the franchise has all the ammunition it needs for a blockbuster (Joel Embiid, perhaps?). Can any other franchise compete with a motivated Oklahoma City?
Conversely, the team won't possibly use all these picks on players (potentially seven seconds in 2029 alone). There's just not enough roster space for what could be 15 first-rounders and 19-25 seconds (contingent on various protections) over the next seven years. But never fear. The Thunder will trade their extra picks into additional future draft capital.
Own: 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
Incoming: 2024 (Houston Rockets, protected), 2024 (LA Clippers), 2024 (Utah Jazz, protected), 2025 (Miami Heat, protected), 2025 (Philadelphia 76ers, protected), 2026 (Rockets, protected), 2026 (Clippers), 2027 (Denver Nuggets, protected), 2029 (Nuggets, protected)
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