NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: A general view of the atmosphere ahead of the first round of 2023 … [+]
Sitting atop the Western Conference standings, the Oklahoma City Thunder have undergone an accelerated rebuild that has set the franchise up for success today and in the future. With a 43-19 record, Oklahoma City is a clear championship contender this season, but is also primed for sustained long-term success.
During the rapid rebuild orchestrated by Thunder general manager Sam Presti over the past several years, OKC has accumulated a record amount of draft capital. Now that this team has emerged, these picks can be used to either add talent via trade or continue to bring in young players to extend the team’s timeline of success.
Let’s take a look at Oklahoma City’s projected pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft.
Not long ago, the Thunder had four first-round picks (via the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, LA Clippers and OKC) under their control for this upcoming draft. However, in two separate transactions, Presti constructed a framework in which the two worst selections were actually dealt.
First, the Thunder executed a trade with the Denver Nuggets in which they shipped out one of those four, with a clause in the deal that it would be the worst of the bunch. Most recently, Oklahoma City helped facilitate the Dallas Mavericks’ deadline move for Daniel Gafford, which was structured so that the Washington Wizards landed the second-worst of the Thunder’s four first-round picks. These two picks will likely end up being either the Clippers or Thunder pick, which will be in the late twenties this summer.
This means that Oklahoma City will have the potential to make more than two first-round picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. It’s pretty rare for this to happen, but the Thunder are actually fortunate to have both of these selections in the lottery, even though it should finish among the top five teams in the NBA. This is a byproduct of deals made during the franchise’s reorganization after the Russell Westbrook era, as Presti was willing to get creative in order to own other teams’ future picks.
Two examples of this will be highlighted this summer, as two distinct strategic trades will now benefit the Thunder.
The first of two potential picks Oklahoma City could make in the lottery will come from Houston, who was acquired by the Thunder via the aforementioned Westbrook trade for Chris Paul in 2019. He is a protected pick among the top four, meaning if it falls within that range, Houston would keep its pick and the Thunder would instead get a 2025 second-rounder from the Rockets. Given the Rockets’ current position in the lottery order, there is only one 20.5% There’s a good chance that Houston’s selection will be in the top four starting today. This is the more likely of two picks the Thunder could have in this draft.
The second pick – which is more likely to not be conveyed this summer – comes from the Utah Jazz and was acquired by the Thunder for accepting Derrick Favors’ unwanted salary in 2021. This is a projected pick among the top 10, which is right around the range Utah should finish. Fortunately for Oklahoma City, if this selection finishes in the top 10 after the lottery, the Thunder’s ownership of the Jazz’s first round will push to 2025 (top-10 protected) or 2026 (top-8 protected). If the pick doesn’t pass by the 2026 NBA Draft, then Utah owes OKC nothing.
In short, the Thunder have the talent to make a deep playoff push this season, then turn around and have two lottery picks in the 2024 NBA Draft to work with. As this franchise looks to compete now and in the future, Oklahoma City is very well organized and in a unique position.
