Pre-Draft Outlook
Oklahoma City enters this Draft with a trio of picks at No. 12, No. 37 and No. 50. Given the team’s war chest of future picks, the Thunder are reportedly contemplating moving up in order to add to one of the NBA’s most exciting young cores. Led by First Team All-NBA point guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as well as Jalen Williams (the 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year runner-up), the Thunder look to take the next step toward perennial playoff contention after capping a 40-win campaign that included a berth in the AT&T Play-In Tournament without the help of last year’s No. 2 overall pick, Chet Holmgren. OKC appears well on its way to fulfilling general manager Sam Presti’s stated goal of long-term sustainability.
The Way To Go
Don’t expect Oklahoma City to act rashly in this Draft based off the fact it possesses several future picks and plenty of cap space this offseason. Presti wants to take his time to ensure the rebuild is completed in a way conducive to the long-term sustainability the franchise seeks. That means OKC will look to continue adding young talent around Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren, who should be making his NBA debut in 2023-24. Kentucky guard Cason Wallace makes sense at No. 12 along with Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr., guard Jordan Hawkins from Connecticut and G League Ignite big man Leonard Miller. At No. 37, strong options for the Thunder include Arkansas guard Jordan Walsh and Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis as OKC has positioned itself to take the best player available.
— Michael C. Wright
Here’s a quick look at who the Oklahoma City Thunder have under contract, who is a free agent this summer and who they added in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Under Contract
G: Lugentz Dort
G: Josh Giddey
G: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
G: Isaiah Joe
G: Tre Mann
G: Aaron Wiggins
G/F: Jalen Williams
G/F: Kenrich Williams
F: Ousmane Dieng
F: Aleksej Pokusevski
F: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
F: Jaylin Williams
F/C: Dario Saric
Free Agents
G: Jared Butler (two-way)
F: Lindy Waters III (team option)
F/C: Dario Saric (unrestricted)
C: Olivier Sarr (two-way)
> 2023 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2022: Chet Holmgren (2), Ousmane Dieng (11)*, Jalen Williams (12), Peyton Watson (30)**, Jaylin Williams (34)
* = acquired via trade
** = traded in draft-night deal
*** = traded in offseason deal