As Sam Presti eyes a deep 2026 class, Oklahoma City could leverage its draft capital to secure elite rim protection or elite two-way versatility for the reigning champions.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have a busy weekend.
On Saturday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will lead the reigning champs in a Western Conference Semifinals Game 3 clash on the road versus the Los Angeles Lakers. OKC will attempt to stay undefeated in the 2026 playoffs and take a commanding 3-0 lead against LeBron James and the Lakers.
On Sunday afternoon, Oklahoma City General Manager Sam Presti and Special Assistant To The General Manager Nick Collison will represent the Thunder at the NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago, Illinois. OKC fans will sneak away from their Mother's Day lunches to tune into the fateful ping pong balls on ABC.
While there is a 7.1% chance that the Thunder jump into the Top 4 and land a blue chip prospect such as AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer or Darryn Peterson, the most likely scenario is that OKC will stay put in the #12 spot. And considering this deep draft class, Presti will still have his pick of plenty of talented young players.
Here's my top five favorite Thunder draft targets if OKC ends up drafting at #12.
5. Morez Johnson Jr. Power Forward/Center. Michigan. Oklahoma City doesn't really have anyone of Johnson's size and frame currently playing in their rotation. But he is similar to last season's #15 overall pick Thomas Sorber, the Georgetown big who missed all of this season with an ACL tear and recovery. The Wolverine is a high motor, elite defender with switchability and championship pedigree.
4. Hannes Steinbach. Power Forward. Washington. OKC could use a 6'11" scorer and rebounder with some shooting upside. Offensively, he's an ideal fit. The big question mark is whether he'll be able to hang defensively with NBA athletes. Steinbach checks some boxes, but a big who can't defend the rim nor switch out to the perimeter may be a nonstarter on this historic Thunder defense.
3. Aday Mara. Center. Michigan. Imagine adding a 7'3" rim protector alongside Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams and Thomas Sorber. Mara is an excellent passer, scores at the rim and has a high IQ and feel for the game. But OKC prefers all the players on their roster to have some shooting ability, which may be a dealbreaker.
2. Yaxel Lendeborg. Forward. Michigan. Noticing a running theme with all the NCAA champions on this list? This is by far the most popular name among Thunder fans as the runaway favorite for OKC to draft at #12. For good reason. Lendeborg is a plug and play NBA ready player who is a positive on both sides of the ball. His position and size is the one thing the Thunder may be lacking.
1. Brayden Burries. Guard. Arizona. Okay, this one is cheating a bit. Burries is projected to be drafted around the 8-10 range. But he is my favorite prospect that OKC could reasonably trade up a few spots to draft. Think Cason Wallace a couple years ago and how the Thunder moved up 2 places to snag him. Does Oklahoma City have a need for another guard? No. But I think he may be my favorite prospect outside the Big 4 and he is within OKC's realistic range.