OKC Thunder Embrace Dynasty Path, Explore Moving Up In NBA Draft

Fresh off their historic first-ever NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder are wasting no time laying the foundation for a potential dynasty. 

According to ESPN Draft Analyst Jonathan Givony, the Thunder are actively exploring trade scenarios to move up in the 2025 NBA Draft. With the No. 15, No. 24, and No. 44 picks in their arsenal, Oklahoma City appears ready to package those assets to climb higher, perhaps into the top 10.

"I keep hearing rumblings that the Thunder are trying to move up. They have 15, 24, 4. 44. They could package all three of those picks, look to move up four or five slots, maybe six to Toronto."

"It's not clear on their roster that they have any real needs right now, so they can afford to take a swing on a high-upside prospect who fits that defensive DNA that won them a championship."

"Someone like Noa Essengue, like a Collin Murray-Boyles boy, it was like a Joan Beringer, a young teenager who knows how to defend, knows how to bring physicality, knows how to play without the ball, all characteristics that the Oklahoma City Thunder covet." 

"And these guys have been doing a lot of work. They've been conducting many workouts. I think they're going to be ready on Wednesday." 

Givony name-dropped players like Noa Essengue, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Joan Beringer, teenage defensive-minded wings and forwards with upside, as potential targets. These are players who fit the Thunder’s model: high-IQ, defensively committed, unselfish, and willing to grow within a system.

What separates the Thunder from the average contender is that they’re not just trying to sustain success; they’re trying to amplify it. 

Their strategy since the Russell Westbrook and Paul George trades in 2019 has been crystal clear: build through the draft, invest in development, and trust the long game. That patience has paid off in a massive way.

The Paul George trade alone netted the Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is now a perennial MVP candidate and the heart of their title run. But that was only the beginning. 

Jalen Williams, a 2022 draft steal, has developed into a two-way All-Star. Chet Holmgren, selected in 2022, proved in his rookie season that he’s a franchise cornerstone on both ends. Even rotation pieces like Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe came through low-cost draft or signing routes.

Now, with 11 first-round picks in the next five years, OKC is stockpiled with future flexibility. But they won’t use all those picks just to draft rookies; they’ll use them strategically, moving up when needed, flipping them for veterans, or drafting and stashing. The idea isn’t to collect names. It’s to future-proof the dynasty.

This urgency is tied to the cap realities. In a couple of years, both Jalen Williams and Holmgren will be eligible for large contract extensions. Lu Dort is already locked in, and SGA is signed long-term. 

But sustaining this core while complying with the new CBA’s financial restrictions will be difficult. The Thunder know they won’t be able to pay everyone, so they’re investing in pipeline talent now, young players who can be contributors on cheap contracts while others age or price out.

Oklahoma City is embracing the Spurs-esque model: draft, develop, extend, and replace, all while competing for championships. And the 2025 NBA Draft could be their next quiet masterstroke.