Oklahoma City Thunder logo (Image Credits: Imagn)

Oklahoma City Thunder Expected to Aggressively Trade Up in Draft After Roster Crunch Emerges

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Kenny Nosay | Last updated May 20, 2026 3:03 AM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder is arguably one of the youngest and deepest teams in the league. They currently have the league’s back-to-back MVP winner. Plus, they know how to develop young talent. However, the problem is that, with all those players at their disposal, they cannot keep them all.

Despite topping the regular season, the Thunder will have a lottery selection in June’s NBA Draft. And why is that? When the Los Angeles Clippers failed to advance past the play-in tournament this season, their pick automatically went to OKC under the SGA-Paul George deal from ages ago. With so much talent already, will OKC plan to keep the 12th pick and its other draft selections?

They intend to keep one of their three selections if they can package everything for a top 10 pick in June’s draft.

“The Thunder are fully expected to trade their picks 12, 17, and 37 to try and move into the top 10,” per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “OKC only has ONE roster spot available and wouldn’t be able to draft all three players,” the report added.

REPORT: The Thunder are fully expected to trade their picks 12, 17, and 37 to try and move into the top 10, per @WindhorstESPN

OKC only has ONE roster spot available and wouldn’t be able to draft all three players. pic.twitter.com/BtED0Zd2Bh
— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) May 20, 2026

That’s crazy planning coming from the Oklahoma City Thunder upper management. Just imagine if they can get inside the top 10. Another weapon to add to this already loaded squad. But that’s their goal, though – maximizing a player’s potential while they are still on their rookie scale deals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Gave Gifts to His Oklahoma City Thunder Teammates

This year’s Most Valuable Player race was one of the closest ones in recent memory. Shai mostly stayed on the top, but Denver’s Nikola Jokic was closely trailing in second. Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama had his case too, but ultimately, SGA won it. And he knows that winning the award again wouldn’t have materialized if it weren’t for his teammates.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Image Credits: Imagn)

After winning his first one last year, he gave everybody a Rolex. This year, he went another step further. The 2026 league MVP gifted his team an Audemars Piguet and a trench coat. Guess the Thunder truly like spreading that ‘aura’ inside and out of their locker room.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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