Thunder Looking to Make Blockbuster Trade During NBA Draft

Apparently not satisfied with winning their first post-Seattle SuperSonics championship on Sunday, the Oklahoma City Thunder already have their sights set on bringing in the next generation of talent in Wednesday's first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

The Thunder currently possess the Nos. 15 and 24 picks in the first round, plus the No. 44 pick in Thursday's second round.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on the network's "First Take" program that Oklahoma City had been active about improving its draft stock this year.

"Do you know that yesterday the Thunder were making calls to move up in the draft? " Windhorst said on Wednesday (hat tip to RealGM for the transcription). "On the parade day. They have two [first round] picks. Because they know someday in the foreseeable future they're going to have a top-heavy team."

Could the Thunder look to break into the lottery on Wednesday? Time will tell, but team president Sam Presti is known as a shrewd mover and shaker when it comes to acquiring picks.

Oklahoma City has a treasure trove of future draft equity, extending well beyond this week. In fact, the Thunder brought in something of a draft-and-stash piece last year, when they selected point guard Nikola Topic with the No. 12 pick in the late lottery, knowing full well that he would be out for the entire 2024-25 season while recovering from an ACL tear.

Like reigning Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 19-year-old Topic is an oversized point guard, standing at 6-foot-6.