Oklahoma City Thunder Have 37 Picks In The Next 7 Years

The Oklahoma City Thunder have accumulated a staggering number of draft picks over the years, creating one of the deepest collections in NBA history. These 37 picks have been acquired through a combination of blockbuster trades and shrewd cap management, making the Thunder a formidable force in future drafts.  

The Oklahoma City Thunder recently executed a transaction that has become somewhat emblematic of their operations in recent years. In this particular deal, they acquired two second-round picks in exchange for taking on the salary of Kevin Porter Jr., promptly announcing their intention to waive him. Such moves have garnered the Thunder considerable attention, and it’s not the first time they’ve employed this strategy. However, the exact number of picks and their potential implications are quite complex due to various protections and contingencies.

2024 NBA Draft

First Round: Incoming pick from Rockets (Top-four protected)

Incoming pick from Clippers

Incoming pick from Jazz (Top 10 protected)

Outgoing pick to Pacers

Second Round: Incoming pick from Rockets

2025 NBA Draft

First Round: Incoming pick from Heat (Lottery protected)

Incoming pick from the Sixers (Top 6 protected)

Own pick retained

Second Round: Incoming pick from Hawks (Top 31-40 protected)

Incoming pick from Celtics or Grizzlies

Incoming pick from the Sixers

2026 NBA Draft

First Round: Incoming pick from Rockets (Top 4 protected)

Incoming pick from Clippers

Own pick retained

Second Round: Incoming pick from Sixers or Mavericks

Incoming pick from Warriors

2027 NBA Draft

First Round: Incoming pick from Nuggets (Top-5 protected)

Own pick retained

Second Round: Incoming pick from Wolves

Incoming picks from Rockets, Heat, or Pacers 

Own pick retained

2028 NBA Draft

First Round: Own pick retained

Second Round: Incoming pick from Jazz

Incoming pick from Wolves

Own pick retained

2029 NBA Draft

First Round: Incoming pick from Nuggets (Top 5 protected)

Own Pick retained 

Second Round: Incoming pick from Hawks

Incoming pick from Celtics

Incoming pick from Suns

Incoming pick from Rockets

Incoming pick from Heat

Own pick retained

2030 NBA Draft

First Round: Own pick retained

Second Round: Incoming pick from Heat

Incoming pick from Rockets

Own pick retained 

Thunder May End Up Losing 1 Or 2 Picks

While it may appear that the Oklahoma City Thunder have an impressive cache of 15 first-round picks and 22 second-round picks on paper, the reality is far more intricate due to the various protections and contingencies associated with these selections.

Out of the 15 purported first-round picks, only nine are unequivocally guaranteed to materialize in the first round. Five of them hold the potential to revert to second-round picks if they remain within their protected thresholds. These include the two owed by the Houston Rockets in 2024 and 2026, the two owed by the Denver Nuggets in 2027 and 2029, and the one owed by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2025. There is also a unique situation with the Utah Jazz’s 2024 pick, which may not convey at all. If Utah fails to provide a first-rounder by 2026, this obligation will dissolve. In the realm of second-round picks, only the one from Atlanta in 2025 has the potential to vanish. If the Thunder does not acquire it in 2025, it becomes a non-entity.

So, where does this intricate web of picks leave us? In essence, it presents a range of possibilities. Factoring in all these considerations, the Thunder could have between nine and 15 first-round picks across the next seven drafts and between 21 and 27 second-round picks within the same timeframe. The total count of picks would reach 37 if all convey but may decrease to 35 or 36, contingent on the outcomes of the Utah and Atlanta picks. The 2025 swap option with either the Rockets or the Clippers adds an intriguing layer to what is already the most extensive collection of draft picks assembled by any NBA team.

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