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While the Oklahoma City Thunder hope to go back-to-back, the 2026 NBA draft process has begun. The reigning NBA champions get to enjoy the best of both worlds as a title contender and evaluate who to add with another lottery pick gifted to them.
As of now, the Thunder have three draft picks in the 2026 NBA draft — No. 12 via the LA Clippers, No. 17 via the Philadelphia 76ers and No. 37 via the Dallas Mavericks.
We'll see how many of those draft picks the Thunder actually keep. They're prone to make at least one move during the two-day event. That said, Thunder Wire talked to NBA draft expert Derek Parker about OKC's options and who'd best their squad:
Best option at No. 12:
Q: "You had Yaxel Lendeborg to OKC in your latest mock draft. What's your reasoning?"
A: "I think that the Thunder play a lot of wing-sized guards. Obviously, all of Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and Lu Dort are really stellar defenders, but those guys are guard-sized. And I think Lendeborg from Michigan, at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, just offers a little bit of a different look for Oklahoma City. They don't have a player of that size on the roster. They don't have a guy who can slide between wing and forward, as opposed to guard and wing. I think from a basketball perspective, he's just such a seamless fit. He can guard on and off the ball. He's positionally versatile. He has positional size. He can handle the ball. He can pass. He can play in the post. He can grab rebounds. There's just not a basketball perspective that he can't do. I feel like he has the requisite feel to play for the Thunder as well."
Best option at No. 17:
Q: "You also had Dailyn Swain to OKC at No. 17 in your mock. What do you like about that fit?"
A: "Kinda the same thing in terms of fit. Swain is 6-foot-8, and he's more of a true wing. The same thing in terms of the Thunder. They just don't have a player that size that I think is as athletic as Swain. He has long been like a contributor at the college level, but he really broke out this season with Texas. I think the primary draw with Swain is his handling at 6-foot-8. We know the Thunder have that with Shai and Ajay and Dub. They like to have a lot of different options on the floor that can handle the ball, that can drive and pressure the rim. I think Swain, at 6-foot-8, can do that. He's a really, really good positional rebounder, 7.5 per game. He's a good enough passer that I think he blends into the OKC system, too. So he's a guy that, if the three-point shot comes around, he's such an easy fit as a Thunder-type player."
Talent difference from No. 12-17:
Q: "How much of a talent drop-off do you think there is from OKC's 12th pick to 17? Or is it about the same tier of players available?"
A: "I think it's pretty close to the same tier, honestly. The reason I say that is I think a lot of teams are going to have the same group of players, but in a different order in that range. Maybe the Thunder value guys at 12, the Chicago Bulls are going to have at 17, and vice versa. I think you know there's a big group of players that can go there, and I think it's a little bit wide ranging. The Thunder obviously keep options open. I think there's potential that if they want to, they can kick picks down the road. They can even do that with 12, get the better value and still get their guy at 17."
Possible move-up options
Q: "If OKC wants to move up, where are some potential spots to do that?
A: "I think moving up is going to be tough, just given the teams that fell. Brooklyn being one, Sacramento being another. Those teams really need to add talent as soon as this year. But there is a range from about 8-11, which I think is kind of a trade-up range. I think players in that range could be Brayden Burries out of Arizona. He's a guy that I think fits with the Thunder look for. Kingston Flemings, another one. He's a speedy guard. We know the Thunder have a plethora of guards right now, but if they're looking to go up, those are some targets that I would look at."
Options at No. 37:
Q: "Who are some options at No. 37 that make sense for the Thunder?"
A: "I really like Zuby Ejiofor. He's out of St. John's. He's about 6-foot-8, but if you can imagine a more defensive-slanted Jaylin Williams, he kinda fits that bill. He is one of the best passers for a big man I've ever seen. Very switchable, can guard across a lot, a lot of different positions, and it's just a really good basketball player overall. He's kinda a hub passer. Other ones I like Alex Karaban at UConn. He doesn't profile athletically as an NBA player, just not the most stellar athlete. But from a field perspective, I just think he's got a great feel for the game. He's another player that they just don't really have a player this size. He's a legitimate 6-foot-8, one of the best shooters in the class, and he won two titles with UConn, competed for a third. I just think he's a winning basketball player."
Thoughts on OKC's roster
Q: "What are your general thoughts on the Thunder's roster? Do you think there are any specific positions of need right now? Kinda tough to poke holes through a team that might win two straight NBA championships, but still."
A: "They need to restock just about everything. I think when you look at this Oklahoma City team, they just need to backfill cheap, cost-controlled spots for the future. If you're looking for something totally new, it would be kinda the wing archetype that I mentioned. They could potentially match up against San Antonio here in a few weeks, against the New York Knicks, and guys like Anunoby, Bridges, Stephon Castle. I think a lot of those guys could really stand to be guarded with true wings. Guys that are 6-foot-8 and slide between the 2-3-4. The Thunder have some guys who can guard those positions. Obviously, they're one of the best defensive teams in basketball, but they don't have anyone who's truly that size. A legitimate 6-foot-8 that can play on the perimeter face up. So that's probably what I'd be looking for."
Parker's full 2026 NBA mock draft:
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Exclusive: NBA draft expert breaks down OKC's 2026 options, best fits
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