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The OKC Thunder has three picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, which will be from June 23-24.
OKC owns picks No. 12 (via the Los Angeles Clippers), No. 17 (via the Philadelphia 76ers) and No. 37 (via the Dallas Mavericks). It's looking to add to a roster that reached the Western Conference finals this past season.
There's a chance that the Thunder doesn't use all three picks since roster spots are limited. It could package some to move up in the draft or trade for future picks.
But in this article, we'll look at five prospects OKC could select with pick No. 17:
More: 2026 NBA Draft workout tracker: Who have OKC Thunder targeted?
Carr is a 6-5 guard with great athleticism and length, boasting a nearly-7-1 wingspan. He shot 37.4% from 3 on 6.1 attempts per game as a redshirt sophomore at Baylor last season, and he knocked those shots down both off the catch and off the dribble. Carr also has a good pull-up jumper and no fear when attacking the rim, making him a threat from everywhere. His combination of size, length and athleticism would make him a unique talent on OKC's roster. But he'll have to buy into the system, increasing his physicality and showing better shot selection.
If OKC does prioritize getting a wing who can provide a scoring punch, Swain is another option. He's far from the 3-point shooter that Carr is, instead doing most of his damage by getting downhill. Swain has good speed and can glide through the air, but he also has an impressive level of coordination and body control. It's how he shot 60.3% from inside the arc as a junior at Texas last season. Swain is also a defensive playmaker who averaged 1.6 steals in each of his last two seasons. If he can continue to improve his 3-point shot, he'd be even more of a two-way threat.
More: Five biggest questions for OKC Thunder entering 2026 NBA offseason
Quaintance was the No. 17-ranked prospect in the Class of 2024. But after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus as a freshman at Arizona State two seasons ago, he only appeared in four games with Kentucky last year. Fortunately, OKC is no stranger to drafting players with health concerns and practicing patience. And it could certainly be rewarded by Quaintance, 6-9 forward who plays with a combination of physicality and athleticism. He'd be a valuable contributor on the glass and a play finisher who'd pair nicely with the Thunder's many guards.
Graves doesn't have the explosiveness of other players on this list, but none read the floor as fast as him. The 6-9 forward stays multiple steps ahead of opposing offenses, which allowed him to average 1.9 steals as a redshirt freshman last season, and he has elite hands. Graves is also a strong floor spacer on offense, and his high IQ helps him make good decisions with the ball. Graves' lack of explosiveness and underwhelming finishing around the rim could limit him as an NBA forward, but he checks off enough boxes to be a nice plug-and-play option for OKC.
Similar to Graves, Stirtz won't wow you with his athleticism, but he's a well-rounded prospect with a high IQ. The 6-4 guard is elite in the pick-and-role, both as a scorer and a playmaker, and he's a pure 3-point shooter. It definitely wouldn't hurt for OKC to have more depth in those departments. Stirtz is limited defensively, which could cause some teams to be hesitant to select him. But those that simply value good basketball players should be inclined to look his way, and that's something the Thunder has prioritized in the past.
More: Here's what OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti said during end-of-season news conference
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who should OKC Thunder select with No. 17 pick in 2026 NBA Draft?
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OKC owns picks No. 12 (via the Los Angeles Clippers), No. 17 (via the Philadelphia 76ers) and No. 37 (via the Dallas Mavericks). It's looking to add to a roster that reached the Western Conference finals this past season.
There's a chance that the Thunder doesn't use all three picks since roster spots are limited. It could package some to move up in the draft or trade for future picks.
But in this article, we'll look at five prospects OKC could select with pick No. 17:
More: 2026 NBA Draft workout tracker: Who have OKC Thunder targeted?
Who should Thunder select with No. 17 pick in 2026 NBA Draft?
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Cameron Carr, Baylor
Carr is a 6-5 guard with great athleticism and length, boasting a nearly-7-1 wingspan. He shot 37.4% from 3 on 6.1 attempts per game as a redshirt sophomore at Baylor last season, and he knocked those shots down both off the catch and off the dribble. Carr also has a good pull-up jumper and no fear when attacking the rim, making him a threat from everywhere. His combination of size, length and athleticism would make him a unique talent on OKC's roster. But he'll have to buy into the system, increasing his physicality and showing better shot selection.
Dailyn Swain, Texas
If OKC does prioritize getting a wing who can provide a scoring punch, Swain is another option. He's far from the 3-point shooter that Carr is, instead doing most of his damage by getting downhill. Swain has good speed and can glide through the air, but he also has an impressive level of coordination and body control. It's how he shot 60.3% from inside the arc as a junior at Texas last season. Swain is also a defensive playmaker who averaged 1.6 steals in each of his last two seasons. If he can continue to improve his 3-point shot, he'd be even more of a two-way threat.
More: Five biggest questions for OKC Thunder entering 2026 NBA offseason
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Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
Quaintance was the No. 17-ranked prospect in the Class of 2024. But after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus as a freshman at Arizona State two seasons ago, he only appeared in four games with Kentucky last year. Fortunately, OKC is no stranger to drafting players with health concerns and practicing patience. And it could certainly be rewarded by Quaintance, 6-9 forward who plays with a combination of physicality and athleticism. He'd be a valuable contributor on the glass and a play finisher who'd pair nicely with the Thunder's many guards.
Allen Graves, Santa Clara
Graves doesn't have the explosiveness of other players on this list, but none read the floor as fast as him. The 6-9 forward stays multiple steps ahead of opposing offenses, which allowed him to average 1.9 steals as a redshirt freshman last season, and he has elite hands. Graves is also a strong floor spacer on offense, and his high IQ helps him make good decisions with the ball. Graves' lack of explosiveness and underwhelming finishing around the rim could limit him as an NBA forward, but he checks off enough boxes to be a nice plug-and-play option for OKC.
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Similar to Graves, Stirtz won't wow you with his athleticism, but he's a well-rounded prospect with a high IQ. The 6-4 guard is elite in the pick-and-role, both as a scorer and a playmaker, and he's a pure 3-point shooter. It definitely wouldn't hurt for OKC to have more depth in those departments. Stirtz is limited defensively, which could cause some teams to be hesitant to select him. But those that simply value good basketball players should be inclined to look his way, and that's something the Thunder has prioritized in the past.
More: Here's what OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti said during end-of-season news conference
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who should OKC Thunder select with No. 17 pick in 2026 NBA Draft?
Continue reading...
