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The 2026 NBA draft is right around the corner, which means news and rumors about the upcoming two-day event have been amped up in recent days. Such is the annual tradition. The league has shifted over to offseason mode. Teams are hoping to add new faces to their rosters.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have enjoyed the best of both worlds in this decade. On one hand, they remain one of the league's top teams. They made it all the way to the 2026 Western Conference Finals despite serious injuries. With one Larry O'Brien trophy in the building, they'll be the conversation for multiple.
On the other hand, the Thunder continue to enjoy being filthy rich in draft capital. That's what happens when your front office is savvy enough and afforded the patience to make long-term plays. In this year's draft cycle, OKC will have the No. 12 pick via the LA Clippers, No. 17 pick via the Philadelphia 76ers and No. 37 pick via the Dallas Mavericks.
In The Athletic's latest 2026 NBA mock draft, Sam Vecenie had Texas' Dailyn Swain head to the Thunder at the No. 17 spot — he also dropped an interesting intel nugget about both sides.
"I’ve heard Swain’s name with the Thunder since the combine, and it’s easy to see why, given how strongly they prioritize rim pressure and players with positional size, strength and length," Vecenie wrote. "Swain possesses all those attributes, even if his jumper remains a work in progress."
That's interesting to hear. Nothing is publicly known about Swain and a possible predraft visit with the Thunder, but that doesn't mean they haven't met up over the last month. He played in three collegiate seasons from 2023-26. After two years at Xavier, he broke out with the Longhorns this past season.
Swain averaged 17.3 points on 54.2% shooting, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He shot 34.4% from 3 on 2.6 attempts. The 20-year-old is a 6-foot-8, 220-pound guard. At the No. 17 spot, that'd be a good value to get him. If the Thunder even stay there. Reading other tea leaves, sounds like OKC might trade out of that spot.
The 2026 NBA draft will take place from June 23-24. Per usual, expect the Thunder to be pretty active during the two-day event. OKC has shown over the last two decades to be one of the best franchises at drafting and developing. It's the lifeblood of most of their roster construction.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Rumor: OKC Thunder have kept tabs on Texas' Dailyn Swain
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