ESPN ranks OKC Thunder second in NBA for future first-round draft assets

Posted by Admin September 14, 2024 NBA

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For years, the Oklahoma City Thunder have built up their draft capital. The strategy is sound, despite being mocked by others around the league. The more draft picks they possess, the richer they are with trade currency. They serve as OKC’s bloodline for roster improvement during this title window.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks ranked the five teams with the best draft capital. Unsurprisingly, the Thunder were featured. Massive trades with the LA Clippers and Houston Rockets have helped them build their treasure trove. Other sneaky deals with the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks are icing on the cake.

Other teams have started to mimic OKC’s strategy. Draft pick packages have headlined recent blockbuster deals. More teams have been willing to mortgage their long-term future for the odds of winning a championship soon.

Marks ranked the Thunder No. 2 in the league. Only the San Antonio Spurs are ahead. He explained that OKC’s first-round protections slid it down to the second spot after he mulled over the decision.

“Where the Thunder have an advantage over other high-spending teams is the surplus of 13 first-round picks (and inexpensive contracts) available to retool their roster. One of those first-round picks is unprotected in 2026 from the Clippers. The Thunder also have the right to swap firsts with a Paul George-less Clippers team in 2025 and 2027…

Because of the six first-round picks acquired from other teams and two years of swaps with the Clippers, the Thunder could select in the lottery and also finish each season with one of the best records in the NBA.”

That possibility has already materialized this past season. The Thunder were the youngest first seed in league history and battled it out in the second round of the NBA playoffs. Despite that, they were still within the lottery range thanks to the Rockets. They acquired Nikola Topic with the No. 12 selection.

This could be repeated for the next few years. If that’s the case, OKC will be in an unprecedented situation of adding lottery talent while simultaneously being a title contender. It’s hard to envision a better situation in the league right now than the Thunder.