Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Top 15 NBA Draft picks in OKC Thunder franchise history

By Tamberlyn Richardson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 6: Oklahoma City Thunder players, from left, Kendrick Perkins #5, Kevin Durant #35, Serge Ibaka #9 and Russell Westbrook #0 celebrate with the Western Conference Finals Champions trophy following their team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on June 6, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 6: Oklahoma City Thunder players, from left, Kendrick Perkins #5, Kevin Durant #35, Serge Ibaka #9 and Russell Westbrook #0 celebrate with the Western Conference Finals Champions trophy following their team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on June 6, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA Draft - Top 15 picks All-Time
OKC Thunder prepares to make a free throw during Game Five of the 2012 NBA Finals  (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

James Harden – Oh what could have been

2009 NBA Draft: Round 1, Pick 3 by OKC Thunder

For most OKC Thunder fans they recall precisely where they were the moment the announcement of James Harden’s trade to Houston came out. In hindsight, it seems incredible Sam Presti couldn’t figure out a way to keep the young squad intact. Sure the new Collective Bargaining Agreement played a factor, but caveats were put in place for teams to utilize. For example, there were amnesty provisions that could’ve been employed.

Cutting to present day it’s likely Harden will become the third MVP member of the young OKC Thunder squad which looked poised to be what the Warriors are as of today.

While Harden has become a generational franchise star and most of his achievements will belong to Houston his lone trip to the finals came with OKC and he also won Sixth Man of the Year while still with the Thunder.

Another MVP?

Looking back at his draft class of 2009 Sam Presti proved fortunate once again as Hasheem Thabeet was selected second leaving Harden on the board.

For the rest of Thunder fans’ existence there will be debates on whether the foursome of Westbrook, Durant, Harden, and Ibaka could’ve been kept together and if they, in fact, would’ve been able to function as a unit to produce copious titles.

Regardless of where you fall in that argument, James Harden was apart of the most successful team in OKC Thunder history and for that finds himself in the top five of this list.

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