Can OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti strike lightning twice via draft picks?

2021 Draft Picks:

First Round Picks:

This one is a little confusing to explain given the pick swap situation. The Thunder will get two first-round picks as long as Houston doesn’t finish in the 1-4 protection. Assuming that’s the case, (which it should be) the Thunder will obtain the two most favorable picks out of their own, the Heat and Rockets picks while Houston (again if they don’t land in the 1-4 protected area) will get the worst of the three picks.

Nuggets pick protected 1-10 if not conveyed in 2020.

Second Round Picks:

OKC Thunder own second-round pick.

What’s likely to happen:

Barring the Rockets experiencing a similar fate next summer to what the Thunder did this offseason it should be expected Houston will remain among the top Western Conference squads. Likewise, Miami should also be a playoff contender and may improve in the summer of 2021 with the potential for several players to come off the bottom line depending on player and team contract options that could result in a dramatic shift.

Similarly, with the depth on the Nuggets, it’s hard to fathom them missing out on the playoffs or falling to the 1-10 protection of their draft pick.

Therefore, the Thunder should end up with three first-round draft picks including their own, the better pick of the Rockets/Heat and the Nuggets pick and their own second-round pick.