Can OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti strike lightning twice via draft picks?
2026 Draft Picks:
First Round Picks:
The Thunder should get three first-round picks this season barring the Rockets having turned into a lottery team. While that seems inconceivable with Daryl Morey calling the shots this will be seven years since the trade with Russell Westbrook potentially not even in the league anymore as he would be 37 by then and Harden would be 36. Assuming they would still be playing or with the Rockets seems like a stretch.
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Still, it’s not been the Rockets M.O. to not be competitive so a good guess would be they’ll remain in the mix in the West regardless of the time passing.
The same logic applies with the Clippers who’ll owe their 2026 pick as Kawhi Leonard would be 35 and Paul George 36. Again, seven years is forever in sports which makes it difficult to project that far ahead.
The Rockets pick is protected 1 through 4 while the Clippers pick comes without any protections and the Thunder have their own pick as well.
Second Round Picks:
Own second-round pick and potentially the Rockets if they fall down the board into the 1-4 draft selections.
What’s likely to happen:
Let’s be optimistic and say the Rockets are still competitive so the Thunder gets three first-round draft picks this season plus their own second-round pick. And, if the Rockets did plummet into lottery territory the Thunder would get their second-round pick.