OKC Thunder: How the 16th pick in the 1989 draft turned into Dennis Schroder

The Seattle Supersonics days.

While there has been angst over the moving of the franchise from Seattle to Oklahoma City, the time in Seattle has still has had an impact today. While Davis cost the Sonics nothing, being drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft, Allen cost the Sonics dearly.

Specifically, Allen cost the Thunder Desmond Mason, the 17th pick in the 2000 draft who was developing into a nice complimentary piece in his second season. However, they also lost Gary Payton, the best point guard in Sonics history.

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Payton was drafted with the second pick of the 1990 draft and formed a bond with Shawn Kemp which was captivating. It also led to some sustained success for the franchise, prior to the dark times before the move.

The scary thought is that Payton was almost not a Sonic. The Sonics traded their first-round pick in the 1990 draft to the Golden State Warriors for their 1989 first-round pick. They only got the pick back when they traded Anton Lister to the Warriors.

However, it is the 1989 first-round pick which started the whole chain of trades which allowed the OKC Thunder to secure the services of Schroder. The player taken with the 16th pick of this draft was Dana Barros.

Barros was an undersized guard with a great outside shot, tremendous first step, and a heart bigger than his size.

In an amazing coincidence, 31 years after this pick, the OKC Thunder are enjoying the services of an undersized smooth shooting, quick, big-hearted guard.

That is how the 16th pick in the 1989 draft turned into Dennis Schroder, who was not even born until 1993. What can be taken from this is to never judge a trade until it plays out to its conclusion. Plus, there are so many machinations and potential future benefits.