OKC Thunder: NBA Draft pushed back to November 18th

The revised date for the NBA Draft is Wednesday, November 18th when the OKC Thunder will select two prospects.

By virtue of a strong 2019-20 campaign the OKC Thunder lost their own first-round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Thunder will still select a prospect in the initial round thanks to the Jerami Grant trade to the Denver Nuggets.

That pick will occur with the 25th selection and the franchise will also select a player in the second round with the 53rd selection.

Given the coronavirus pandemic, all sports dates have all shifted and the draft was one of the main events effected.

NBA Draft rescheduled for November 18 – OKC Thunder pick 25th

Initially, the association scheduled the NBA Draft to occur on October 16th. The rescheduled date is now November 18th although the date could shift again.

For the moment there are no plans for the typical process leading up to Draft Night, such as the NBA Combine. Depending on what happens with getting the pandemic under control it will affect how teams are able to handle the pre-draft process to select the individuals who’ll become rookies on their squads.

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The NBA Draft lottery determined the top 14 pick selection order with the Minnesota Timberwolves garnering the top spot. Aside from the variance of how teams will assess and interview talent this season was already considered to be a class without numerous cornerstone assets available.

The OKC Thunder have yet to determine what direction they are headed in for the immediate future. With a bevy of draft prospects stashed in Sam Presti’s closet, the GM has flexibility.

Should Presti spot a talent he wants from this class he could package a pick(s) to move up in the draft. Barring Presti being enamored with one of the top-five projected draft prospects it’s unlikely he’ll make that move.

The following season in the 2021 NBA Draft is the year earmarked for high school prospects to be eligible to be drafted. Another key reason for pushing the draft back is it allows the league and Players Association to revisit the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Specifically, these two stakeholders need to cement what next season’s salary cap and luxury tax thresholds will be.

Exact timeframes for free agency and next year’s itinerary for events such as training camps and the start date for the 2020-21 campaign are yet to be finalized but are also expected to shift accordingly.