OKC Thunder: Draft picks in Celtics trade better than first glance

Leave it to Sam Presti to excite the OKC Thunder in the middle of a postseason the team isn’t participating in. The Kemba Walker trade bomb sent social media abuzz and had Thunder Nation weighing in on the deal.

While it was widely known Al Horford would be shopped this deal occurred sooner than most expected. Moses Brown exiting was a bit of a shock, however, it opens up discussion for the other moves Presti will make with the frontcourt.

Certainly, the Walker part of the deal is the meat even if some analysts are already assuming he could find himself traded before the 2021-22 season starts. It’s a tenable argument given the revolving door that has been utilized repeatedly since the OKC Thunder rebuild began.

The reality like every trade that Presti has made since the end of the 2019-20 season has all been about building the draft closet.

While some might scoff at the Celtics 16th pick, it’s important to remember how deep this draft class is. Plus there is the obvious takeaway that OKC could package picks to move up. We’ll have a much better idea of that possibility after Tuesday when the NBA Draft order is cemented.

OKC Thunder hold all the cards with draft picks in Celtics trade

As for the second-round picks that were part of the deal further clarification was provided after the fact with the Thunder having the best position in both situations.

To wit, as noted in the trade article the Thunder possess three picks in the 2023 second-round. Those three picks include their own, the Wizards, and the Mavericks (or Heat with OKC getting the better of the two). OKC will convey the worst of those picks to Boston.

As for the 2025 pick coming from the Celtics, they also have multiple second-round picks (their own and the Grizzlies), and again the Thunder gains the edge as Boston will convey the better of these two picks to OKC.

With the burgeoning load of picks Presti is amassing I think it’s safe to assume his draft closet must be of the walk-in variety because it’s housing 36 picks now evenly split between first and second rounders.

OKC Thunder Draft Picks 2021 through 2027

The following is a handy breakdown of Thunder picks by year for the next seven seasons.

Note FR = first-round pick, SR = second-round pick:

2021:

FR: Two most favorable of their own, Rockets (protected 1-4), and Heat
FR: Celtics pick – No. 16
SR: Own
SR: Wolves (via Warriors)
SR: Nuggets – No. 55 (via 76ers to Warriors)

2022:

FR: Own (if they are in the lottery – otherwise the pick gets conveyed to Hawks)
FR: Suns (protected 1-12)
FR: Clippers
SR: Own

2023:

FR: Thunder or Clippers (swap for best pick)
FR: Heat (lottery protected 1-14)
FR: Nuggets (lottery protected 1-14)
SR: Own
SR: Wizards (via Pelicans)
SR: Mavericks (or Heat — better of two)

NOTE: the worst of the OKC’s trio of second-round picks will be conveyed to the Celtics.

2024:

FR: Own
FR: Clippers
FR: Rockets (protected 1-4)
SR: *Own
SR: Hornets (via Pelicans)
SR: Wolves

*NOTE: If the Thunder retains their first-round pick in 2022 the Hawks will then receive OKC’s 2024 and 2025 second-round pick.

2025:

FR: Swap potential between own or Clippers or Rockets (protected 1-10)
FR: 76ers (protected 1-6)
SR: *Own
SR: Hawks (protected 31-55)
SR: More favorable of Celtics or Grizzlies
SR: 76ers

*NOTE: If the Thunder retains their first-round pick in 2022 the Hawks will then receive OKC’s 2024 and 2025 second-round pick

2026:

FR: Own
FR: Clippers
FR: Rockets (protected 1-4)
SR: Own
SR: Mavericks
SR: 76ers

2027:

FR: Own
SR: Own
SR: Rockets (via Pistons)
SR: Pacers
SR: Heat

Of note, the NBA Draft Lottery will take place on Tuesday, June 22nd at 8:30 EST (7:30 CT) live on ESPN.

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