OKC Thunder trade 16th pick to Houston Rockets in 2021 NBA Draft

The OKC Thunder have shipped off the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to the Houston Rockets.

After the surprising selection of Josh Giddey with the 6th selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Thunder dealt their next potential pick (16 overall) to the Rockets for a pair of future firsts.

OKC Thunder send Alperen Sengun to the Houston Rockets

After Chad Ford and others linked Oklahoma City to big man Alperen Sengun throughout this entire process. Sengun makes a ton of sense as a talented big man for a team currently lacking a center.

The 19-year-old projects to be one of the best interior scorers in this draft class. At 6’11, he has a plethora of post moves already and moves with incredible fluidity. There is still hope for Sengun that he can stretch the floor and become a league average or better three-point shooter.

Many expected and even hoped Alprene Sengun would be the selection for the Thunder, instead, he heads to Houston.

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

In return, Oklahoma City earns two future first-round picks. The Thunder will receive the Detriot Pistons 2022 first-round pick as well as Washington’s 2023 first-round pick. These picks are heavily protected, and some struggle to see the value in picks that will at best land in the teens. However, just being able to throw assets tabbed as first-round picks into deals as sweeteners is a valuable asset.

The Thunder had no interest in signing all three first-round picks in this draft class, so in the process of shedding one guaranteed rookie, they add two more future firsts. When you see the Oklahoma City future first-round pick totals, they lose three of those tonight, now they add back two.

Ultimately, it is surprising to see Sam Presti pass on Sengun. Especially after he sent shockwaves through the league by selecting Giddey with the sixth overall pick.