OKC Thunder fans are fixated on what Sam Presti will do with the second pick in the 2022 NBA Draft with a trio of prospects drawing the most attention.
However, the Thunder are the lone team with two lottery picks this season also selecting 12th thanks to the LA Clippers and Paul George. The franchise also possesses the 30th pick courtesy of the Phoenix Suns.
While the franchise could add a generational talent with the second pick there is the possibility Sam Presti might have more moves in that fabled magician’s hat of his. It’s not out of the realm for the GM to exchange the 12th and 30th picks for a future season.
Certainly, he could dangle the picks to add proven assets especially given how many youngsters are already on the roster.
Bleacher Report: OKC Thunder could pool picks 12 and 30 in trade-up scenario
But as Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report noted it’s also highly feasible the OKC Thunder could package picks 12 and 30 together in order to move up in the draft.
"Oklahoma City, holding the Nos. 12 and 30 picks, Memphis, with picks Nos. 22 and 29, and San Antonio, owners of the ninth, 20th, and 25th selections, have all been described as teams to monitor for trade-up scenarios."
That option seems logical as it addresses the need of only having to create room to add one player instead of two. But more specifically, it could mean adding a more talented prospect.
Like 2021, the 2022 prospect pool has a few talents that stand out from their peers. The trio of Auburn forward, Jabari Smith Jr., Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren, and Duke forward Paolo Banchero are earmarked as the cream of the prospect crop.
Last season’s class was mega deep and may end up competing to rank as the best class ever. This class isn’t expected to challenge on that level but nonetheless is deeper than originally projected, particularly in the 12th to 40th range.
The question is whether there are talents projected in the 4th through 11th range that Sam Presti would deem worthy of swapping both the 12th and 30th picks for in order to move up.
If we consider some of the picks Presti has made over the years many stand out as outliers from what the national experts cited at the time. For example, no one had Russell Westbrook pegged for fourth, but the GM defied the analysts to pick the enigmatic guard. Troy Weaver who is now in Detroit was also a big advocate for Westbrook.
Selecting Steven Adams 12th was also a bit of a surprise as was Josh Giddey last season. In hindsight, the Australian point guard was far more talented than most national pundits foresaw and fits perfectly beside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Presti has more hits than misses on his resume and has arguably spent more time scouting and traveling than any of his counterparts in preparation for this draft. So if Sam the Magician has spotted a diamond in the rough it would certainly be in his wheelhouse to trade up to get them.
Fischer’s article suggests the Sacramento Kings (4th), Portland Trail Blazers (7th) and New Orleans Pelicans (8th) are all open to trading their picks to land an established talent or rotational asset. While other teams who are cap-conscious may want to exchange their picks for future seasons.
In either scenario, the OKC Thunder could fill those clubs’ needs. Clearly, the latter is easier given the plethora of draft picks in hand. The former situation is a bit more complex and would depend on who specifically the trio of clubs noted would want.
The most likely scenario would be the Kings if Presti really likes someone and was in fear that player wouldn’t be on the board for the 12th pick. Since the Kings are said to want established talents the question is whether they would budge off that initial stance. The better move for the Thunder would be to offer some young Thunder assets plus the 12th and 30th pick.
Clearly, the untouchables in that scenario would be SGA, Giddey, and presumably Dort. Personally, I wouldn’t want to give up Kenrich Williams as his value is underappreciated and somewhat hidden given the current roster.
When I imagine 2023, I think of that above-noted trio, one or two sophomores from this draft, and perhaps another one or two established assets acquired via trading from the glut of picks. In that scenario, I also always believe Williams is the x-factor coming off the bench.
But I digress, the reality is none of us know what Presti will do with three first-round picks this summer, but I would bet on him having a very good read on precisely where the prospects rank on the big board.
Moreover, I’d bank on him already having files on the best talents in this class so if he thinks there is one worthy of selecting fourth to add alongside who the OKC Thunder intends to take second it won’t surprise if he moves heaven and earth to obtain that pick.