OKC Thunder land at 12 after NBA Draft Lottery

The Oklahoma City Thunder did not get extraordinary NBA Draft Lottery Luck. Instead, the OKC Thunder saw their first-round pick wind up exactly where the odds suggested after the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery.  As a result, the Thunder once again controls the 12th overall pick made famous by last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up Jalen Williams, as well as Steven Adams and Nick Collison, who represented the Thunder on lottery night.

The San Antonio Spurs won the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes during the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, with the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trailblazers earning the most Lottery luck climbing two spots to pick two and three, respectively. The Houston Rockets round out the top four, and the Detroit Pistons fall four spots to the fifth overall pick.

The OKC Thunder earn the 12th overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery.

Now that we know the Oklahoma City Thunder own the 12th overall pick, we also discovered the fate of the Thunder’s second 2nd round selection. With the San Antonio Spurs picking ahead of the Houston Rockets, the OKC Thunder see their latter second-round pick fall to the 50th overall pick. This brings Sam Presti’s selections to 12, 37, and 50.

This is massive news for the Oklahoma City Thunder, with their second-round pick plummeting to the 50th overall selection rather than being at 35 if the Rockets were to finish above the Spurs. It now opens the door for roster flexibility.

The Thunder currently have 14 players on standard NBA deals, with only one to give away and Dario Saric remaining an unrestricted Free Agent. The 12th overall pick, like all first-round picks, by NBA rule, must be on a slotted standard NBA pact. In the second round, it is possible to ink prospects to two-way deals. However, that process usually starts in the 40s. So if OKC were to pick at 12, 35, and 37, they would have needed to create up to three roster spots.

Now, picking at 12, 37, and 50, Sam Presti can use all three selections while putting the 50th overall pick on a two-way contract before making final roster decisions. The 12th overall pick would take the slot Dario Saric left behind, leaving Presti with just one roster cut to make way for the 35th overall pick.

If the Thunder were to elect to re-sign Sario, who says he wants to be back in Bricktown, or anyone else in Free Agency, the need to create roster spots only rises.

What would you like the OKC Thunder to do with the 12th overall pick?