Who should the OKC Thunder trade up for in the NBA Draft?

The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2023 NBA Draft with three selections (12, 37, 50) and a report from ESPN that the team is exploring trade-up options. The OKC Thunder have made a first-round trade each year since the 2019 draft. So it is not surprising that Sam Presti might keep that streak alive, especially with his war chest of draft assets, highlighted by four first-round picks in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The OKC Thunder being active on draft night is no surprise, but what is interesting is where they are positioned. How high can they climb up the draft from pick 12, where the juice would be worth the squeeze?

Who should the OKC Thunder trade up for in the 2023 NBA Draft, as ESPN reports they are actively trying to do.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have three names that make a ton of sense to move up for in this draft that are on a different tier than the players that will likely be available at pick 12. As a note, this will not include something ridiculous. Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, and Brandon Miller are all upgrades from who should go at 12, but there is no pathway for OKC to get that high. Even the projected fourth pick, Amen Thompson, is out of the realm of possibility for an active Thunder team looking to move up.

So who are some names that are realistic for Sam Presti to go get as a trade-up target?