Will Dawkins leaves OKC to join the Washington Wizards Front Office

The Oklahoma City Thunder are preparing for the 2023 NBA Draft. Sitting just a few weeks from Draft Day, there is a shake-up in the OKC Thunder front office. Sam Presti has lost one of his top executives, Will Dawkins, who is leaving Bricktown to join the new-look Washington Wizards front office. This is on the heels of the Wizards’ hiring Mike Winger, another former executive under Sam Presti who first left for the Clippers before landing in D.C., as their top decision-maker.

Keeping Sam Presti intact is the most critical mission for the OKC Thunder each offseason, and they have done that yet again. The OKC Thunder also hired one of the best scouts in the league, Vince Rozman, away from the Philadelphia 76ers last Summer, who will help fill the void Dawkins leaves behind.

The Oklahoma City Thunder lose one of the best executives, Will Dawkins, to the Washington Wizards.

Will Dawkins has been with the OKC Thunder since 2008, starting out as a front office intern, being promoted to video coordinator, and eventually labeled as The Vice President of Basketball Operations, a shared title with Rob Hennigan, who remains in the Thunder Front Office.

Sam Presti’s Front Office tree grows, with Will Dawkins and Mike Winger in D.C., Troy Weaver in Detroit, and Rich Cho. Rob Hennigan departed from the Front Office to head up the Orlando Magic before returning to Oklahoma City under Presti.

Now, the Oklahoma City Thunder will continue to prepare for the NBA Draft a bit shorthanded in their Front Office, while the Washington Wizards get a considerable boost. What makes things somewhat interesting is that the Wizards own the 8th pick with reports that OKC is aiming to trade up, could they be trade partners come Draft night?