The OKC Thunder may currently be in the throes of trying to win their first NBA Championship of the Sooner State era, but GM Sam Presti is already seemingly looking ahead to the offseason, most notably the NBA Draft.
Every day, it seems like new reports regarding Oklahoma City and this year's class are surfacing.
From hosting intriguing late-round and potentially unselected prospects for workouts to whispers of the organization being open to trading up into the lottery, this front office has been hard at work with their pre-draft preparations.
With just days seperating now and day one of the festivities, it's evident that OKC is looking to make some sort of noteworthy addition by using one of their three total picks, and perhaps the best way to do so is by swinging for the fences and moving up on the board in an effort to land one of the most polarizing prospects the 2025 class has to offer.
Cedric Coward must be a top target for OKC Thunder in NBA Draft
As made evident by their decision to select Nikola Topic 12 overall last year despite having a partially torn Achilles, injuries don't seem to scare the Thunder when it comes to their draft day decision-making, especially if the player's game boasts serious upside when healthy.
Because of this, Washington State's Cedric Coward should be viewed as a no-brainer target for OKC to pursue.
Despite being limited to just six total games played last season due to a season-ending shoulder injury, the 21-year-old seems to have the makings of being a can't-miss prospect in this year's NBA Draft.
Measuring in at 6-foot-6, 213 pounds, Coward's frame innately makes him a highly desirable fit for any team as a modern-era wing in the NBA.
However, his ridiculous 7-foot-2 wingspan coupled with his averages of 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks on 56.4 percent shooting from the floor and 38.7 percent shooting from deep over his final two seasons in the NCAA has some believing he could realistically wind up developing into a legitimate two-way star at the next level.
Still, there are many who are skeptical of his lack of experience playing at a high-major Division 1 program and long-term durability, which has caused his draft stock to range anywhere from the top-10 on the night to the back-end of the first.
Regardless of his up-and-down perception, the forward's natural ability to effectively put the ball on the floor, stretch beyond the arc, attack the rim at will, and properly switch defensively could be truly perfect to have within the second unit for the Thunder moving forward.
Considering they seem to be on the verge of winning the 2025 NBA Finals and have the bulk of their core locked down for the next several years as they try and become the league's next greay dynasty, the Thunder are seemingly in an ideal position to take a chance on the high-risk, high-reward talents of Cedric Coward, and may want to consider moving up a few spots to secure the right to land him.