The OKC Thunder are currently in possession of two first-rounders and three total picks heading into this year's NBA Draft. With this, it's natural for fans to be champing at the bit as they wait to see how their beloved ball club will opt to utilize these luxuries come next week.
Whether they plan on standing pat and selecting a ready-made NBA talent or trading up to take a swing on one of this year's higher-upside prospects, at this point in time, the possibilities when it comes to what Sam Presti will decide to do with their enviable draft capital are certainly endless.
However, regardless of which young prospects the Thunder ultimately bring aboard, none will hold a candle to the two biggest additions Oklahoma City is set to make to its rotation next season.
Ironically, said additions are already on the roster.
Thunder should get a healthy Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell back next year
Following a 2025-26 campaign that was plagued by myriad health-related issues, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell are both attached to standard contracts heading into next season and, with a full summer in between now and October's tip-off, are expected to make full recoveries from their respective ailments that bothered them throughout this past year.
For Williams, this season easily proved to be his most challenging from an injury standpoint.
After putting forth a career-best run the year prior, where he earned All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive honors while playing a key role in the Thunder winning their first NBA Championship, he entered the year a month late due to wrist surgery recovery.
Then, following his debut on November 28, endured several hamstring strains in both legs. Combining both regular season and playoff action, the forward missed 59 of 97 games.
The breakout stud Mitchell, meanwhile, was shelved from late January through early March as a result of a right hip contusion, and then was unfortunately shut down for the final four games in their ill-fated Western Conference Finals bout against San Antonio due to a calf strain.
Leading into the series, the young point guard was having quite an astounding playoff run.
Needless to say, both ballers' presences were missed greatly during their respective absences. Frankly, had the two been a full go during the postseason, there's a strong case to be made that the Thunder would have been able to at the very least clinch their second-straight NBA Finals berth, if not win it.
Fortunately, the established two-way star in J-Dub and rising star in Mitchell are now allotted ample time to get their bodies right ahead of 2026-27, where the Thunder are already projected as the favorite to take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Reintroducing these two top-tier talents with health on their side back into the rotation will easily have more impact compared to any other addition OKC could possibly make by way of the upcoming NBA Draft, free agency, or offseason trade they may pursue.
Add us as a preferred source on Google