Over the last several years, the OKC Thunder have managed to compile the rights to over 30 draft picks through 2031 thanks to the elite wheeling and dealing ways of storied executive Sam Presti.
With roughly 15 first-rounders and a slew of seconds within their possession, as things currently stand, Oklahoma City simply has too many picks for them to even make full use of.
Now, following the events of Friday's winner-take-all Play-In Tournament bout between the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks, they find themselves adding yet another valuable asset to this already enviable collection.
Thunder gifted another first-round pick after Friday's Play-In Tournament
As a result of the always-giving Paul George-to-Clippers blockbuster of 2019, the Thunder hold the rights to Miami's 2025 first-round draft pick.
The main stipulation heading into Friday night was that, had the Heat missed the playoffs this season, said pick would remain in South Beach, only to then be converted into an unprotected first-rounder for 2026.
Of course, with their 123-114 overtime stunner against the Hawks, their draft rights for this season will officially be shipped out to the Sooner State, where the Thunder will now be on the clock at 15 overall during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft as well as 24 overall via pick-swap with the LA Clippers (also acquired in the Paul George deal).
OKC's royalty of riches in the draft capital department is truly a cheat code for the franchise to navigate through the league's always complex financial constraints, especially with their new salary cap projections.
Even though the ball club will soon have to add a substantial amount of money to their own payroll what with the looming contract extensions of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, having the ability to flesh out the roster with young talents attached to rookie-scale deals via the draft is a great way to cut costs.
This proposed experiment could be put to the test as soon as this coming June, when, following Miami's loss, the Thunder will find themselves in possession of multiple first-round selections for what many are considering to be one of the strongest draft classes in quite some time.
From Michigan's trusty backcourt scoring weapon Jase Richardson, to the 3&D abilities a guy like Arizona's Carter Bryant could provide down in the frontcourt, with this new mid-round draft pick, Oklahoma City is bound to have a ton of intriguing options to choose from should they opt to hold onto it.