The Oklahoma City Thunder took on Trevor Ariza and Justin Jackson in 2020 to get second-round draft picks from the Mavericks, including the 37th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Dallas was looking to open up a roster space. There were four players traded in this deal, and none of them survived the following season with the team that acquired them. In true Sam Presti fashion, he benefited from a six-year-old trade, but he had to trade down first.
The Thunder traded the 37th pick that ended up being Ryan Conwell to the Heat for the 41st pick and cash. OKC took Otega Oweh, who could be a future Lu Dort replacement in OKC.
The Thunder traded the first second-round pick from this deal to the Nuggets as part of a package for a 2027 first-rounder. Denver flipped it to the Lakers on draft night in 2023, where LA selected Maxwell Lewis. It was a disastrous pick, but Thunder fans know that Presti is always maximizing the value.
The Thunder added Oweh to an eventful day one of the 2026 draft. OKC got Aday Mara with the final pick from the SGA trade and traded up for Bennett Stirtz. Presti didn’t exactly follow his usual plan, but OKC walked out with three talented picks all acquired via trade.
Thunder took advantage of the Mavericks' desperation in a forgotten trade
OKC was in the middle of a rebuild in 2020. They were happy to trade James Johnson just one week after acquiring him. The veteran played just 29 games with the Mavericks and was sent packing at the 2021 trade deadline. Giving up the 40th pick in 2023 and the 37th in 2026 was bad business by Dallas.
Here is a look at the full details of this forgotten trade.
Thunder received: Trevor Ariza, Justin Jackson, Maxwell Lewis, and PROSPECT
Mavericks acquired: James Johnson
Pistons get: Delon Wright
Wright lasted just 36 games in Detroit before being shipped to the Kings at the 2021 deadline. The Pistons were clearing some salary off their books.
This is a Sam Presti special. He waited six years, but Dallas has gone from contending to rebuilding. If he jumped at their 2021 pick, it would have been 53rd overall. Instead, Presti took one far in the future and just picked up the 37th pick in 2026.
The Thunder's GM secured a bit of cash in his latest trade to move down a few spots. OKC had success developing Dort, and Oweh fits a similar mold. The powerful 6'4 guard could be a difference-maker for the Thunder if he reaches his ceiling. OKC is the best in the business at developing talent.
The Oklahoma City Thunder took advantage of the Dallas Mavericks' desperation to clear roster space to get Otega Oweh in the 2026 NBA Draft. Even if the Mavs didn’t want to draft a player here, having second-round picks is always valuable in trade talks. Presti did it again, and the Mavs were his victim this time around.
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