Thunder path to draft supremacy could come via an all too familiar trade partner

Rumors about numerous draft prospects the OKC Thunder could be eyeing have already been circulating, as the world attempts to anticipate general manager Sam Presti's next genius move.

Said move may have arrived on a silver platter, and a familiar face (or NBA franchise) could be to thank.

According to sources, the LA Clippers could be looking to trade down from the five spot in this year's draft.

If Presti were to take the bait, it would be the first time the two sides reached a deal since the infamous Paul George trade that set the foundation for the dominant Thunder team of today.

Thunder have the flexibility to prioritize quality over quantity

If Presti were to leverage OKC's two first-round picks (and potentially other assets) to acquire the Clippers' fifth overall pick, it would immediately position them to pursue players like Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, and Darius Acuff Jr.

Of the three, Wilson easily fits more of a positional need, but when a franchise is playing with as much house money as the Thunder, they can afford to sacrifice asset quantity to improve quality. In a worst-case scenario, taking either Acuff or Wagler could lead to a sign-and-trade to fill a more team-specific hole.

Such a move would likely come in tandem with the departure of either Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, or both to clear enough cap space to add such a highly-touted rookie's contract.

Regardless, Presti will likely have to cut ties with numerous Thunder veterans, no matter how the draft shakes out.

Thunder draft will come down to how much they trust frontcourt

With Hartenstein's contract a question mark heading into the offseason, OKC finds itself in an unfamiliar position. If I-Hart skips town, coach Mark Daigneault would presumably be sending out the likes of Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, and rookie Thomas Sorber to protect the rim. For a team that prides itself on guarding the paint, this might not be enough.

At 6-foot-10, North Carolina product Caleb Wilson represents the ideal target at the five spot, though there is no guarantee he will be there if OKC were to trade up.

The alternative option would be to remain in their current slots at 12 and 17, where they could hunt for bargain bigs, such as Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Hannes Steinbach.

Regardless of what Presti decides to do with his draft picks, the Thunder still sit as one of the most loaded rosters in the NBA. Their array of assets only makes them an even more intimidating franchise, seemingly poised to compete for multiple NBA titles over the many years to come.

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