4. They still hold a treasure trove of Draft picks
When fans think of the Thunder, sure they think about their superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or the high potential of Chet Holmgren, but the thing that comes to the forefront is their draft picks.
With the possibility of having up to 12 first-round picks over the next five NBA Drafts, the Thunder can control the trade market. Being able to offer more picks than any other team has left them in a dominant position.
There is no way for Oklahoma City to use all of their selections in the coming years, so don’t be surprised if we see these picks dangled as bait in some big moves in the near future.
With a high likelihood of having at least three picks in 2025’s loaded draft class, teams will be excited to hear from OKC regarding them.
The Thunder are a championship shy of owning the best rebuild in the history of the NBA, and this comes through masterful trades and brilliant drafting.
Presti has put this team in a position to succeed not just in the now but for years to come. We have seen teams attempt to copy the Presti model of a rebuild. Just look at the Jazz and the Nets. Due to such immediate success from the Thunder, teams are already trying to do what Presti did.
Though we are still a few days shy from free agency kicking off officially, but we already know one thing for sure -- The winners of the 2024 NBA Offseason have already been decided, and it’s the Oklahoma City Thunder.