The Oklahoma City Thunder surely were paying close attention to the developments of March Madness. They'll have two selections in the first round after the protections for the Philadelphia 76ers fall through, and they'll likely be able to select near the top of the second round once all of their swaps are complete.
It's a complicated process, as traded draft picks always are. But it's clear that Oklahoma City is rich with flexibility again this offseason.
With player options for both Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenrich Williams looming, it's easy to imagine that the bruising size and insurmountable speed of Michigan's frontcourt trio, featuring Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson Jr., would be of immediate interest to them.
In fact, FanSided's most recent 2026 NBA Mock Draft has the Thunder slated to select Lendeborg at 15th overall. As strong of a selection as that would have been before the Final Four, the toughness and determination that Lendeborg showed this past weekend makes him an even more perfect fit for Oklahoma City.
Yaxel Lendeborg is an ideal piece to bring into the Thunder's developmental system
It's hard to overstate how dominant Michigan was this season. Even with their best player in Lendeborg severely limited, they absolutely smashed their way through their final two matchups of the tournament, defeating Arizona 91-73 and surpassing UConn 69-63. Their success without Lendeborg at the top of his game should not be counted against the star, however.
Lendeborg was easily their most potent offensive weapon over the course of the season, averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 37.2% from beyond the arc through 40 games. Without his trademark aggression, Michigan felt stuck in the mud offensively at times throughout the game.
While his age (he'll be 24 by the start of next season) will impact his draft stock, the MCL sprain and ankle sprain he suffered against the Wildcats should not. In fact, it should make him even more appealing to the Thunder.
It was clear throughout the championship that Lendeborg did not feel right. He was shying away from his switches onto smaller defenders, and his jump shot did not look nearly as potent as it has throughout the tournament.
He made clear how he was feeling during his half-time interview with CBS Sports:
"I feel awful. I feel super weak right now... I'm missing plays that I don't usually miss."@umichbball's Yaxel Lendeborg wasn't pleased with his first-half effort | 🎤 @tracywolfson pic.twitter.com/5vDsUln11g
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) April 7, 2026
Yet he finished the game with 13 points, two rebounds, and one assist, making some hugely important buckets down the stretch and playing a whopping 36 minutes to help his team across the finish line.
As the Thunder reconstruct their roster over the next couple of offseasons, they need mature, winning players who will immediately buy into the culture in Oklahoma City. While Lendeborg may not have impressed with his stats on Monday night, he certainly did so with his sheer willpower.
If Lendeborg is available wherever the Clippers' pick ultimately lands, it should be an easy choice for the Thunder.