The Oklahoma City Thunder are actively exploring trade opportunities to advance into the top 10 selections of the 2026 NBA Draft, engaging in preliminary discussions with multiple franchises including the Sacramento Kings and the Atlanta Hawks.
Oklahoma City enters the two-day draft event controlled by general manager Sam Presti with three draft assets, consisting of the No. 12 pick via the LA Clippers, the No. 17 pick via the Philadelphia 76ers, and the No. 37 selection via the Dallas Mavericks.
Media outlets report that the team is specifically targeting elite collegiate prospects to bolster their roster following a Game 7 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
Trade Talks with Kings and Hawks
Analyst Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that the Thunder have already initiated discussions with Sacramento regarding the seventh overall selection, presenting a package that could potentially include multiple first-round picks to aid the Kings' rebuilding process.
"Along with this being a trade-up opportunity for a guard like Flemings, should he fall to the Mavs, this is also a spot in the draft that a team like the Thunder could jump the Warriors to grab Mara, assuming he isn’t taken by Atlanta the pick before," reported Siegel.
Siegel noted that the potential draft board shifts could open up additional avenues for Sacramento to trade down if their primary targets are unavailable before their selection.
"The other trade-up spot inside the top 10 teams are actively pointing to is the Kings at No. 7, which seems a little odd given that Sacramento could take Brown, Wagler, or Acuff — whoever is still on the board.
In the event that Brown and Acuff are taken by the Clippers and Nets, there is a possibility the Kings could trade down since they have known interest in Flemings," reported Siegel.
The Thunder have reportedly evaluated several prospects for this potential jump, including center Aday Mara, forward William Depaepe, and forward Jarin Stevenson, alongside significant interest in Michigan frontcourt star Morez Johnson Jr.
"This idea of the Kings obtaining another first-round pick has already been presented to them by the Thunder, sources said.
Oklahoma City’s interest in moving into the top 10 is real, with Mara, Wagler, and Ament brought up in connection to them," reported Siegel.
Siegel further mentioned that other franchises are closely tracking the stock of these top prospects as the draft approaches.
"Ament’s stock is all over the place lately, and another team he’s being heavily linked to is the Milwaukee Bucks, who currently only have the 10th pick," reported Siegel.
Additional reports from ESPN indicate that league executives are highly aware of Oklahoma City's aggressive strategy to consolidate their draft capital into a singular high-value asset.
"I keep hearing from several NBA executives that the Thunder are trying to move up, not just the two first-round picks, but the second-round pick, into the top 10.
Who wants to give up a player in this draft in the top-10? Good luck, Sam," said Marc J.
Spears, ESPN reporter.
Should the Thunder choose to retain their second-round asset at No. 37, the team has scouted several collegiate veterans and prospects to deepen their rotation, according to USA Today's Thunder Wire.
Frontoffice evaluations include Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, who averaged 16.4 points, and USF big man Izaiyah Nelson, who recorded 15.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
Other potential second-round targets identified include BYU guard Richie Saunders, Duke perimeter shooter Isaiah Evans, and Arizona forward Koa Peat.
