OKC Thunder's Top Needs After 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Results
The NBA Draft lottery is in the books, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are now set at pick No. 12.
As they continue to evaluate the prospects who may be available there, we're here to break down the biggest needs for OKC to address in the draft.
Wing Defense
This might seem odd, given how dominant the Thunder have been on the defensive end the last few years, but the current collective bargaining agreement will make it difficult to keep the entire team together much longer.
And one of the most obvious spots where OKC could cycle out some of its older talent and plug in a draft pick is at Luguentz Dort's. Such a move might set the Thunder back a bit in the short term, but a first-round pick would make a lot less than the $18.2 million Dort would be owed if OKC picked up his option. And the team's track record for developing talent suggests the right pick could get up to speed quickly.
Center
Again, the Thunder are going to be mighty expensive as the max deals of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren escalate, so cost-cutting at other spots could make some sense.
That means trading Isaiah Hartenstein or declining his $28.5 million team option could be on the table. And if that happens, a center to soak up some of those frontcourt minutes alongside Chet Holmgren would be crucial.
Realistic Draft Targets at No. 12 Pick
- Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan, PF)
- Aday Mara (Michigan, C)
- Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky, PF/C)
As B/R NBA Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman put it in his post-Lottery Mock Draft: "Yaxel Lendeborg makes too much sense for an Oklahoma City Thunder team that will want players who can contribute on cheap contracts. At 23 years old, 6'9", 240 pounds, Lendeborg has the NBA-ready label coming off a national championship at Michigan."
Wasserman continued: "His offensive versatility has been on NBA radars for years. An improved shooter and defender who passes and rebounds, Lendeborg should look highly adaptable and easy to fit for most NBA teams.
*Check out the full scouting report for Yaxel Lendeborg.
