Following a 57-win season and a playoff series win, the Oklahoma City Thunder have much opportunity to improve this offseason. The Thunder is projected to have nearly $35 million in cap space and has an incredible amount of trade assets. Furthermore, Oklahoma City also has the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Despite being the top seed in the Western Conference for the 2023-24 campaign, the Thunder is still selecting in the lottery. This is because the Houston Rockets owed the Thunder their 2024 first-round selection from the trade swap of Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul. Oklahoma City’s draft strategy will be interesting to monitor later this month. This is a team ready to compete for championship next season, so win-now rookies should be intriguing. Even then, this team is being built to have sustained success over the next decade or more, so the front office also can’t be short sighted — a prospect who needs time to develop could also be the best option depending on who it is.
Expect OKC to be active on draft night, whether that’s moving up, down, or even out of this draft. Especially in a class that’s more uncertain than most, Thunder GM Sam Presti will be looking to get creative in order to maximize this roster. Although much will change in the next two weeks leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft, which prospects should the Thunder be considering?
Bigs
Donovan Clingan (UConn)
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It would likely take Oklahoma City trading up to get in range of where Clingan is expected to go, but he would be well worth it. One of the most physically imposing bigs a team could ask for, the 7-foot-2 prospect out of UConn is a phenomenal shot blocker with good touch on the other end of the floor.
Kel’el Ware (Indiana)
Although he was expected to be a one-and-done at Oregon as a freshman, Ware went back to school and transferred to Indiana for his sophomore campaign and really blossomed. He has a modern skillset and improving perimeter jumper, but needs to land in the right system maximize his upside. As the type of player who can impact winning as a rookie but also has untapped potential for the future, Ware could play behind Chet Holmgren in the center rotation, or even alongside him at times. Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
A 7-footer with a sturdy frame and reliable 3-point shot, Filipowski is the type of player who could help nearly any team in the NBA. He proved to be a dynamic scorer and quality rebounder in two seasons at Duke and looks to be a fringe lottery prospect at this point. The Thunder would have to buy his defensive ability if this were to be the pick, but there’s no question that Filipowski fits OKC’s style of play.
Zach Edey (Purdue)
Perhaps the most polarizing draft prospects in recent history, Edey has absolutely dominated college basketball the past few seasons. At 7-foot-4, he has the chance to continue making an impact on winning at the next level, but will need to be leveraged the right way. Given the needs of Oklahoma City, there should be real reason for optimism that the Thunder can figure out how to get the most out of Edey if he were the pick.
