Sam Presti doesn't just draft players; he hoards future possibilities like a doomsday prepper hoards canned beans. If you’ve followed the NBA even casually over the last few seasons, you know the Oklahoma City Thunder own an absurd amount of draft capital. We’re talking about a "war chest" that basically makes other GMs look like they’re playing checkers while Presti is playing 4D chess in a different dimension.
But here is the thing: people keep waiting for the bubble to burst. They think at some point, you just run out of roster spots. Honestly? They might be right, but that’s exactly why the okc first round picks are the most dangerous trade chips in the league right now.
The Staggering Reality of the 2026 and 2027 Haul
Right now, as we sit in January 2026, the Thunder are currently the one-seed in the West. They’ve got a record of 34-7. They are coming off a 2025 championship run. Usually, when a team is this good, their draft cupboard is bare. Not here.
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In the 2026 draft alone, OKC could potentially have four first-round picks.
- The Clippers Unprotected Pick: This is the crown jewel. With the Clippers currently sitting near the bottom of the standings (6-20), this could easily be a top-three selection. Imagine the reigning champs adding a top-three prospect to a core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. It feels illegal.
- Philadelphia’s Pick: Top-4 protected.
- Utah’s Pick: Top-8 protected.
- Their Own Pick: Which, let’s be real, will probably be 30th.
Most teams would kill for one lottery pick. OKC is basically just checking their mail and finding three of them. It’s a level of asset management that is frankly unprecedented in modern sports.
Why Having "Too Many" Picks Is a High-Class Problem
You’ve probably heard the argument that the Thunder have too many picks. Critics say you can't possibly bring in four rookies every year when you’re trying to win titles. And yeah, that's true. You can’t.
But look at what Presti has done recently. He isn't always using these picks to draft guys. In 2024, he traded a first-rounder just to get a 2028 swap with Dallas. He’s "kicking the can down the road." This ensures that when Shai is 32 and maybe slowing down, the Thunder still have fresh 19-year-old elite talent coming through the door. Or, more likely, they have the ammo to trade for whatever disgruntled superstar wants out next.
Remember the Giannis rumors? They never really go away. When you have three or four okc first round picks in a single year, you aren't just a participant in the trade market. You are the market.
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The Hidden Names: Topic and Sorber
It’s easy to forget that the Thunder are already sitting on "redshirt" talent. Nikola Topic (the 12th pick in 2024) and Thomas Sorber (the 15th pick in 2025) haven't even really integrated yet due to injuries. Topic is dealing with a groin issue right now, and Sorber is out for the season with a torn ACL.
When people talk about the "future" of the Thunder, they usually mention Shai, J-Dub, and Chet. But the internal development of guys like Cason Wallace—who is already an All-Defense caliber guard—and the eventual arrival of Topic means the roster is constantly regenerating. It’s like a Hydra. You cut off a role player because they get too expensive, and two lottery-level prospects are waiting in the G-League to take their spot.
The Financial Crunch and the Trade Deadline
We have to talk about the "Second Apron." The NBA's new collective bargaining agreement is designed to kill dynasties. It makes it incredibly painful to pay three or four max players. Shai is a lock for a supermax. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are going to command astronomical numbers soon.
This is where the okc first round picks become a survival tool.
- Cost Control: Rookies are cheap. If you can replace a $20 million role player with a rookie on a $4 million scale who gives you 80% of the production, you do it every time.
- The Lateral Move: If Lu Dort or Isaiah Hartenstein become too expensive to keep under the tax, Presti can package them with a couple of those 2026 firsts to get a cheaper, younger version or a different positional fit.
- The Mega-Trade: If the shooting slump currently hitting the team (34-7 is great, but the 3-point percentage has been wonky lately) continues, don't be surprised if one of those 2026 picks is moved for a specialist like Anfernee Simons or another elite wing.
What Most People Get Wrong About Sam Presti
The common misconception is that Presti is just "collecting" picks like stamps. He isn't. He's collecting leverage. Every time a team like the Suns or the Bucks trades away their entire future for a win-now window, the Thunder’s assets go up in value. Why? Because when those teams eventually fail and need to rebuild, the Thunder are the only team with the "cash" (picks) to help them out—for a steep price.
The Utah pick and the Philly pick in 2026 are perfect examples. These aren't just names on a board; they are insurance policies against the Thunder's own success. If Chet gets hurt or Shai misses time, the team doesn't bottom out because they own other teams' failures.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Trade Season
If you’re a Thunder fan or just a degenerate NBA observer, here is what you should actually be watching for as the trade deadline approaches and the draft lottery nears:
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- Watch the Clippers Standings: Every Clippers loss is a win for OKC. If that pick stays in the top 5, it is the most valuable asset in the NBA. Presti could trade that single pick for almost any non-All-NBA player in the league.
- The "Kicking the Can" Move: Watch for a trade where OKC sends a 2026 pick to a team for a 2030 or 2031 pick. It sounds boring, but it’s how they stay relevant for 15 years instead of five.
- Consolidation: The roster is full. Literally. To bring in new first-round talent, someone has to go. Keep an eye on the "middle-class" contracts. Players like Kenrich Williams or even Lu Dort might be the sacrificial lambs to make room for the next wave of elite okc first round picks.
The Thunder are in a position where they can win the Finals in June and then win the Draft Lottery in June. It’s an embarrassment of riches that the rest of the league is starting to resent, and honestly, can you blame them?
Keep an eye on the 2026 Utah and Philly protections. If those picks don't convey this year, they turn into even more complex assets down the road. But for now, Oklahoma City is sitting on a gold mine, waiting to see if they should build another wing on the mansion or just buy the neighborhood.
To stay ahead of the curve, you should track the "Tankathon" standings specifically for the Clippers and Sixers. Those two teams’ win-loss records will dictate the Thunder’s trade aggression over the next six months. If those picks look like they’ll land in the 10-20 range, expect Presti to be much more active in moving them for a veteran contributor before the deadline.