The Oklahoma City Thunder has three picks (No. 12 via the Los Angeles Clippers, No. 17 via the Philadelphia 76ers, and No. 37 via the Dallas Mavericks) in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, which will be upon us in a week.
The Thunder is looking to add to its roster, which won its first-ever championship in 2025 and was one win away from returning to the NBA Finals this season.
Likely, the Thunder doesn’t use all three picks due to limited roster spots. It could move up in the draft by using some of their assets or trading for future picks.
Here we’ll look at potential prospects, OKC could select with its picks.
2026 Thunder Draft Picks
Potential Selections at No. 12
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
OKC could certainly address its lack of size at the forward spot as it wings scale up defensively, from Jalen Williams to Alex Caruso to Lu Dort. The Thunder could use more size, and Lendeborg could be that piece. He’s a 6’9 Swiss Army knife with a 7-3.25 wingspan, who can defend multiple positions, is an offensive connector, and spaces the floor. He improved as a perimeter shooter and shot 37.2% from deep in his fifth collegiate season. Lendeborg is 23 and will be 24 by the start of the season, but that might be more beneficial for an OKC team that’s in win-now mode. He checks all the on-court boxes of those who could contribute immediately.
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Ament fits the archetype every team seeks. He’s a 6’10 forward with a 6’11.5 wingspan, who possesses great size and mobility and flashes three-level scoring upside. While Ament struggled with efficiency in his lone season at Tennessee, he shot 39.9% from the floor and 33.3% from deep. He’s confident but needs to improve as a perimeter shooter, and will need to work on being a more aggressive finisher. The 19-year-old is still obviously raw, but OKC is one of the best talent developers in the NBA and could potentially land a gem if the Thunder can maximize Ament’s potential.
Karim Lopez, New Zealand
Lopez’s combination of size, versatility, and physical tools fits the mold of players the Thunder covet. At 6’9 with a 6’11.25 wingspan, he has the tools to defend multiple positions and be multi-positional offensively. While the 19-year-old is a young and raw prospect, he has a couple of seasons of playing against experienced pros. Showing growth, as he averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and a block, shooting 51% from the floor and 42% from deep this past season in the NBL. While Lopez still needs to develop physically and become more consistent with his perimeter shooting, OKC’s developmental program could mold him into a seamless two-way role player.
Potential Selections at No. 17
Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
Quaintance is a 6’10 forward with a 7’5.25 wingspan who has dealt with injuries during his tenure at Kentucky, where he only played in four games, only averaging 5 points and 5 rebounds on 57.1% shooting from the floor, before getting shut down, and at Arizona State, where he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus.
OKC is not new to drafting players with health concerns and preaching patience. And this logic could be rewarded for the Thunder with Quaintance, as his combination of physicality and athleticism, to go with his ability to protect the rim, would bring great value. He would contribute on the glass, and as a play finisher, on offense, which would be a nice piece for the Thunder guards and wings.
Cameron Carr, Baylor
Carr is a 6’5 guard who provides elite athleticism and length, boasting a 7’0.75 wingspan, very Jalen Williams-esque, plus wingspan measurements. The 3-and-D potential is there. He shot 37.4% from 3 on 6.1 attempts per game last season at Baylor. Carr’s ability to shoot both off the catch and off the dribble, and to attack the rim off closeouts, makes his skill set valuable for the Thunder. His combination of defensive positional versatility, length, and athleticism makes him the ideal 3-and-D mold for OKC. He’ll have to sure up some areas: playing with more force and, of course, buy into the system.
Allen Graves, Santa Clara
Graves is a 6’9 forward with a 7’ wingspan who has a good feel for the game and operates with efficiency. He averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals as a redshirt freshman at Santa Clara on 51.2% shooting from the floor and 41.3% from deep. Graves lacks explosiveness and isn’t the quickest player, which could limit him as an NBA prospect, but he can space the floor, and his high IQ and ability as a processor check boxes as an option for OKC.
Dailyn Swain, Texas
Prioritizing a 6’7 wing who can handle the ball and provide a scoring punch is an option OKC can certainly use. Swain has upside as a scorer. He averaged 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, shooting 54.2% from the floor (60.3% from inside the arc) and 81.5% from the free-throw line on 5.6 attempts per game in his junior year at Texas. Swain is also a defensive playmaker who would fit right in with their defensive scheme. He has averaged 1.6 steals in each of his last two seasons. If he improves his perimeter, he could be a two-way threat for the Thunder.
Potential Selections at No. 37
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Jefferson most likely won’t be available at this point in the draft. He’s projected to be a late first-rounder, maybe an early second-round pick. But Jefferson is still a prospect worth discussing for what he brings and how much he contributes. At 6’9, he provides two-way impact with his ability to playmake at his size, to be a solid scorer, and his defensive versatility. The lack of a consistent perimeter shot may cause him to split into the second round. And if that’s the case, it’d be a great value.
Alex Karaban, UConn
Karaban contributed to UConn’s success on the court during his four seasons. While the 6’8 forward has limitations athletically, Karaban makes up for it with his high IQ and by being a connecting piece who does a little bit of everything. He averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists as a redshirt senior on 46.4% shooting from the floor and 37.4% from deep. Karaban provides floor spacing, moves well without the ball, puts himself in good spots, and makes the right basketball play. Karaban is 23 years old, which will play a factor during the draft, but he impacts the game, which is all you can ask for in the second round.
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
Ejiofor is an undersized big that will likely keep the 6’9 forward out of the first round and will likely be in the Thunder’s range. Ejiofor led St. John’s in points (16.3), rebounds (7.3), assists (3.5), and blocks (2.1) in his senior year. The versatility in his game – his switch-ability with playmaking abilities and activity as a play-finisher on offense are valuable two-way traits. They are what the Thunder covet in players. Add in Ejiofor’s high motor and activity on the glass, and this could be a good value for OKC.
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