RealGM

(if the pick has no protections or is expected to convey I’m not adding details, for example the Suns, Heat and Nuggets picks are likely conveying)

2022 Draft:
-Own
-Clippers 1st
-Suns 1st
-Pistons 1st (lottery protected thru 24’, top-10 thru 26’ (converts to 2nd)

2023 Draft:
-Better of their own or Clippers 1st
-Nuggets 1st
-Heat 1st
-Wizards 1st swap (protected for selections 1-14 in 2023, 1-12 in 2024, 1-10 in 2025 and 1-8 in 2026, converts to 2nd)

2024 Draft:
-Own
-Clippers 1st
-Rockets 1st (top-4 protected, converts to 2nd)

2025 Draft:
-Own
-Better of Rockets/Clippers (Rockets pick is top-10 protected)
-76ers 1st (top-6 protected, top-4 in 26’ and 27, converts to 2nd)

2026 Draft:
-Own
-Clippers 1st
-Rockets 1st (top-4 protected, converts to 2nd)

——

Right this second what are the top-5 most valuable picks you’d choose from that list going forward?

2024 or 2026

Too many draft protections. The 2022 and 2023 suns heat clippers first round picks are essentially worthless.

This is why future picks mean very little except to add depth and role players.

2022 Thunder
2023 Thunder
2026 Clippers
2024 Thunder
2023 Heat

Right now their own picks until they turn the corner. That Rockets top 4 ‘24/‘26 could be valuable if Houston becomes somewhat better but still not good. Maybe if the Clippers decide to blow it up but that’s just random speculation a lot of these picks have protections that OKC may not see them right away.

2022 Thunder
2023 Thunder
2024 Thunder
2026 Clippers
2024 Rockets

One problem OKC may face going forward is if they don't end up at the top of a draft then teams might not be willing to trade down, regardless of how many picks OKC offers them.

My guess is that happened this year and they were turned down. Most teams that are rebuilding want to get the "next star" to build with and aren't willing to trade down for picks that may or may not be good.

Too many variables for my bald head to grasp. But I do think they need to start trading those picks for players, though. SGA's max kicks in next season and Giddey looks promising. Besides those two, they have no one of note. You can't build on just two decent guards and a whole bunch of picks. Start doing business.

Once they become a good prospect they'll just trade them anyway. See Sengun

OKC is in a lot of trouble. The majority of those picks are essentially worthless as they will be in the 20's and OKC has never done well drafting in that range aside from Ibaka who they got more than a decade ago. If they don't get some lottery luck they're in deep trouble.

the later clipper picks have Brooklyn to Boston potential. In 2024 and 2026 kawhi and George will have been beyond their primes.

The Miami pick in 23 is lotto pro. through 25 then becomes unprotected in 26. However as long as Butler and Lowry+Bam are around it'll convey in 23. As far as what picks would be valuable I'd go with this:

-Clippers 24
-Clippers 26. I'll throw in the 25 swap as they can swap their own pick with the Clippers knowing it's unprotected plus I don't think Kawhi and PG-13's bodies will hold up due to the injuries accrued over the years though anything can happen.
-Rockets 24+26. They are both top 4 pro. but I wouldn't be surprised if the Rockets were still rebuilding as that team will have massive growing pains to endure plus they only have their 1sts under control for 22+23. They do have additional 1sts from Milwaukee and Brooklyn so these picks may go down drastically in value.
-I'll take a stab in the dark and go with the Wizards pick. Yes it's unlikely to convey but I think they could nab a mid-lotto selection with that pick.

In the end the Thunder could use some of these picks to either move up in the draft for a coveted player they desire or even trade for a young disgruntled player that's a star/has star potential should an opportunity come up.

Clippers are in a bit of a free fall at the moment with no Kawhi for a few months and PG being re-evaluated in a few weeks.

If they land in the bottom half of the play in games, that’s a late lottery pick for 2022

2025

Statlanta wrote:2022 Thunder
2023 Thunder
2026 Clippers
2024 Thunder
2023 Heat

I'd definitely take Rockets 2024 top 4 protected over Heat 2023. The Heat are just too damn competent to tank, they integrate guys like Robinson, Strus and Yurtseven too well and too often. The 2023-24 Rockets pick, even if it's 50/50 to be top 4, is nice. 3rd year Jalen Green and Sengun might be enough to be okay on O and terrible on D and picking 6-8th.

kuclas wrote:Too many draft protections. The 2022 and 2023 suns heat clippers first round picks are essentially worthless.

This is why future picks mean very little except to add depth and role players.

Role players are key to any team that want to win a championship (even more in a small market organisation).

Lack of role players (and injuries) is the main reason why we didn't win a championship with KD/WB/Ibaka.

Some Clippers/Rockets picks could still be pretty good. We just had a 48% odds of having the pick n°5 in the last draft...a coin flip saved Houston.

Ell Curry wrote:

Statlanta wrote:2022 Thunder
2023 Thunder
2026 Clippers
2024 Thunder
2023 Heat

I'd definitely take Rockets 2024 top 4 protected over Heat 2023. The Heat are just too damn competent to tank, they integrate guys like Robinson, Strus and Yurtseven too well and too often. The 2023-24 Rockets pick, even if it's 50/50 to be top 4, is nice. 3rd year Jalen Green and Sengun might be enough to be okay on O and terrible on D and picking 6-8th.

yeah the 2023 heat pick is lotto protected so clearly not a good asset.

Other than the Clippers/Rockets picks, I think the 2025 Sixers pick is a bit underrated. So much respect for Embiiid but not sure he will sustain that level many years.

Their own 4 and that Rockets pick top 4 protected.

Dadouv47 wrote:

Ell Curry wrote:

Statlanta wrote:2022 Thunder
2023 Thunder
2026 Clippers
2024 Thunder
2023 Heat

I'd definitely take Rockets 2024 top 4 protected over Heat 2023. The Heat are just too damn competent to tank, they integrate guys like Robinson, Strus and Yurtseven too well and too often. The 2023-24 Rockets pick, even if it's 50/50 to be top 4, is nice. 3rd year Jalen Green and Sengun might be enough to be okay on O and terrible on D and picking 6-8th.

yeah the 2023 heat pick is lotto protected so clearly not a good asset.

Other than the Clippers/Rockets picks, I think the 2025 Sixers pick is a bit underrated. So much respect for Embiiid but not sure he will sustain that level many years.

I've stopped expecting an Embiid injury but any un or lightly protected pick on a one star team is intriguing, as we're seeing with Portland this year and most famously with the Tim Duncan pick when Robinson went down. MJ going down got Chicago the 9th pick (Brad Sellers, terrible) and Kobe getting hurt got the Lakers the 7th pick (Julius Randle, took too long to learn to shoot but good prospect and player overall).

ArtMorte wrote:Too many variables for my bald head to grasp. But I do think they need to start trading those picks for players, though. SGA's max kicks in next season and Giddey looks promising. Besides those two, they have no one of note. You can't build on just two decent guards and a whole bunch of picks. Start doing business.

Dort seems to be okay too.

I was surprised that they traded Sengun. I also just found out that they used to have Omer Yurtseven in their G League and let him go. I guess they did that because of his age (he's now 23)...? Eventually a team needs solid players even if they're not stars. You can spend years trying to develop a player like Poku, but if he doesn't pan out it's just wasted years.

I think next year if they get a top pick (and hit on it) then they should do whatever they can to build a roster around what they have. Figure out who the "Keepers" are and add some vets. The longer you drag out a rebuild the worse things get IMO.