Next Steps For Thunder Following NBA Draft Lottery

Oklahoma City entered Tuesday’s draft lottery in Chicago with an 85.2% chance of landing the No. 12 overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft. With just one pick in the lottery this year, it was a potentially massive event for the future of the franchise. While there’s always quality talent available late in the lottery, jumping into the top four of any draft gives you better odds at landing franchise-altering talent.

With that in mind, expectations became reality and Oklahoma City officially earned the No. 12 overall pick. Other than the top six selections, the remainder of the top 14 selections fell into place as projected. The San Antonio Spurs won the lottery, presumably setting the stage for French phenom Victor Wembanyama to join that franchise in June.

So what happens from here for the Thunder?

Oklahoma City will have three selections on June 22 during the 2023 NBA Draft. The first will be the No. 12 pick that was finalized Tuesday, followed by two second rounders at No. 37 and No. 50 overall.

This means that over the course of the next five weeks, the Thunder evaluation staff will continue its diligent work on this class of prospects that has already been going on for many years. Like many franchises, Oklahoma City begins tracking these top players as early as the time they become teenagers.

At least for the Thunder’s first-round selection, the late lottery range is absolutely fascinating. The back half of the lottery and even the first handful of picks outside of the lottery could go nearly any direction. It would not at all be surprising if Thunder GM Sam Presti traded up to get a prospect he really wants, or even move back if he thinks his top player in that range will slide further.

There’s no guarantee prospects that are projected in that range will be available at No. 12, but in terms of who would be a great fit in Oklahoma City and could be available at that selection, the Thunder should consider:

• Gradey Dick
• Leonard Miller
• Cason Wallace
• Jett Howard
• Dariq Whitehead
• Bilal Coulibaly
• GG Jackson
• Rayan Rupert

The Thunder has made it clear that positional size and the ability to make plays are two of the more important traits in a prospect. A lot can change over the next month, but the belief at this point in the pre-draft process is that this is a very deep class. Oklahoma City has a fantastic G League system with the OKC Blue, so the player taken in the first round doesn’t have to contribute immediately. Keep in mind, Chet Holmgren will headline the Thunder’s rookie class regardless as he makes his NBA regular season debut in October.

The 2023 NBA Draft will take place on June 22 in New York. From there, NBA Summer League will take place in Las Vegas in July followed by training camp and the start of the 2023-24 campaign in October. External expectations will be high for the young Thunder, with the talent to make the playoffs this season.