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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts with a ripped jersey in the second half against the St. John's Red Storm in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The OKC Thunder already has a championship-level core, yet they remain a dangerous team in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Holding the No. 12 and No.17 picks in the 2026 Draft, the Thunder has a chance to unearth another gem from this year’s class, which has been regarded as one of the best in recent years.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the league is already bracing for any possibilities on draft day from the Thunder, including packaging their picks to move up and snag a highly-touted forward with the motivation of stopping Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs for the foreseeable future.
Fischer said that an Eastern Conference executive told him that such a scenario is not far-fetched, considering the Thunder’s looming rivalry with the Spurs in the Western Conference.
“‘What’s to stop them from packaging No. 12, 17 and [even] future picks to try to go get [Cameron] Boozer or [Caleb[ Wilson?’ one Eastern Conference executive asked me the other day,” Fischer wrote in his Substack.
Executives around the league are floating the idea of the Thunder trading up to draft Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson, per @JakeLFischer
“‘What’s to stop them from packaging No. 12, 17 and [even] future picks to try to go get Boozer or Wilson?’ one Eastern Conference executive
Boozer and Wilson both possessed length and heft that can match up with Wembanyama’s length. They also have the defensive tools to keep up with the Thunder’s defensive intensity. They are also young enough to align with the Spurs’ trajectory.
“Imagine. The Thunder certainly have the trade assets to do so to try to nab another elite forward to throw at Victor Wembanyama,” Fischer said. “There is an undeniably growing anticipation leaguewide that the Thunder are going to do something.”
The Thunder can certainly pull off such a trade on draft, considering their treasure trove of first-round picks and promising assets.
A Thunder big move is also imminent, as they anticipate a big bill for their current roster in the future and the expiring contracts of their top role players, such as Isaiah Hartenstein, who has been a Wembanyama stopper in the Western Conference Finals.
GettyNorth Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson shoots the ball. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
To get Boozer or Wilson, the Thunder must get a top-four pick in this year’s draft. That means they have to strike a deal with one of the Washington Wizards (No. 1), Utah Jazz (No. 2), Memphis Grizzlies (No. 3), or the Chicago Bulls (No. 4).
A trade may require the Thunder to give up a valuable asset, whether that is a current star in their championship core or a budding one from their deep bench.
A trade could further extend their championship window and continuously add fresh potential superstar talent around two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
For now, the Thunder is focused on winning another NBA championship.
GettyJared McCain #3, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder look on from the bench during the fourth quarter after scoring a goal in Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 24, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.
The OKC Thunder could be the first team to end an eight-year streak in the NBA.
If they dispatch the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals and the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, the Thunder would become the first team since 2018 to win back-to-back NBA championships.
The last team that did it was the dynastic Golden State Warriors, led by Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant.
The Thunder has a chance to finally secure a spot in the NBA Finals on Thursday, May 28, in Game 6 in San Antonio.
Rob Andrew Lo Rob Andrew Lo is a writer at Heavy Sports and is covering the NBA. He has covered local, collegiate, professional and international sports in various sites. He was the sports editor of The Varsitarian, the official student publication of University of Santo Tomas, and a sports, entertainment, and lifestyle writer for Rappler. A Journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, he has built his voice across both collegiate and international platforms, previously contributing NBA coverage to Fansided and Sportskeeda. More about Rob Andrew Lo
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