The Thunder may already be the NBA’s defending champions, but that apparently won’t stop them from trying to make another massive swing in next month’s draft.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, two NBA executives said they could envision Oklahoma City attempting to package assets — including the No. 12 and No. 17 overall picks — in an effort to move into the top four for Duke star Cameron Boozer.
That’s obviously easier said than done.
Most league observers view Boozer and the rest of this year’s top-four prospects as being in a tier of their own, making it highly unlikely that teams drafting near the top would willingly move down unless the Thunder completely overwhelm them with value.
There’s also this reality: rival teams probably aren’t eager to help Oklahoma City add another potential franchise centerpiece on a rookie-scale contract.
The Bulls, who currently own the No. 4 overall pick, reportedly have little interest in moving backward. Per Siegel, Chicago would only consider dealing the selection if it meant trading up, not down.
Even if the Thunder fail to crack the top four, league executives still expect them to be active.
According to Siegel, there is an “overwhelming belief” around the NBA that Oklahoma City won’t simply stay put at No. 12 and No. 17 and add two more rookies to an already loaded roster.
Instead, the Thunder are widely expected to explore trades involving one or both picks, either to move up in the draft or to continue stockpiling future assets.
Given Sam Presti’s history, nobody around the league would be shocked either way.
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