OKC Thunder GM Finds Draft Value in James Harden Trade

Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti continues to grow the team's draft assets, taking every opportunity he can to improve his squad in the margins.

Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti has done it again. 

Thunder fans have likely heard this line before, specifically in relation to how good Presti is at evaluating talent in the draft process. Today, however, the OKC administration pulled off another move that should feel familiar to the team's fans.

Presti, who is willing to take every available opportunity to make any slight improvements, was able to get Oklahoma City involved in a blockbuster trade early Tuesday morning. 

In the Clippers deal for former Thunder guard James Harden, OKC helped facilitate the trade for a pick swap with Los Angeles. Oklahoma City will give up a 2026 first-round pick that the Clippers will send to Philadelphia in return for the 10-time All-Star.

The pick is the least favorable of the Thunder's three first-round selections in 2026. In return, Los Angeles sent a 2027 first-round pick swap back to OKC. 

The Thunder now own at least one of the Clippers' first-round picks for the next four years as a result of the Paul George trade back in 2019.

The Thunder now have an extra year to have control of the Clippers first round picks

‘24
‘25 swap
‘26 protected
‘27 swap

The Paul George trade continues and it is a masterclass in NBA GMing

— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) October 31, 2023

This transaction will give Oklahoma City three first-round picks in the 2027 draft, including one pick from the Denver Nuggets and the team's original pick in that year. 

This is similar to the move that Presti made with the Nuggets last season when the Thunder sent a 2024 first-round pick and two second-round picks to Denver in return for a 2029 first-round pick.

The two aforementioned trades both help OKC continue to stockpile valuable draft picks. While trading first-round picks for future first-round picks may not seem like a big deal, it gives Oklahoma City more assets down the road and gives Presti and company more time to evaluate how valuable each pick will be.

For example, the 2029 first-round pick from Denver could rapidly increase in value if the Nuggets are no longer championship contenders in five years. Similarly in today's trade, if the Clipper's star-studded trio continues to have health concerns, there is a good chance that the team won't be competitive three years down the road.

With that being said, not only does hopping into the Harden trade help OKC maintain its treasure trove of draft capital in the future, but it also improves the value of one of the team's future first-round picks.

Additionally, Oklahoma City already has a very competitive roster with plenty of promising young players. The team may not have room to add as many new prospects through the draft in upcoming cycles, but will have more draft picks down the line when it is time for the team to replace a certain player or add more talent in the trade market.

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