The Oklahoma City Thunder were one win away from a second straight NBA Finals trip. And the reason they fell short? A 7-foot-4 French kid named Victor Wembanyama who turned the Spurs into a contender way ahead of schedule.
Nobody expected San Antonio to be this good this fast. But here we are. The West now runs through two young, loaded rosters, and OKC has the draft capital to make sure they come out on top.
The Thunder hold picks No. 12, No. 17, and No. 37 in the 2026 NBA Draft. That’s three shots at adding talent to what might already be the deepest roster in the league. The core around back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already elite on both ends of the floor — top three in offensive and defensive net rating this season. But the Spurs are coming, and OKC needs answers in the paint.
So who do they take at No. 12? Here are three names that make sense.
Aday Mara, C, Michigan
If Mara falls to 12, the Thunder should sprint to the podium. The 7-foot-3 center just won a national title at Michigan, and his blend of length and touch would fit perfectly next to Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. He’s also the kind of big body you need to throw at Wembanyama four times a year (plus the playoffs).
Most mocks have Mara going to Golden State at No. 11. But if he slips, OKC has a history of hitting at this spot — they took Jalen Williams at No. 12 in 2022 and Nikola Topic at No. 12 in 2024. They also traded up from 12 to 10 to grab Cason Wallace in 2023.
And according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, the Thunder aren’t just sitting still. “Oklahoma City has been actively attempting to package #12 and #17 to move up into the top 10,” Siegel wrote. One reported three-team framework would send Bobby Portis and Milwaukee’s pick to OKC, who would then take Mara. The Bucks move up two spots, add a first-rounder, and OKC gets its man.
Morez Johnson Jr., PF, Michigan
Mara’s teammate also looks like a strong option at No. 12. Johnson grabbed 10 boards in the national title game and was the more aggressive interior player throughout the tournament. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he brings raw athleticism and energy that play well alongside Jaylin Williams, who got heavy playoff minutes when Jalen Williams was hurt.
Oklahoma City has Kenrich Williams at power forward, but Johnson would immediately upgrade the depth behind him. Multiple outlets have the Thunder taking Johnson here, and the fit is obvious: he doesn’t need the ball to impact a game.
Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
Ament is a long shot. Most projections have him going inside the top 10, so if he drops to 12, it’s a gift. The 6-foot-10 freshman averaged 16.7 points per game and, while he struggled in Tennessee’s March Madness loss to Michigan, his upside is obvious. He can score from multiple levels, space the floor alongside Holmgren, and pass well for a forward his size.
If OKC wanted Ament, they’d probably need to package their first two picks to move up and get him. That’s a real possibility given how aggressive the front office has been. The Thunder could also just sit at No. 12 and see who falls — the draft is deep enough that a quality frontcourt piece should be there.
The Spurs changed the math in the West. Wembanyama is already a force, and San Antonio’s young core is only going to get better. The Thunder have the assets to keep pace. It’s not about whether they add talent. It’s about whether they add the right talent — someone who can match up in a seven-game series with a 7-foot-4 alien who can shoot over anyone.
That answer starts at No. 12.
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