Oklahoma City got bounced from the Western Conference Finals in seven games by Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. That loss stung, especially for a team that started the regular season 24-1 and looked like a dynasty in the making. So Thunder GM Sam Presti went into the 2026 NBA Draft with a clear mission: fix the problems that got exposed.
He did it without making a splashy trade. Instead, Presti made two methodical moves that could reshape how OKC matches up with San Antonio going forward.
The first pick at No. 12 was Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 center from UCLA who just won a national title and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. Mara is not a finished product, but he’s exactly the kind of rim protector the Thunder needed after watching Wembanyama take over the conference finals. Chet Holmgren is already elite on that end. Isaiah Hartenstein held his own. But adding another 7-footer with plus-length and defensive instincts gives Oklahoma City options it didn’t have in that series.
“Talking about rim protection,” Mara said after being drafted, “I think playing with Chet could be great for the team.”
Mara also made it clear he’s aware of the rivalry that’s already forming. “Obviously I’m going to play against him a lot, whether it’s in the NBA or for the national team. I’m excited.”
The Thunder’s second move was more subtle but just as smart. Presti traded down from pick No. 17 to No. 16 with the Grizzlies, attaching two future second-round picks to grab Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 49 percent on catch-and-shoot threes last season and knocked down 52 percent of his contested threes. That’s not a typo.
Stirtz is basically a direct upgrade on Isaiah Joe in the areas where Joe struggled against the Spurs — specifically on-ball defense. The Spurs ran five-out lineups with Castle, Fox, Vassell, Harper, and Wembanyama that forced Daigneault to bench Joe in favor of Caruso, Wallace, and Dort. Stirtz gives them a shooter who can also hold up one-on-one on the perimeter.
The timing of these moves matters too. Next season is the last one before Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams start their max contracts. After that, the Thunder become a second-apron tax team with tighter restrictions on trades and signings. Presti moved Aaron Wiggins for future picks and opened roster spots now, knowing that flexibility disappears soon.
Hartenstein has a $28.5 million team option this summer, and while the Thunder want him back, Mara gives them insurance. If Hartenstein opts out or gets restructured into something longer-term, OKC still has a young center developing behind him.
And don’t forget Ajay Mitchell. His breakout season got derailed by injuries in the playoffs, but he’s expected back fully healthy. Pair him with McCain, Stirtz, Wallace, and Caruso, and the Thunder suddenly have a bench that can shoot and defend — exactly what was missing against San Antonio.
Presti didn’t panic after the conference finals loss. He didn’t trade Holmgren or shake up the core. He just added two rookies who fill specific holes. Mara to body up Wembanyama. Stirtz to guard the Spurs’ guards and hit open threes. Whether it works is a question for next spring. But the logic is sound.
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