The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t walk into the 2026 NBA Draft needing a savior. They walked in needing puzzle pieces. And Sam Presti, as he usually does, found some.
After a 64-18 regular season that felt like a victory lap, a second straight MVP from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and a Western Conference Finals loss to a San Antonio team that just wouldn’t back down, the Thunder had two clear holes. They needed more size behind Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. And they needed another guy who could run the offense when defenses sold out to stop SGA. That was the shopping list. They stuck to it.
Let’s walk through each pick.
Pick No. 12: Aday Mara, Michigan
Grade: A-
Mara is a legit 7-foot-3 with a wingspan that makes him look like he’s wearing a custom Halloween costume. He’s not fast laterally. That’s the knock. But the Thunder don’t ask their bigs to switch everything. They rotate, they communicate, they protect each other. Inside that system, Mara’s length and his ability to pass from the high post become real weapons.
He’s not going to create his own shot. He doesn’t have to. Playing with Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Holmgren means he can focus on setting screens, finishing around the rim, and keeping the ball moving. Getting that kind of size and feel outside the top ten? That’s value.
Pick No. 16: Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Grade: A
Presti traded up for this one. He sent two future second-rounders and Ebuka Okorie to Memphis to grab Stirtz. That tells you something about how badly they wanted him.
During the conference finals, the Thunder’s offense got stagnant when SGA had to do everything late in the clock. Williams being out for 49 games with that hamstring issue hurt, obviously, but even when he’s healthy, you can’t have just two guys who can reliably run an offense in a playoff series. Stirtz fixes that. He’s smart in pick-and-roll, doesn’t force passes, doesn’t hunt bad shots. He processes quickly. He’s the kind of second-unit floor general who makes everyone around him better.
And he fits the culture. Unselfish. Prioritizes the pass. That stuff matters in OKC.
Pick No. 41: Otega Oweh, Kentucky
Grade: B+
Oklahoma City bought this pick from Miami. Standard Presti move. Cash considerations and a second-rounder for a guy who might actually play.
Oweh is a defensive pest. He’ll chase ball-handlers all night and he doesn’t back down from anybody. That’s a skill that translates immediately. His jumper is inconsistent, but the Thunder developmental staff has a good track record. Even if the shot never fully comes around, his athleticism and his ability to guard multiple positions make him a candidate for the rotation.
Getting that kind of defensive tool in the second round is just good business.
Overall Grade
Final: A-
Nobody in this draft is going to walk in and take over games. That was never the plan. Mara gives them a different look up front. Stirtz gives them a steady hand off the bench. Oweh gives them a guy who can guard. All three get to develop in a winning environment with elite veterans showing them the way.
Presti didn’t chase headlines. He chased fit. And for a team with a championship window that’s already wide open, that’s the right approach.
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