The Oklahoma City Thunder are up to something again. That’s usually the case when Sam Presti has a pile of draft picks and a roster that already looks scary good. This time, it’s the 2026 NBA Draft, and the Thunder have been working the phones to turn multiple first-round picks into one really good one.
They already made one move, sending wing Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two future second-rounders. That cleared a roster spot and opened up some flexibility. But the bigger story is that league sources are starting to connect dots on who Oklahoma City might target if they can jump into the top ten. The Dallas Mavericks have been mentioned as a possible trade partner to help them get there.
According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, two names keep coming up in conversations around the league: Nate Ament and Aday Mara.
The Wing and the Big Man
Ament is a freshman wing from Tennessee. He’s exactly the kind of long, skilled player the Thunder love to draft, stick in the G League for a bit, and turn into a rotation piece two years later. With Wiggins out of the picture and Ajay Mitchell plus Jared McCain eating minutes, there’s room on that wing for a rookie who doesn’t need to play right away. Ament fits that profile. He can shoot, defend multiple positions, and has the frame to fill out. The Thunder’s development track record speaks for itself.
Mara is the more intriguing name for a different reason. He’s a big man who showed off serious size and surprising mobility at the combine. Scouts came away impressed. For a team that might have to go through Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in the playoffs one day, having another big body in the pipeline isn’t just smart. It’s almost necessary. Mara could be that guy.
The Thunder aren’t exactly desperate for minutes. This team is deep. Any rookie they draft is probably looking at single-digit minutes per game next season, at best. But Presti built this entire thing on patient development and smart asset plays. If he thinks Ament or Mara is worth the cost of moving up, history says he’ll probably make the move. It might not pay off next year. It might not even pay off the year after. But Oklahoma City plays the long game better than just about anyone.
The Mavericks pick at No. 9 right now. That’s a spot where either guy could be available. It’s going to cost the Thunder something real to get there. But they’ve got the picks and they’ve got the track record. Now we just wait and see if Presti pulls the trigger.
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