The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have been stockpiling draft picks for years. Their unprecedented rebuilding efforts have led to them developing arguably the most effective roster within the NBA.
The Thunder led the league with 68 wins in 2024-25, and they’re at present enjoying within the NBA Finals. The workforce is properly arrange for the longer term, too. Whether or not they win or lose the championship, they nonetheless have a surplus of future draft capital.
Some latest draft day hits embrace the alternatives of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. In addition they drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka inside a three-year time span.
The workforce hasn’t at all times been so fortunate in relation to the NBA Draft, although. The Thunder had some misses throughout the early days of their rebuild, they usually made some draft-day errors after they have been the Seattle SuperSonics. So try the gallery to see the worst choices and draft busts in Thunder/SuperSonics historical past.
10. Robert Swift – 2004
Robert Swift was drafted twelfth general in 2004. He hardly noticed the ground as a rookie, however he began to point out some promise in 12 months two. The middle, who was drafted straight out of highschool, was lined as much as begin in his third season, however he tore his ACL only one minute into the primary preseason recreation of the 12 months. Swift’s knees by no means recovered, and he was out of the league after 4 seasons.
9. Danny Vranes – 1981
Danny Vranes, the fifth general decide in 1981, was drafted due to his defensive expertise. Whereas he did carry out properly on that finish, his offense by no means developed as anticipated, resulting in an underwhelming profession for the SuperSonics. His offensive limitations prevented him from ever incomes an enormous position together with his workforce.
8. Lucius Allen – 1969
The SuperSonics turned a workforce in 1967. They struggled throughout their first few years of existence, particularly when it got here to drafting expertise close to the highest of the draft and growing children into NBA gamers. Lucius Allen was an instance of the latter organizational flaw. Allen was a double-digit scorer for many of his profession with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, however the Sonics gave up on him after only one underwhelming season with the workforce.
7. Bob Kauffman – 1968
The SuperSonics had the third general decide the 12 months previous to drafting Allen as properly. In 1968, they drafted Bob Kauffman. Like Allen, Seattle gave up on their prized possession after only one season. Kauffman ranks greater right here as a result of his 7.8 factors per recreation in his lone season as a Sonic have been worse than Allen’s 9.8.
The Thunder have had a number of first-round picks in most drafts over the past half-decade. In 2021, they went into draft day with three first-rounders.
They held on to the alternatives that netted Josh Giddey and Tre Mann, however they determined to commerce Alperen Sengun after deciding on him. Giddey and Mann are now not with the workforce, whereas Sengun has develop into an All-Star for the Houston Rockets.
Hindsight has confirmed the choice to be a drastic mistake, nevertheless it was even perplexing on the time as a result of Oklahoma Metropolis desperately wanted a middle in 2021. The draft day commerce netted the Thunder two closely protected future first-round picks, one from the Detroit Pistons and the opposite from the Washington Wizards.
The Thunder ultimately traded each of these picks for the precise to draft Ousmane Dieng in 2022. Dieng has struggled to seek out court docket time since being added to Oklahoma Metropolis’s younger core, and he could quickly discover his means off of the Thunder’s roster.
5. Mitch McGary – 2014
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Regardless of an underwhelming sophomore marketing campaign at Michigan that led to his draft inventory falling, the Thunder took Mitch McGary twenty first general in 2014. McGary’s skilled profession took a success earlier than it may get going as he broke his foot throughout the coaching camp of his rookie season. McGary would additionally ultimately be suspended for failing a drug check, which was a priority groups had earlier than he was drafted. The Michigan product solely lasted 52 video games over two seasons with the Thunder earlier than the workforce waived him.
4. Josh Huestis – 2014
McGary wasn’t Oklahoma Metropolis’s solely first-round mistake in 2014. In addition they drafted Josh Heists eight picks later. He solely performed just a few video games extra (76 video games performed) than his classmate. Huestis ranks as a worse draft choice, although, as a result of the Thunder did not give him a transitional rookie-scale contract after he was drafted.
As a substitute, Huestis performed for Oklahoma Metropolis’s G-League affiliate for a 12 months earlier than coming as much as the massive leagues. It was an unprecedented choice that hasn’t actually been utilized by any workforce throughout the league with first-round picks since.
3. Mouhamed Sene – 2006
Harden was the third decide in 2009. Westbrook was taken fourth general in 2008, and Durant turned arguably the most effective second-overall decide ever after he was drafted in 2007. The latter of these alternatives was made whereas the workforce nonetheless performed in Seattle. In 2006, the SuperSonics did not consider fairly in addition to they’d in years to come back.
Mouhamed Sene was picked tenth that 12 months, and he’d solely rating 100 factors over 2½ seasons with the workforce. The Senegalese 7-footer was uncooked, and he by no means was capable of grow to be an NBA-caliber participant. Had the workforce drafted one other core member in 2006, they might have received the championship that they misplaced in 5 video games in 2012.
2. Cole Aldrich – 2010
Cole Aldrich received a championship in school with Kansas. His collegiate profession included a triple-double with blocks, and the Thunder took him eleventh general after he declared for the draft. Whereas the Thunder did get to the NBA Finals with Aldrich on the roster, the massive man was not productive throughout his time with the workforce. Aldrich scored simply 75 factors in whole throughout his Thunder tenure.
Scottie Pippen received six championships on the most effective dynasty in NBA historical past. He made six All-Star Video games as one of many authentic level forwards and established himself as one of many best defensive gamers ever. He did none of that with the SuperSonics workforce that drafted him fifth general in 1987, although.
The SuperSonics used the Pippen decide to maneuver again within the draft, with the principle piece they got here away with being Olden Polynice. The middle was drafted eighth general and was restricted to order obligation in 4 years with the Sonics.