Recapping a busy draft night for the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti is on a mission to acquire as many first-round draft picks possible, no he does not intend to use all the picks to select players, they are simply assets a rebuilding team can use to move up for a higher pick or package for a disgruntled star.
Regardless of how OKC plans to use the copious amount of draft picks over the next several years, there will be no shortage as the team now possesses an astounding possible 17 first-rounders.
One of their latest picks comes via a reported deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers reportedly sent Oklahoma City a future 2025 first-round pick, a second-round pick in the 2020 draft – it was the 34th overall pick, which became Theo Maledon – and big man Al Horford in exchange for Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson.
The Sixers are sending a lightly-protected 2025 first-round pick and the 34th overall pick in tonight's draft, sources tell ESPN. The Thunder are also sending Terrance Ferguson to the Sixers with Green. https://t.co/sDCfPo4T4L
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 18, 2020
This is an excellent deal for the Oklahoma City Thunder because they generated another first-round pick and they were finally able to move on from Terrance Ferguson who has various legal issues and court cases. Needless to say, it was past time to deal T-Ferg. As a side note, according to Bobby Marks, the deal will likely be delayed until December 8, 2020.
Wheeling and Dealing
Oklahoma City was not done there, throughout the evening, the Thunder made an additional two deals. Swapping the 53rd pick (Cassius Winston) for the 37th pick (Vit Krejci) via the Washington Wizards. Additionally in the deal, OKC gained Wizards second-year big man Admiral Schofield.
Perhaps, one of the largest trades of the entire evening involved the Thunder as well, OKC moved picks 25 and 28 along with the recently acquired Ricky Rubio in exchange the Thunder garnered the 17th overall pick (Aleksej Pokusevski).
All in all the Thunder had a busy night and it is far too early if to know how many if any of these prospects will become productive players for the franchise or in the league in general.