15 1st-round picks rich OKC Thunder could pry LA Lakers target away from East seller: Report
NBA insiders touted the OKC Thunder as one of the favorites to dethrone the Boston Celtics this season. Thunder GM Sam Presti sent former mainstay Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls for Alex Caruso to boost the team’s championship hopes. Oklahoma has impressed, but Presti could reportedly continue tinkering with the lineup.
Jake Fischer, senior NBA reporter for Yahoo! Sports, had this to say about a potential move by the Thunder before the trade deadline:
“I have heard Cam Johnson potentially having interest from OKC.”
Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported a few days ago that the Brooklyn Nets are listening to offers for Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith. After the Nets moved Dennis Schroder to the Golden State Warriors, GM Sean Marks is looking to do another rebuilding project.
Based on multiple reports, a handful of teams, including the LA Lakers, are interested in getting one or both from the Nets. Johnson appeals to the OKC Thunder because he can space the floor. The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 18.6 points per game on 48.4% shooting, including 43.3% from deep.
If Oklahoma, which has 15 first-round picks until 2030, is interested, they have an excellent chance to pry Johnson from Brooklyn. The Thunder could offer Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and a first-rounder to make it tough for Nets GM Sean Marks to refuse.
The LA Lakers arguably can’t compete with that kind of offer. They have five precious first-round picks until 2031. If they are using that asset, GM Rob Pelinka will likely use it to lure a superstar.
If the bidding for Cam Johnson soars, the OKC Thunder have more than enough ammunition to get him.
The OKC Thunder could lure a star because of an abundance of first-round picks
The loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup showed that the OKC Thunder needs a boost, particularly another reliable scorer. With Chet Holmgren’s return from pelvic injury uncertain, bringing in another star could solve that problem.
Oklahoma has five first-round picks in the loaded 2025 NBA draft class. Sam Presti could use a couple of those or other future first-rounders to get another star to help Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carry the team.
One such star might be Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans. Ingram becomes an unrestricted free agent so the Pelicans are likely to trade him rather than see him walk away for nothing. If Sam Presti is willing to give the former All-Star a new long-term contract, he has the assets to get the trade done.
Jimmy Butler is another option for the OKC Thunder. Jimmy Buckets could exercise a $52 million player option next season. If he and the Miami Heat can’t agree on a new contract, Presti could bring him from South Beach to Oklahoma.