A CBS Sports analysis explores what would happen if the Oklahoma City Thunder traded their entire roster in a fictional blow-up scenario. The exercise, set in the summer of 2026, concludes the team could acquire 28 first-round picks. This thought experiment highlights the value of OKC's young core despite their dominant 15-1 start.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are off to a 15-1 start in the 2025-26 season, boasting one of the NBA's youngest rosters while their second-best player, Jalen Williams, recovers from wrist surgery. Despite this success, a hypothetical analysis considers the unthinkable: trading the entire roster to maximize first-round draft picks.
Ground rules for the scenario include trades occurring in summer 2026, when extensions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren allow easier deals. Nikola Topić and Thomas Sorber are excluded due to injuries and lack of NBA experience. The focus is solely on acquiring picks, with salary matching via players who could be flipped for more selections.
Trading the Stars
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander heads to the Houston Rockets for Phoenix's unprotected 2027 first-round pick, the better of Brooklyn or Houston's 2027 pick, the two best of Dallas, Phoenix, and Houston's 2029 picks, and Houston's unprotected 2031 and 2033 picks. To match his $40.8 million salary, Houston sends Fred VanVleet, Clint Capela, and Reed Sheppard; the latter flips to Dallas for their 2031 and 2033 picks, totaling eight picks.
Jalen Williams goes to Brooklyn for six picks: Brooklyn's 2028, 2030, and 2032 own picks, and New York's 2027, 2029, and 2031 picks, bringing the total to 14.
Chet Holmgren trades to Chicago for Chicago's 2027, 2029, 2031, and 2033 picks, plus Portland's lottery-protected pick conveyable through 2028, reaching 19 picks. Patrick Williams matches salary.
Trading Role Players
Cason Wallace moves to Milwaukee for their 2031 and 2033 picks. Ajay Mitchell goes to Toronto for top-four protected 2027 and 2029 picks, totaling 23.
Remaining deals: Alex Caruso to the Lakers for top-four protected 2031; Isaiah Hartenstein to New Orleans for top-four protected 2028; Lu Dort to Charlotte for Miami's 2027 lottery-protected pick; Aaron Wiggins to Indiana for lottery-protected 2027; Isaiah Joe to Utah for top-four protected 2027 Lakers pick.
This yields 28 first-round picks through 2033, potentially giving OKC up to 42 total selections in eight drafts, including 10 in 2027. The analysis emphasizes this is purely fictional, as the Thunder have no need to rebuild.