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3 Thunder early 2026 NBA Draft targets with lottery pick they just got from Clippers
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The Oklahoma City Thunder ’s trade of Paul George to the LA Clippers is the gift that keeps giving after their 126-121 Play-In Tournament loss to the Golden State Warriors ended their 2025-26 campaign. By not reaching the playoffs, the Clippers forfeit their first-round pick to the Thunder .
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The defending champion Thunder now has three first-round selections in this year’s draft. Add another asset to Thunder GM Sam Presti’s treasure trove. Assuming Presti doesn’t trade up for a better selection, here are four draftees that could be on the defending champions’ radar, instead of the Clippers, for the No. 12 pick.
Yaxel Lendeborg (SF/Michigan)
After two Michigan products were linked to the Thunder as potential late first-round options, Yaxel Lendeborg could be a viable option at No. 12. Some mocks have Lendeborg, the 24-year-old senior entering this year’s draft, as a projected top-10 pick. The Thunder should consider selecting him if he’s available.
As one of the more seasoned prospects in this year’s draft, Lendeborg made a name for himself as a player who can stuff the stat sheet in scoring, rebounding, and assists. The kind of player who puts forth effort to make a positive impact in any way tends to align well with the Thunder’s identity. Plus, he connected on 37.2% of his 4.5 3-point attempts per game.
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Adding to the intrigue, Lendeborg’s 3-point shooting percentage improved year after year, which could translate to an efficient shooter at the NBA level.
Nate Ament (PF/Tennessee)
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
While Tennessee power forward Nate Ament could be off the board ahead of the Thunder’s first of three first-round picks, he is worth a look at No. 12. Ament would give the Thunder an inside scorer with a bit of size at 6-foot-10. He has a knack for getting to the free-throw line, one of the many improvements he’s made to his game as a freshman.
However, whether Ament makes an impact right away is unknown. Given a one-and-done season at Tennessee, Ament’s ceiling is high. However, he’ll have to work hard to crack coach Mark Daigneault’s frontcourt rotation, led by All-Star Chet Holmgren , Isaiah Hartenstein , Jaylin Williams , and rounded out by Kenrich Williams .
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Ament will have to earn consistent minutes, which isn’t the worst thing in the world when you’re the Thunder, plush with young and established talent, and finished the 2025-26 regular season with the best defense in the NBA.
Hannes Steinbach (PF/C/ Washington )
Hannes Steinbach’s two-way game gives the Thunder a rebounder/rim protector on one end of the floor, and a 3-point shooting threat on the other. He played professionally in Germany before heading to Washington, where he polished his interior scoring and knack for cleaning the glass.
With the frontcourt led by All-Star Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams, Steinbach isn’t a shoo-in for minutes, but he could be worth the wait if and when he grows as a defender and develops his shot. The Thunder are in no rush for an impact player right away, while the end result could be the kind of player the front office envisioned all along.
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