Thunder predicted to add lottery pick to already loaded roster originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
People laugh when it comes to the Oklahoma City Thunder building a dynasty, if they aren't already one, if they win another title this year, but the unfortunate reality for people who aren't fans of the Thunder is that Oklahoma City is in as good of a spot as any team in the league due to the assets it has landed in recent years.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhen examining what that could mean for them in the NBA Draft, Jonathan Wasserman currently has one of their picks as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, predicting the Thunder to select Jayden Quaintance, a forward out of the University of Kentucky.“Last February's ACL tears complicate projections for Jayden Quaintance. We have seen him getting in on-court work before games, which should at least mean he's progressing toward an eventual return...
“While he still has to improve his shooting range and overall half-court creation, he'll offer the type of functional physical tools, instincts and potential skill set that can translate to scoring efficiency and a special defensive impact in the NBA,” he wrote.
Standing at 6-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Quaintance has an opportunity to be an above-average player in the NBA.
It might sound crazy considering he'd be the No. 8 pick, but there's no guarantee that a youngster will get any minutes in Oklahoma City. That's ultimately something the Thunder will have to consider here.
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