Just like that, the basketball world has shifted its focus to the offseason. The New York Knicks will have their moment in the sun as NBA champions, but the rest of the league is ready to play catch-up this summer. The first step to doing that is the 2026 NBA draft.
The two-day event is a little over a week away. It’s the one time franchises everywhere can inject their roster with some youth. That includes the Oklahoma City Thunder. They finished five wins shy of another Larry O’Brien trophy and will return to square one.
Heading into this year’s draft cycle, the Thunder have three draft picks. Let’s take a look at some of the best options at the No. 37 pick:
Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
Part of two blueblood programs, Reed Jr. has all of the college experience you can wish for. He spent his first two years at Michigan and his last two years at UConn. This past year, he broke out as a Huskies starter on a team that went all the way to the national championship. He averaged 14.7 points on 60.7% shooting, nine rebounds and 2.3 assists this past season. He also averaged two blocks. You’re really intrigued by his player profile as a defense-first big man.
Reed Jr. would be a pretty solid choice to beef up your frontcourt. At 6-foot-11, 265 pounds, he gives you another guy you can throw out there that can bang down low. The blocks also stand out. On offense, it’s pretty simple as a roll man who takes most of his shot attempts in the restricted area. Nothing fancy, but a decent play-finisher. I’d be excited if OKC added the 22-year-old.
Alex Karaban, UConn
A throwback to old-school college prospects. Karaban spent four years at UConn as a starter. He helped them win a pair of national championships in 2023 and 2024. As eye-rolling as it sounds, the best way to describe him is a winner. He helps make winning plays. He averaged 13.2 points on 46.4% shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He shot 37.4% from 3 on 5.2 attempts. That’s the one skill that will buy him some time in the NBA.
At 23 years old, there’s not much upside with Karaban. You just hope his college role transfers over to the NBA. Remains to be seen if it can, but doing it on a blueblood like UConn is a good sign of that. You could at least bank on his outside jumper. And the Thunder could always welcome more of that element into their offense. Especially with impending roster decisions.
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
Another four-year college guy. Ejiofor had a forgettable first year at Kansas before transferring to St. John’s. On the Red Storm, he graduated into a starter for his last two years. He averaged 16.3 points on 53.6% shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season. He also averaged 2.1 blocks and 1.2 steals. The defensive side is where he’ll make his money. He’s a defense-first frontcourt tweener who can fight for boards. Not a bad archetype to have on a league-best defense.
I’m skeptical of his role on offense. Ejiofor has a lot to work on that end of the floor. The shooting is pretty nonexistent. At 6-foot-9, 245 pounds, he’s a little undersized to be a lob threat. A lot of his offense will need to come on putback looks or sharp rolls to the rim. We’ll see how much more room the 22-year-old has left to grow, but he’d be a bit of a project.
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
You can never go wrong with a Houston player. Sharp spent four years on the Cougars and was a starter for the last three. Winning at a high clip, he’s another old-school prospect. He went the traditional route of slowly working his way up the rotation. Considering how Houston has been one of the best programs in recent years, thanks to their tough-nosed defense, that’s a plus for him. He averaged 15.5 points on 41.3% shooting and three rebounds last season.
More importantly, though, Sharp shot 37.2% from 3 on 7.1 attempts. That’s some crazy volume at the college level. You’re pretty confident that translates over to the NBA. To play in Houston, you need to be a plus-defender. That’s what he is with 1.2 steals per game. If he can compete on that end of the floor and hit his outside shots, then the 22-year-old can carve out a pro career.
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Flying under the radar, Martinelli had a retro rise to get here. He was a four-year player at Northwestern. Eventually, he became a full-time starter in his final two seasons. He rewarded the Wildcats by being an upper-echelon college scorer. He became a 20-point machine. This past year, he averaged 23 points on 51% shooting, 6.2 rebounds and two assists. He shot 41.7% from 3 on 3.3 attempts.
I know basic college stats have become taboo in recent years, but Martinelli’s production is too good to ignore. To put up 20-plus points on solid efficiency at a Big Ten school is something to brag about. The 22-year-old also has room to grow as an outside shooter. He’s an offensive hub who you hope can downsize in his role at the next level. Remains to be seen if that can happen, but worth the flyer.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: 2026 NBA draft big board: Who makes sense for OKC Thunder at No. 37?
