The OKC Thunder has three picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, which will be from June 23-24.
OKC owns picks No. 12 (via the Los Angeles Clippers), No. 17 (via the Philadelphia 76ers) and No. 37 (via the Dallas Mavericks). It’s looking to add to a roster that reached the Western Conference Finals this past season.
There’s a chance that the Thunder doesn’t use all three picks since roster spots are limited. It could package some to move up in the draft or trade for future picks.
But in this article, we’ll look at five prospects OKC could select with pick No. 12:
Who should Thunder select with No. 12 pick in 2026 NBA Draft?
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Ament fits a player prototype that every team is looking for. He’s a 6-foot-10 forward with a 6-11.5 wingspan, and he’s a capable ball handler and shooter. Of course, his game still needs to be polished. The 19-year-old wasn’t efficient in his lone season at Tennessee, going 39.9% from the field and 33.3% from deep, and he isn’t a very aggressive finisher around the rim. But OKC develops young talent as well as any team in the NBA, and it could have a gem on its hands if it can maximize Ament’s potential.
Aday Mara, Michigan
Mara is another prospect with elite measurements. He’s a 7-3 center who boasts a 7-6 wingspan and a 9-9 standing reach. That alone is enough to get a team’s attention, especially an OKC team that just had its hands full defending San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama. And while Mara could certainly help in that matchup with his rim protecting and rebounding, there’s also an impressive level of skill to his game. He has good floor vision and passing skills at his position. Mara still needs to get stronger and be more physical, but the potential is there.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
OKC’s wings are really guards who can size up defensively, from Lu Dort to Jalen Williams to Alex Caruso. It could use someone with more traditional size, and Lendeborg could be that guy. He’s a 6-9 forward with a 7-3.25 wingspan, and he can defend multiple positions. Lendeborg is also a great connecting piece on offense, capable of making passes and spacing the floor. He even shot 52.9% from 3-point range in his last 11 college games. Lendeborg is 23, but that shouldn’t deter an OKC team that has plenty of young talent. He’s someone who could plug in and play right away.
Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
Johnson is another intriguing Michigan product. He’s a bit undersized as a 6-9 forward/center, but he makes up for that with a 7-3.5 wingspan. He also has a valuable combination of speed and strength, making him a switchable defender. Johnson is mostly a play finisher on offense. He’s a rim runner and a putback pro, which helped him shoot 62.3% from the field as a sophomore last season. Johnson is still working on extending his range and reading the floor better with his passes, but his defensive versatility and energy would make him a good fit in OKC.
Hannes Steinbach, Washington
Steinbach is a bruising big man who averaged 11.8 rebounds as a freshman last season, which led all Division I players. He’s immovable down low, and that also helps him finish around the rim with good efficiency. But Steinbach isn’t all brute force. He has solid mobility, good touch and even some upside as a floor spacer. The latter will be a key part of his development, along with becoming a better rim protector. Still, his work on the glass could help an OKC team that has struggled in that department, and his offensive skills at that size are promising.
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who should OKC Thunder select with No. 12 pick in 2026 NBA Draft?
