The Oklahoma City Thunder have been staying busy ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft, recently trading wing Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for two future second-round draft picks. The Thunder have multiple picks in the first round this year but have reportedly been trying to move up into the top ten in order to draft a better prospect, with the Dallas Mavericks coming up as a potential suitor to help them get there.
Recently, ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel reported on some possible names that Sam Presti and Oklahoma City could pursue if they indeed move up.
“…rival teams (are) expecting that (Aday) Mara and (Nate) Ament are their top two targets in such a scenario. After trading Wiggins to Atlanta on Sunday night, it makes sense that the Thunder would want to find another young wing like Ament to spend time developing behind the scenes on a rookie contract.”
Wiggins largely fell out of the Thunder rotation this year due to the emergence of Ajay Mitchell and the trade for Jared McCain, but his vacancy still opens up a new roster spot on the wing that Ament, a talented freshman from Tennessee, could potentially fill.
Mara is also an intriguing player in this draft, having impressed scouts at the combine with his combination of size, speed, and versatility, and would certainly give the Thunder another big body to throw at San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in a future playoff rematch.
At this point, it wouldn’t appear likely that the Thunder are going to play any rookie too many minutes next year, but for a team that got to this level by prioritizing player development and savvy asset management, a trade could be a smart play over the long haul for Oklahoma City.
The post Thunder rumors: 2 top trade-up targets in 2026 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.
