Oklahoma City holds two first-round picks in the 2026 draft — No. 12 from the Clippers and No. 17 from Philadelphia — and Bleacher Report projects the Thunder to select Washington’s Hannes Steinbach at No. 12 and Texas’s Dailyn Swain at No. 17, adding frontcourt depth to a core that faces a critical financial reckoning this summer.

OKC’s draft position reflects the asset accumulation from years of trades, most notably the Sixers-related trades that generated the No. 17 pick and the Clippers’ first-rounder that became No. 12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams are set to cost Oklahoma City $123.3 million next season in combined salary — and considerably more in subsequent years — meaning the front office must make financially driven roster decisions soon. Isaiah Hartenstein’s $28.5 million team option is the most obvious casualty.

Steinbach would slot in as Hartenstein’s eventual replacement. The Washington freshman is a 6-foot-11 center with already-elite rebounding ability, functional scoring around and above the rim, and a legitimate touch on mid-range pull-ups that gives OKC options in pick-and-roll coverage. He is probably two years away from being a meaningful rotation contributor, but the Thunder have demonstrated repeatedly that they are willing to invest in developmental projects — their success with Lu Dort and others speaks to their infrastructure.

The player immediately after Steinbach at No. 12 is Labaron Philon Jr., the Alabama guard who goes to Miami at No. 13. Philon is a three-level scorer with improved shooting and creative footwork, though he’s not a traditional athlete. OKC’s selection of Steinbach over Philon reflects a preference for interior presence over additional backcourt depth — a need that becomes more acute if Hartenstein departs.

Swain at No. 17 gives the Thunder a wing who does nearly everything except shoot. The Texas junior is 6-foot-8 with 211 pounds, excellent downhill finishing ability, above-average passing for a slashing wing, and the defensive versatility to guard three positions. Buckley notes that OKC may consider packaging these picks to move up or trade No. 17 for future capital, but if they stay, Swain is a natural fit for the Thunder’s defensively oriented culture.

Outlet	Projected Player
Bleacher Report	Hannes Steinbach
CBS Sports	Yaxel Lendeborg
Tankathon	Yaxel Lendeborg

CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein projects Yaxel Lendeborg to OKC at No. 12 in his most recent mock, with Gary Parrish also placing Lendeborg in the Thunder’s range. Tankathon similarly projects Lendeborg to Oklahoma City at pick 12. The outlet consensus puts Lendeborg — not Steinbach — at this slot, reflecting OKC’s need for frontcourt versatility and Lendeborg’s two-way utility as the primary match.

The financial constraints make these picks particularly important. OKC doesn’t have cap space to go shopping in free agency for Hartenstein’s replacement; the draft is the path. Steinbach provides a low-cost developmental answer at center, and Swain’s versatility gives OKC a wing who can fit immediately into their defensive rotations without disrupting the chemistry around the three star players.

Oklahoma City’s willingness to trust the draft — even when holding a deep, established roster — is the defining characteristic of how Sam Presti manages this franchise. Adding Steinbach and Swain at 12 and 17 keeps that philosophy intact while solving real future needs. Both players fit the mold the Thunder use: long, switchable, physically developed prospects who understand their roles and compete on the defensive end from day one.