A new 2027 NBA mock draft projects the Oklahoma City Thunder to select four players within the top 35 picks, a potential infusion of young talent as the team's core grows more expensive. This comes as the Thunder handle the 2026 preseason, most recently falling 116-89 to the Houston Rockets in a preseason contest on October 15. The team's focus remains on the immediate campaign, but General Manager Sam Presti's collection of future draft capital from the LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and San Antonio Spurs provides significant optionality.
The mock draft slots Slovenian wing Stefan Joksimovic to OKC with the fifth overall pick. At 6-foot-7, the 19-year-old offers size and a versatile skill set that fits the Thunder's prototype. He averaged 10.2 points and 3.3 rebounds for the Slovenian senior national team in recent FIBA World Cup qualifiers. His standout performance came at the 2026 FIBA U18 EuroBasket, where he put up 23.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
At pick 25, the projection has Oklahoma City selecting VCU freshman Sammy Jackson. The 6-foot-7, 210-pound former four-star recruit is an under-the-radar prospect who could rise with a strong collegiate season. French forward Hugo Yimga-Moukouri is the pick at 29. The 6-foot-8 prospect, who turns 19 after the draft, averaged 17.3 points and 5.6 rebounds at the same U18 EuroBasket tournament.
With the 35th pick, the mock has the Thunder taking Vanderbilt point guard Tyler Tanner. Tanner tested the 2026 draft waters after a breakout sophomore year where he averaged 19.5 points and 5.1 assists. His size, measured at just under 5-foot-11 without shoes at the NBA Combine, is a noted consideration for evaluators.
These projections highlight the Thunder's strategic positioning beyond the current season. As stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander secure max contracts and other key players see their salaries rise, adding cost-controlled talent through the draft is essential for sustaining a championship window. Presti's history of identifying and developing international players makes the links to Joksimovic and Yimga-Moukouri particularly logical.
Owning multiple first-round picks gives the front office tremendous flexibility. They can use them to draft and develop, or package assets in a trade for a proven star when the timing is right. This long-term asset management occurs alongside the day-to-day work of building chemistry in the present.
The immediate focus is squarely on the 2026-27 NBA season and finalizing the rotation. The team's preseason schedule has provided mixed results, including a 114-112 win over the Indiana Pacers on October 13 and narrow losses to the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. Their next test is a road preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 20.
While a mock draft three years out is speculative, it shows the sustained pipeline of talent Oklahoma City is building. The organization's ability to develop players like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams gives credence to the idea that future picks, wherever they land, will enter a system designed to maximize their potential. The balance between competing now and planning for later is a constant challenge, but one the Thunder's front office is built to handle.
