THE 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place later this month, with the next crop of potential superstars set to join the world’s most prestigious basketball league.

With plenty of hype around the talent in the 2023 draft class, thanks to a French phenom locked in as the number-one pick and lots of depth later down the order, June 23 (AEST) will change the future of the league in a big way.

Rookie Me Central will be continuing the NBA Draft Team Preview series, taking a look at each participating side’s draft hand and some potential options at each selection. The next club on the agenda is the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder have steadily built one of the most exciting young rosters in the NBA over the past three seasons, and stunned the league by almost making the postseason during 2022/23.

Although they still look a couple of seasons away from truly competing, they will head into the draft with the opportunity to add even more quality young talent to their list and continue to build a roster that will develop into an elite list in years to come.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Draft selections

12, 37, 50

Contracted players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Chet Holmgren, Josh Giddey, David Nwaba (team option), Ousmane Dieng, Jalen Williams, Aleksej Pokusevski, Tre Mann, Lindy Waters III (team option), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Kenrich Williams, Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins

The Thunder received plenty of draft capital in the Paul George trade back in 2019, and have used it to build an extremely promising young list, and should do so at the 2023 draft later this month.

With the 12th pick, the Thunder could pair Holmgren (who will be making his NBA debut this season after missing the 2022/23 fixture through injury) with fellow big man Dereck Lively II.

Although both lack a bit of muscle for centers, the pair could become one of the most emphatic defensive frontcourts in the competition. He would also combine well with Giddey, who would be able to get the most out of Lively’s limited offensive game through pick and roll actions and lobs to the hoop.

Another option with pick 12 could be Cason Wallace, who would be a nice fit next to the pieces already assembled on Oklahoma City’s list. Bringing shooting, playmaking and defensive versatility to the table, the guard would slot in well next to Giddey and Gilgeous-Alexander, demonstrating that he does not need too much ball usage to make an impact.

With the Thunder’s 37th pick, the team could target a wing defender such as Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who would combine well with Dort to make life difficult for some of the opposition’s best guards and forwards. Players of Prosper’s mould are always in high demand, and he may be off the board by the time Oklahoma City’s final pick comes around.

The 50th pick may depend on who is available when that selection comes around, but one name that may still be on the board is Seth Lundy. Although he may be a bit older than his peers in this draft class, the guard has shown enough to contribute at NBA level in a number of ways, and could be a solid addition late in the draft.

The Thunder have found plenty of success at the draft in recent years, and seem well-placed to continue that trend in 2023.