It’s truly frightening to see just how well the Oklahoma City Thunder have built their roster. Whether it was trading for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and seven draft picks in exchange for Paul George, or signing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency, the Thunder are a model of patience and precision — a team molded by the genius of executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti.
Some might wonder how much better a team with 27 draft picks over the next six years can possibly get, let alone create enough roster spots to give every young player the proper opportunity to develop. But as the Thunder have proven time and time again, the NBA is a business built on tough decisions — and the right ones lead to sustainable winning.
As Oklahoma City looks ahead to the 2026 NBA Draft, Bleacher Report’s latest mock draft has the Thunder selecting Cayden Boozer, the son of two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer.
Cayden, alongside his twin brother Cam Boozer, is beginning his 2025–26 college campaign with the Duke Blue Devils. Both are expected to declare for the draft once eligible. Cam projects as a top-three pick, which likely takes Oklahoma City out of the running for his services. But Cayden, on the other hand, could be an intriguing fit for a Thunder team already known for developing high-IQ, versatile guards.
Through two games with Duke, Boozer is averaging 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in just 20 minutes per contest. The Blue Devils have cruised to double-digit victories in both outings, and Boozer has quietly impressed in his bench role.
“Though not an explosive athlete or shifty self-creator, Boozer can be an efficient, opportunistic scorer who’ll capitalize on open three-point looks and driving lanes while being able to bank on dependable touch on his floaters,” Bleacher Report noted.
As the season progresses, Boozer’s minutes are expected to rise as both he and Duke’s coaching staff work to accelerate his development to an NBA-ready level. Standing 6’4” and 205 pounds, Boozer already boasts the frame and feel for the game that could make him a valuable piece off the bench for the Thunder — especially in a system that emphasizes spacing, ball movement, and discipline.
With Oklahoma City’s proven track record of finding gems in the later stages of the draft — from Isaiah Joe to Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell — Boozer could easily find himself fitting right in with the next generation of Thunder talent.
After all, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can’t play all 48 minutes.
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