2023–24 Oklahoma City Thunder season

Cason Wallace was selected 10th overall and was later traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club
1	12	Dereck Lively II	C	United States	Duke
2	37	Hunter Tyson	SF	United States	Clemson
2	50	Keyontae Johnson	SG	United States	Kansas State
Cason Wallace was later traded to the Thunder via Dallas Mavericks

The Thunder had one first-round pick and two second-round picks entering the draft. Their sole first-round pick had a 1.7% chance to win the first overall pick and a 8.1% chance to jump in the top four after losing the tiebreaker with the Chicago Bulls for the eleventh best odds.[8] Sam Presti represented the Thunder in the lottery drawing room while Nick Collison represented the Thunder at the draft lottery for the second consecutive year. Since retiring, Collison has served a position within the Thunder's front office, recently being named an amateur evaluation scout.[9][10] With an 85.2% chance at staying at twelfth, the Thunder ended the night with the 12th overall pick.[11] After the lottery, the order of the Thunder's two second-round picks were revealed. Due to the San Antonio Spurs picking ahead of the Houston Rockets in the draft, the Thunder's second-round pick that would have been conveyed from the Portland Trail Blazers at 35th overall, was instead conveyed to the Boston Celtics. The Thunder instead, acquired the 50th overall pick from the Miami Heat.[12] The Thunder's other second-round pick, originally from the Washington Wizards via New Orleans Pelicans from the Steven Adams trade, landed at 37th overall.[13]

On draft night, the Thunder traded the draft rights to Dereck Lively II, the 12th overall pick, to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the draft rights to Cason Wallace, the 10th overall pick, and Dāvis Bertāns. Coming out of Kentucky after his freshman year, Wallace averaged 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals - landing him on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Wallace gained recognition for his elite defense, drawing comparisons to Jrue Holiday as a two-way combo guard who can disrupt opposing guards and can offensively make the right play.[14] The Thunder then traded the draft rights to Hunter Tyson, the 37th overall pick, and the least favorable of the Thunder's 2024 first-round picks to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a future protected 2029 first-round pick. With the 50th pick, the Thunder drafted Keyontae Johnson out of Kansas State. Johnson played his first four years with Florida before collapsing on the court after suffering a heart inflammation. Transferring to Kansas State, Johnson averaged 17.4 points and 6.8 rebounds on 51.4% shooting. Described as a fundamentally sound two-way player, Johnson averaged 38.9% on his 3-point attempts in addition to being effective on defense with opponents shooting 32.6% with Johnson as the primary defender.[15]

The Thunder ended 2023 NBA draft night with Kentucky guard Cason Wallace and Kansas State guard Keyontae Johnson.[16] During the Thunder's 2023 Draft Class Press Conference, general manager Sam Presti confirmed that Johnson will be one of the Thunder's two-way contract players headed into the season, which he later signed on July 7.[17][18]

Vasilije Micić was signed to a multi-year contract.

For this offseason, free agency began on June 30, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. EST. Dario Šarić was set to hit unrestricted free agency while two-way players Jared Butler and Olivier Sarr were set to hit restricted free agency. In addition, Lindy Waters III had an upcoming team option and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl held a non-guaranteed contract with the team heading into the season.[19] On June 29, the Thunder declined Lindy Waters III's team option worth $1.9 million. Waters III started with the Thunder on a two-way contract before being converted into a standard contract. In two seasons, Waters III averaged 6.3 points while shooting 36% from three on 4.7 attempts.[20] However on August 18, the Thunder re-signed Waters III to a two-way contract after losing Butler in free agency.[21] The Thunder also declined to extend a qualifying offer to Jared Butler and Olivier Sarr, making them both an unrestricted free agent.[22] However on August 21, the Thunder re-signed Sarr to another two-way contract.[23] On June 30, the Thunder guaranteed Jeremiah Robinson-Earl's contract worth $1.9 million. Since being drafted in 2021, Robinson-Earl averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in two seasons with the Thunder.[24]

On July 1, it was reported that Vasilije Micić agreed to a three-year, $23.5 million contract with the Thunder, which he later signed on July 17.[25][26] The Thunder included a team option on Micić's third year in his contract.[27] Originally drafted in 2014 by the Philadelphia 76ers, Micić's draft rights were traded to the Thunder in 2020 as part of the Al Horford trade.[28] Playing in the EuroLeague, Micić developed as one of the top players, winning back-to-back EuroLeague titles, being named the EuroLeague MVP in 2021, and winning the EuroLeague Final Four MVP twice in 2021 and 2022. In his last season with Anadolu Efes, Micić averaged 16.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists on 43.5% shooting. On July 1, it was reported that Jack White agreed to a two-year contract with the Thunder, which he later signed on July 20 after the Thunder waived Rudy Gay.[29][30] White joins the Thunder after winning an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals. However on October 22, the Thunder waived White to finalize their regular season roster.[31]

On July 6, the Thunder acquired Victor Oladipo, a 2029 second-round pick, and a 2030 second-round pick from the Miami Heat in exchange for cash considerations. The Thunder absorbed Oladipo's $9.45 million expiring contract into cap room while the Heat generated a $9.45 million trade exception.[32] Oladipo, who previously played for the Thunder in the 2016–17 season, suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee during the 2023 NBA playoffs and was traded by the Heat for some financial flexibility due to being over the tax threshold for the season.[33] On July 8, the Thunder acquired Patty Mills, a 2024 second-round pick, a 2029 second-round pick, and a 2030 second-round pick from the Houston Rockets as a part of a broader five-team trade, in which the Thunder will send cash considerations to the Atlanta Hawks.[34] The Thunder then re-routed Mills to the Hawks in exchange for Usman Garuba, Rudy Gay, and TyTy Washington Jr., and a 2026 second-round pick. Recent first-round picks, Garuba and Washington Jr. arrived to the Thunder after being traded by the Houston Rockets to the Hawks as part of the Dillon Brooks five-team trade.[35] However on August 18, the Thunder waived TyTy Washington Jr.[36] The Thunder then waived Usman Garuba three days later on August 21.[37]

On October 17, the Thunder acquired Kevin Porter Jr. a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.[38] However, Porter Jr. would be waived after being arrested for his domestic assault charge during the offseason.[39]

Following the Washington Wizards' hiring of Michael Winger, Will Dawkins joined the Wizards as the team's general manager.[40] Joining the Thunder in 2008, Dawkins oversaw the Thunder's scouting department for three years before joining the front office. Starting off as an intern, Dawkins served as one of the vice president of basketball operations, sharing the title with Rob Hennigan. Dawkins's promotion marks the fifth assistant under general manager Sam Presti who went onto become a general manager.[41] During the Thunder's 2023 Draft Press Conference, Presti said Hennigan would remain as the only vice president of basketball operations for the season following Dawkins' departure.[42]

On July 19, the Thunder announced that head coach Mark Daigneault signed a multi-year contract extension.[43] Starting off as the head coach for the 2020–21 season, Daigneault had a 16-win improvement in the 2022–23 season where the Thunder ultimately finished with a 40–42 record, including a play-in game victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Daigneault would later finish second in the 2023 NBA Coach of the Year voting.

During an offseason workout, Aleksej Pokuševski sustained a small right humerus fracture and would be re-evaluated in approximately four to six weeks. Pokuševski missed 38 games including the Thunder's two play-in games last season.[44]

Salt Lake City

The Thunder will participate in the 2023 Salt Lake City Summer League alongside the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Philadelphia 76ers. This marks the second straight year the Thunder will participate in the round-robin showcase. On July 1, the Thunder announced their summer league roster for Salt Lake City which notably featured Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Ousmane Dieng, Keyontae Johnson, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Jaylin Williams.[45] Rookie Cason Wallace, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks, will not participate due to the trade not being official until July 6.[46]

Las Vegas

The Thunder will participate in the 2023 Las Vegas Summer League following a 2–1 record in the Salt Lake City Summer League. Rookie Cason Wallace was eligible to participate after missing Salt Lake City Summer League due to his trade. After being acquired by the Thunder, TyTy Washington Jr. was added to the summer league roster for the final two games.[47]

Source: Spotrac

This will be the first regular season where all the NBA teams will compete in a mid-season tournament setting due to the implementation of the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament.[48][49] During the in-season tournament period, the Thunder will compete in Group C of the Western Conference, which will include the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and San Antonio Spurs.

• On October 27, 2023, Chet Holmgren recorded a Thunder rookie record with 7 blocks against the Cleveland Cavaliers, surpassing his teammate Aleksej Pokuševski.[50]

^ a: Lindy Waters III had his team option declined and was later signed to a two-way contract.[21]