Thunder lack picks

General manager Sam Presti parted with Oklahoma City’s first-round selection as a part of the Dion Waiters trade, a three-team deal that sent Lance Thomas, along with some other pieces, to the Knicks and Iman Shmpert and J.R.

The Thunder possibly figured they would end up losing the first-rounder they gave up in the Cleveland-New York deal last year, since it was only top-18 protected for the 2015 draft.

That means if the pick fell within the first 18 selections of the draft, the Thunder got to keep it, and it would roll over to the next year.

The pick was only top-15 protected for the 2016 season, which means that after a 55-win campaign the Thunder will officially give away their first-rounder for Thursday’s draft.

The Thunder have no second-round pick, either after losing that one in the Randy Foye trade this past February.

Those deals left the Thunder without any picks in either round of the upcoming draft, and unless they end up finding a clever way to trade for an extra one come Thursday, they won’t be picking until next season.