Thunder Draft Guide: The Case for Dailyn Swain
In part 1 of our draft guide, I made the case for trading one or both of the Thunder's picks, arguing against the strategy of chasing a role player in the lottery. I'm not saying anyone in the draft won't pan out, including those viewed as the safest plug-and-play options in the #12 - #17 range. I am the furthest thing from a draftnik, and won’t pretend to have a prescient read on the skillsets and development paths of anyone on OKC’s radar.
I don't want to place a role player bet using picks so valuable and rare for a championship franchise to possess. For one, I don’t believe in a surefire anything outside of the top-4 in pretty much any draft, regardless of age, stats, character, etc. Spending a top-15 pick hoping someone like Yaxel (more on him below) can hang with the second unit at the 3 or 4 by the time he's 26 just ain’t my jam.
Among the complementary crowd, gimme Brayden Burries or Aday Mara as role+upside picks. But I want the Thunder to select a star player in the loaded 2026 NBA Draft.
As you might glean from the highlighted boxes in my chart above, I like the starpower signals from Hannes Steinbach and Dailyn Swain best. I’d be happy if Presti reached for either at #12. Ironically enough, one or both are considered pretty likely to be available when OKC is making their second selection of the draft. Swain is regularly mocked to Oklahoma City at #17. I haven't seen Steinbach mocked to OKC, but I haven't seen him mocked above #12, either.
Again, what do I know?
Here’s an overview of the consensus prospects in play for Sam Presti—in whom we trust—as the draft draws near.
On the Board: Picks #12 & #17
My pick: Dailyn Swain, Texas
SF | 6'7 | 211lbs | Age (during rookie season): 21
Mocked range: 16-28
Thunder fit: Good size, defense, and secondary creation on the wing.
Outsider take: No Ceilings says Swain has finally unlocked the wing elements the Thunder lacked with Jalen Williams out most of the season: rim pressure, transition juice, defensive versatility, and creation capability.
DT ranking (staff and readers): Higher than consensus.
Swain is the darkhorse darling we can imagine making a real difference when matched up with the big bad Spurs. A force in transition, the 21-year-old became a highly capable secondary scorer throughout his college career (he averaged 17.3 points per game last season).
The most common question asked about draft prospects is relevant for Swain: will his improving shot keep getting better in the pros? He worked up to average numbers in his junior year, but his shooting form dips to the hip and takes longer than Chet cane molasses to release. The signs are still good. Swain has maintained a flat free throw percentage (81.5%) in three years between Xavier and Texas while increasing his volume, usage, and efficiency across the board.
I can't help but over-index on Thunder similarities, which is why Swain gets bonus points for his herky-jerky qualities. Having watched years of SGA constantly appearing off-balance while keeping his footing and finishing the play, I'm a sucker for the way Swain navigates his way through traffic by blending atypical strides to the paint and scoops around the cup. He would have fantastic odds of becoming the Thunder's best Musketeer (Semaj Christon also hailed from Xavier) or our proudest Longhorn (ahead of D.J. Augustin, Royal Ivey, and you know who). Just as important: the Dailyn Thunder jokes would be irresistible.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
F | 6'9 | 241lbs | Age: 24
Mocked range: 10-18 (Note: Golden State picks at #11, one spot ahead of OKC. Yaxel screams Steve Kerr.)
Thunder fit: OKC could use a well rounded, two-way connector that adds to their frontcourt depth.
Daily Thunder ranking: Higher than consensus. Yaxel is the clear favorite for Thunder fans, who envision the 24-year-old as a plug-and-play role player to round out the Thunder’s frontcourt and help answer the Wemby question. He lacks a glaring weakness, and has excelled with and against the very best players in college basketball.
Outsider take: No Ceilings views Yaxel as a pro-ready skeleton key with a high floor.
So why not?
Many smart people believe in Yaxel, and I'll talk myself into him quickly if he ends up in Thunder blue. Playing alongside Mara and Morez as the 3-4 tweener in an imposing fronctourt for the ages, Landeborg racked up defensive accolades and spaced like crazy on offense. Yaxel's shot is among the realest in the draft, and his overall package was the glue that kept Michigan's jaw-dropping offensive rating in the clouds (141.5 during his team-leading minutes). But Mara and Morez Johnson, Jr. (Brandon's target at #12) both had higher usage, scoring, and–the dealbreaker for me–defensive impact.
Daily Thunder Staff
And if you haven't heard, he’s 24! It’s rare to find a player taken this old, this high, who isn’t a precautionary tale. While building this team, Presti has made a habit of adding older, depth-boosting role players in the late first and early second rounds. Lendeborg is barely younger than Ajay Mitchell and Jaylin Williams, second-rounders scooped at a much, much lower premium years ago.
Speaking of Jaylin: J-Will just enjoyed a career year, and his three-ball has held up for three straight playoffs (37.1%). As the Western Conference Finals unfolded, Williams became the most effective big handcuffed to Chet in Wemby's minutes. Isn't that about the best we would hope Yaxel could perform at the 4 anytime soon? He would need to push for wing minutes (a bigger hole for OKC, to be fair) to become a rotation fixture. He is a wide and long defender, attributes that will translate better to the frontcourt on D. I worry his lack of true quicks will be more of a liability against the NBA's explosive wings and guards he'll face night to night.
Hannes Steinbach, Washington
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