What were OKC Thunder's NBA Draft Lottery odds during the Durant-Westbrook-Harden rebuild?
The Oklahoma City Thunder have never had the top pick in the NBA Draft. This factoid extends beyond just the franchise's time in OKC, going back to when the team was based in Seattle. Still, the organization has been able to select great players, including during their move to the Sooner state. At that time, the franchise was in the middle of a rebuild, much as they are today. Going into the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery, the Thunder have an 11.5% chance at the No. 1 pick. They also have a 25% chance at two top-five picks thanks to the terms of a trade with Houston, as well as a 45.1% chance at one top-four pick and about a 75% chance at landing at least one top-five pick. Future first rounds:A list of OKC Thunder's future draft picks in the next 7 NBA Drafts  Looking back, the team has had better chances at the top pick but were oftentimes able to secure more complete players than those who "won" the lottery. 2007 NBA Draft Lottery percentage: 8.8%  In 2007, the then Seattle SuperSonics posted a 31-51 record under new Oklahoma City ownership led by Clay Bennett. The team ended up with an 8.8% chance at the top pick. In the end, the top pick went to the Portland Trail Blazers, who only had 5.3% chance at the selection. The Blazers took Greg Oden, whose NBA career ended up being derailed by injuries. The Thunder, however, picked up a franchise player and future Hall-of-Famer in Kevin Durant second-overall. 'You have no control over it. ':Length of Thunder rebuild up to luck of NBA Draft Lottery  The Sonics also traded for Jeff Green during the draft, a player the Boston Celtics picked 5th overall. The trade brought Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West to Seattle and Ray Allen and Glen Davis to Boston. 2008 NBA Draft Lottery percentage: 19.9%  In 2008, the Sonics finished dead last in the Western Conference with a 20-62 record during their final season in Seattle. This resulted in the team securing the second-best odds at the top pick (19.9%) behind the worst team in the league that season, the Miami Heat. The Heat had a 25% chance at the top overall pick. Since 2019, the lottery odds have been flattened so the bottom three teams instead all have a 14% chance at the pick. Despite those odds, the Chicago Bulls won the top pick with 1.9% odds. They selected Derrick Rose. The Heat won the second pick, choosing Michael Beasley. The soon-to-be Thunder chose fourth, picking Russell Westbrook. 'I'm blessed, good and lucky':'Nazr Mohammed to represent Thunder at NBA Draft Lottery  In another first-round trade, the Thunder selected Serge Ibaka 24th overall in exchange for a 2010 second-round draft pick. The trade also gave OKC a 2010 first-round pick. 2009 NBA Draft Lottery percentage: 11.9%  After a 23-59 inaugural season in OKC, the Thunder had the fourth-best odds at the top pick, but a slightly higher probability at the top pick than they do in 2021 (11.5%). University of Oklahoma star Blake Griffin was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers during that draft. The Thunder chose third, selecting James Harden. Dig deeper:Top-5 NBA Draft picks far from slam dunks, but Thunder GM Sam Presti has sterling record  The Thunder also made moves toward the bottom of the first round during this draft, too. This included securing the rights to 24th overall pick Byron Mullens in exchange for Rodrigue Beaubois and a 2010 second-round draft pick, a part of a deal that helped bring Ibaka to OKC during the prior year. Following that draft, the Thunder posted 11-straight winning season before finishing second-to-last in the conference during the shortened 2020-21 season.