Oklahoma City Thunder holds good cards

Owning five first-round picks in the next two drafts, Thunder general manager Sam Presti owns several tradable commodities. The most valuable, by far, are Oklahoma City’s pick this season and Phoenix’s first-round pick in 2010.

Pardon the pun, but if the "Setting Suns” continue their downward spiral, that pick could be highly coveted by other GMs.

First-round picks acquired in trades are not the same.

Oklahoma City owns Denver’s and San Antonio’s first-round picks in this year’s draft, provided both teams make the playoffs. Those are labeled "protected” picks.

If the Spurs or Nuggets nose dive and miss the playoffs — highly unlikely — the Thunder doesn’t get the pick until 2010.

Phoenix’s pick in 2010 is different. It’s "unprotected.” The Thunder gets the Suns’ first-round pick next season regardless of where the Suns finish.

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