Thunder pull off trade with Knicks, select Weber State star in draft-night surprise

The Thunder have agreed to acquire the No. 26 pick from the Knicks and are using it to draft Weber State’s Dillon Jones, according to reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Oklahoma City will trade five second-round picks to New York in exchange for Jones’ rights at No. 26, per Charania.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports tweets that the second-round picks include the most favorable of 2025 selections acquired from the Celtics and Grizzlies, a 2026 Warriors second, a 2027 Wolves second, the most and second-most favorable 2027 second-rounders between the Thunder’s own pick and second-rounders obtained from the Rockets, Heat and Pacers.

Adding Jones is a major surprise move from Thunder team president Sam Presti. According to The Oklahoman’s Joel Lorenzi, Jones was not even invited to the draft’s green room. He had been projected to be selected late into the second round, or even beyond it, in recent big boards from The Athletic and ESPN, Lorenzi adds.

During his final season with the Wildcats, the three-time All-Big Sky honoree averaged 20.8 points, slashing .489/.324/.857. He also notched averages of 9.8 boards, 5.2 dimes and 2.0 steals a night.

Luke Adams contributed to this report.