5 trades Thunder must make after heartbreaking playoff series loss to Mavericks
The Thunder have the draft capital and young talent to make a big splash in the trade market this offseason, so let’s pick out a few trade targets who could be on their radar.
The Oklahoma City Thunder can go in a number of directions this offseason. General manager Sam Presti has perfectly orchestrated their rebuild to this point, and the results are paying off in dividends. After winning only 24 games two years ago, the Thunder earned the one-seed in the Western Conference thanks to a 57-win season this year.
While their second-round exit at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks was disappointing, the Thunder proved themselves to be a legitimate title contender. Their rebuild is undoubtedly ahead of schedule, and because their young core is under contract for years to come, this team will be a problem for the rest of the league for a long time.
Oklahoma City entered the year with the second youngest roster in the NBA, and their only two impending free agents – Gordon Hayward and Bismack Biyombo – didn’t play major roles on the team last year. Hayward didn’t play as big of a role as expected after being picked up at the trade deadline, and Biyombo is only a depth piece.
The Thunder have taken a “don’t skip steps” approach, which has meant they haven’t made the big moves in free agency or in the trade market that some have expected them to. The team has more draft capital to trade than any other team and enough cap space to take on a big contract, though, so this offseason may finally be the year they make the big move that gets them over the hump.
The Thunder won’t rush into any trade, and they are only going to make a big move if it fits the team’s style and timeline. There are several players who might be on the trade market that make sense, though, so with that in mind, let’s check out five trades that the Thunder should consider this offseason.
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Ousmane Deing, Kenrich Williams, 2024 first-round pick via Houston (12th overall), 2025 first-round pick via Utah, 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick via Denver
Anthony Davis has not been mentioned in many trade rumors as of late, but in the modern NBA, you never know when a star will request a trade, or when a team will look to reset and move their top option for a bunch of draft picks. Of course, no one would have more to offer for one of the best players in the NBA than the Thunder, and Davis being traded may be more likely than it seems.
LeBron James has a player option on his contract, and no one knows what he will do this offseason. He may join forces with his son (Bronny James) wherever he winds-up, he may sign a massive deal to play for yet another new team, or, he may just return to Los Angeles and pursue another championship with the Lakers.
In any scenario where James leaves, it could make sense to trade Davis, as the Lakers likely aren’t contenders without the future Hall of Famer, and they may want to kickstart a rebuild by receiving the massive haul that it would take to pry away Davis.
The Thunder’s biggest need is a power forward (or center) who can play alongside Chet Holmgren while providing additional rebounding and the ability to sometimes guard bulkier centers. Davis is the picture-perfect fit for this need. Davis has the body and strength of a center, and that is the position he played this season for the Lakers. He has also stated before that he prefers to play power forward, and Oklahoma City could offer him that possibility.
