NBA: 5 non-star trade targets that could change the playoff race
Danilo Gallinari – Oklahoma City Thunder
At 25-19, I think the Oklahoma City Thunder are probably too good to trade Gallinari before the deadline, but they were also pretty good last year and traded Paul George and Russell Westbrook in the offseason. Like everyone, Sam Presti has his price, and if someone calls and is willing to meet that price, I don’t doubt that the Thunder will pull the trigger.
Perhaps you’ve noticed a theme so far – outside of Tristan Thompson, everyone on this list is a high-level shooter. That’s because teams in the NBA never have enough shooting, and not many have a shooter as good as Gallinari.
Gallinari is shooting 41.2 percent from 3-point range which, per Basketball-Reference, is the 10th best in the NBA among players that shoot at least five such shots per game. A product of his great shooting, Gallinari’s greatest contribution to a team is the spacing he creates, especially at the Power Forward position where he’s able to make teams go small or bring a big guy out to the perimeter to guard him.
He’s a mismatch, and while he’s not well known for his defensive abilities, his positives far outweigh the negatives.
Dallas Mavericks: The Dwight Powell injury is a costly blow. dark. Next
Add in the fact that Gallinari’s contract expires at the end of this season and you have the perfect trade piece: An elite shooting veteran with no commitment for the future. His 2019-20 salary is roughly $22 million so any trade partner would have to get creative with the salaries and have the right pieces to move, but I’d be shocked if there aren’t several contenders who will be kicking the tires on a Gallinari rental before February 6th comes and goes.