If the Oklahoma City Thunder cash in their trade assets to go after a superstar at the NBA Trade Deadline, who would be the best fit next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Oklahoma City Thunder have usurped all expectations this year. They are currently the second-best team in the Western Conference at 23-11. They are currently the second-youngest team in the NBA. It wasn't all that long ago that the Thunder had a young roster including Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, and Steven Adams. While that roster is bonkers crazy in hindsight, this current roster's potential might just be higher.
While the season has been a success so far, the Thunder could accomplish something great this season. The Championship is within reach, but it feels like the Thunder are one more superstar away from truly being Championship contenders. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) is having an MVP-type season. If the Thunder are looking to be contenders, it would be smart for them to make a move at the trade deadline.
The Thunder have the assets and then some to make a big move, the question is, will they? So far, they have proven to be hesitant to make the big move. Nevertheless, we will explore four players who could take this team from dreamers to believers ahead of the trade deadline.
Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are currently in no-man's land. After the trade with the New York Knicks, they have restocked the cupboard with young talent and assets. However, the Raptors still have some difference-making veterans on the roster who should be moved for more assets. Does this make Pascal Siakam available?
If it does, the Thunder should give the Raptors a call. It feels like the Thunder are missing a formidable forward on this roster. Siakam neutralizes this concern. The trade assets needed to acquire Siakam honestly shouldn't overwhelm the Thunder. What it ultimately comes down to is, is Sam Presti willing to utilize his 10,000 draft picks on a player like Siakam? He will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason which makes things a bit more complicated, but the Thunder could overlook this concern easily with the amount of trade capital at their fingertips that are expendable.
Siakam offers playmaking that Shai could utilize to make him even more efficient on offense. He'd instantly open up driving lanes for Shai, as well as be able to hit open threes if/when the defense collapses on Shai. He'd also take a lot of defensive pressure off of Shai and the Thunder. This would be a slam dunk of a trade.
Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Continuing on with the "Thunder could use a forward argument" here, an ideal star for the Thunder to consider trading for is Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen provides an offensive spark the Thunder currently don't possess. Markkanen has the offensive profile that makes front offices drool.
He is not the most apt of passers, but that won't matter. Shai would have an almost automatic offensive weapon out on the perimeter. It feels like a seamless fit. Markkanen's efficiency has skyrocketed since joining the Jazz, being the number one option. What do you think will happen when he joins forces with SGA and the Thunder?
Would Danny Ainge ever say no to multiple draft picks? For real though, I'm asking legitimately. I don't think Ainge loves anything more than acquiring future draft picks for his organization. The price is very high to acquire Markkanen, but the Thunder might be one of the few teams that could meet those demands.
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
How exciting would a backcourt of SGA and Donovan Mitchell be? I'm guessing it would be over-the-moon exciting. Mitchell brings the sizzle, and Shai brings the steak... this is Oklahoma after all.
Donovan Mitchell makes this team more legitimate than Siakam and Markkanen. While another guard may not be the most immediate need for this team, it's hard not to get excited about a potential backcourt of SGA and Mitchell. The two could both play on-ball and off-ball and opposing defenses would have no answer for their offensive attack.
Would the Cavaliers actually make this trade? Not sure, but why not ask? What's the worst that they say? Are the Cavs true Championship contenders with Mitchell anyway? Probably not. If I'm the Thunder I'm definitely inquiring about a player of Mitchell's caliber. He takes this team from tantalizing to serious. Again, the Thunder have the assets to convince the Cavs to make a deal, will the Thunder finally pounce? We'll find out soon.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Talk about a player who takes this team from tantalizing to serious contenders, Jaylen Brown is here. I understand that the Celtics would probably never make this move, but the Thunder do have an incredible amount of young talent and picks that just might make Brad Stevens agree to a deal. However unlikely this deal might be, there is no denying the fact that if the Thunder acquire Jaylen Brown, they immediately become the favorites to come out of the Western Conference.
The Thunder could use an athletic, offensive alpha, and defensive disruptor and that is exactly what Brown brings to the table. Brown just signed the highest contract extension in NBA history, if the Celtics have any reservations looking ahead, it's not out of the realm of possibilities that he could be moved. It wasn't that long ago, months in fact, that Brown, "wasn't deserving a contract extension of this magnitude." Two things can be true at the same time, Jaylen Brown deserved a five-year, $300M deal, but he had a difficult time against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Regardless, SGA and Brown would be one helluva one-two punch on both offense and defense. In Brown, the team finds the perfect compliment to Shai and instantly puts them in Championship contention. It'd take the offer of a lifetime for the Celtics to move on from Brown, but OKC has the ammo to come ready to the party. If the Thunder wanted to go all the way in, Jaylen Brown is the guy. The question is would the Celtics pick up the phone?