NBA Mock Trade: Thunder Add Rising Young Forward to Push Ahead
It’s still early in the season, but the Oklahoma City Thunder have been stellar. They boast an 11-4 record, good for second in the Western Conference. If this success continues, the external pressure to make more moves to improve the roster and become a legitimate contender could increase.
Oklahoma City’s front office generally doesn’t make deals that it doesn’t love. It’s historically been about using leverage against teams that are under pressure to make a deal, even if it’s impulse.
One team that has struggled tremendously early in the season and could be looking to make moves ahead of the trade deadline is the Charlotte Hornets. They’re 5-9 to this point and have been extremely inconsistent. A player that could be of interest for the Thunder is forward P.J. Washington. The teammate of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in college at Kentucky, Washington is a proven NBA starter. While he can’t be traded until Jan. 15 due to recently signing a new deal with Charlotte, the Hornets could go any direction at the deadline if the season isn’t working out.
It’s unlikely that the Thunder makes a huge splash at the deadline, but a smaller move like acquiring Washington would be much less surprising.
If the Hornets really want to pivot in February, draft capital and young players could be attractive. Oklahoma City’s Davis Bertans makes essentially the same amount as Washington and could act as salary filler. From there, it’s about which draft picks and young players would make the most sense.
Whether it’s Tre Mann, Aleksej Pokusevski or Jaylin Williams among others, OKC has plenty of young assets. Furthermore, the Thunder wouldn’t want to give up more than one or two first-round picks in this type of deal, but regardless have plenty to use.
Washington is averaging 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 stocks (blocks plus steals) per game this season. He’s a career 36.3% 3-point shooter and a capable rebounder that would slot perfectly into this Thunder lineup.
There’s no indication that the Hornets will be shopping Washington, but if things continue going south in Charlotte, anything could happen.
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