NBA Trade Rumors: Could Thunder Trade For Two-Time NBA Champion?
The NBA trade deadline is a month away, and it won't be long before trade talks and rumors begin to ramp up and swirl. Despite being in the midst of an 82-game regular season, the NBA trade deadline feels like an extension of the offseason with as much player movement goes into the period.
Some teams will use the trade deadline to be sellers and clean the house and focus on development, while other teams will use the deadline to be buyers and add what they feel is a piece to improve their chances as contenders.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, while they could sit on their hands, is likely to be a buyer on a small scale if they so choose. Sitting at 23-11 on the season and No. 2 in the Western Conference, there's no reason for a large-scale trade that shakes anything up too much.
Still, the Thunder could make a small move for a bench contributor to ensure things go more smoothly in the playoffs. Most of the players on the Thunder will be in the playoffs for the first time, and a veteran presence could be needed.
One way the Thunder could add a veteran who knows how deep playoff runs work could be trading for Chris Boucher, a center for the Toronto Raptors. This season, Boucher has played a mere 14.2 minutes per game.
With the Raptors sitting at No. 12 in the Eastern Conference, they could begin to sell when it comes to veterans like Boucher and bring in more youth and future draft assets, which is something the Thunder can easily provide.
While the Thunder will want to see their young core perform in the playoffs together for the first time, adding a backup big man could help address potential rebounding issues while not making any substantial rotational changes.
If the Thunder so chooses to enter the trade market to make a small move at the trade deadline, Boucher would be an interesting name. He was a part of the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors and 2018-19 Toronto Raptors, two NBA Championship-winning teams.
Boucher has seen deep playoff runs while playing backup big man minutes. He could be a seamless addition, though the Thunder will feel no pressure to make any win-now moves.
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