Evaluating Potential Trade Targets for the OKC Thunder
Sitting at 16-8 and No. 2 in the loaded Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as an NBA darling this season.
They’ve long been mentioned as purveyors on the NBA trade market with their bevy of future draft picks. But conversation has especially ramped up with their championship window seemingly opening.
Here are some of the top semi-realistic trade targets they could look to cash in on prior to the deadline:
Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
Kyle Kuzma remains one of the more under-the-radar potential acquisitions for the OKC Thunder, both from an on-the-court perspective and a relational one (former Thunder executive Will Dawkins being the Wizards’ General Manager.)
Aside from having a career year averaging 23.1 points on 47% shooting, Kuzma’s passing and playmaking abilities have really blossomed since his time with the Finals-winning Los Angeles Lakers.
He’s up to 4.3 assists to just 2.4 turnovers per game, hitting 36% of his 6.6 threes per game and rebounding the ball just fine, positionally.
Scoring wings are highly coveted in the NBA in general. Especially ones that have proven themselves in the Finals, no less.
The hiccup here will be his shiny new contract — $90 million over four years – but it’s not unworkable. And the Wizards could certainly benefit from some of the Thunder’s projects in return.
Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
Since The Athletic’s report about OKC potentially being interesting in Pistons’ enforcer Isaiah Stewart, much has been made about his fit with the team.
A 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward with a knack for versatile-adjacent defense with limited offensive tendencies, Stewart has improved to workable starter for the Pistons in the last three seasons.
With OKC, Stewart would likely play minutes at the five, using his 7-foot-4 wingspan. His scoring leaves some to be desired, but he at least has the capabilities to extend beyond the arc, albeit at just a career 34% clip.
The key here may be his asking price, which likely wouldn’t be astronomical given his limitations.
Oklahoma City’s two-big lineup of Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams has worked well against some of the league best bigs, which frequent the top of the NBA standings. And adding Stewart to the pot as an option might not be a bad thing.
Kelly Olynyk, Utah Jazz
If the power forward pendulum were to swing in the other direction, Utah’s Kelly Olynyk would likely be cheaply available for the right price.
A savvier offensive player overall with more defensive limitations, Olynyk would offer the Thunder more two-big looks with a different twist. He’s a career 37% 3-point shooter whose improved in the back half of his career, is averaging a career-high 4.3 assists to just 1.8 turnovers this season, and has some of the feel the Thunder system requires.
He might not be a next-level needle-mover in the grand scheme of things, but Olynyk could help plug some gaps in the short-term, certainly.
Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
