Analyzing a Thunder Trade Package Centered Around a Backup Guard and Front Court Depth

Oklahoma City is off to a great start over the first half of the season. The young squad is tied for first in the Western Conference. At 32-14, the Thunder looks like a clear contender and a team that has the potential to make a run in the NBA playoffs. With the inexperienced roster and a few big holes, though, there's still a few ways to upgrade the team at the upcoming trade deadline.

The Thunder's inability to rebound has been a hold-up at points this season. It's hard to find fault though, because the five-out floor spacing with undersized big men is also a reason the team has won so many games. It's hard to guess how much a true back to the basket center would help considering the style and pace Oklahoma City plays with.

There also seems to be a lack of primary ball-handling off the bench. The Thunder could use another shot-creator to go with its slashing wings like Aaron Wiggins and knockdown shooters like Isaiah Joe.

ESPN offered a few trade hypotheticals ahead of the deadline, and a deal listed with the Toronto Raptors is certainly eye-popping. Here are the details:

Thunder receive: Jakob Poeltl, Dennis Schroder

Raptors Receive: Davis Bertans, Aleksej Pokusevski, Tre Mann, Aaron Wiggins, two first-round picks, two second-round picks

In the proposed trade, Oklahoma City seems to be giving up way too much. Wiggins is a player that's getting heavy minutes most nights and seems to be getting better and better. His efficiency and versatility off the bench is worth quite a bit on this Thunder team. Unless the package returned is worth way more value, he seems like a player the Thunder would want to hold onto.

Jakob Poeltl and Dennis Schroder would actually be quality adds for the Thunder, it's hard to argue against that. Poeltl is a great rebounder and a physical center off the bench that would help in most matchups. Schroder is an underrated point guard that has had a solid year in Toronto and would be a great bench piece for the Thunder.

Schroder was also a fan favorite in Oklahoma City and finished as the runner-up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award.

For the value of the proposed trade, though, this just doesn't seem like a deal Oklahoma City would entertain at all. Unloading Davis Bertans' salary plus two players that still have a sliver of value in Aleksej Pokusevski and Tre Mann makes sense. But adding two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a key bench player in Wiggins feels like way too much.

If the Thunder could get Poeltl and Schroder for a cheaper price tag, it would be a solid move. But the proposed package would be simply mortgaging too much.

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.