Pros and Cons of OKC Thunder Having Quiet Trade Deadline

As the trade deadline approaches, chaos has already unfolded. Stars have been traded and rumors are swirling, but Oklahoma City’s camp remains silent.

After exceeding expectations with the youngest roster in the NBA, OKC seems expected to stand pat at the deadline. The Thunder have always held its cards close to the vest, but it’s no secret the team wants to develop the young core.

Flying under the radar seems like the smartest option considering the direction of the franchise. Still, there are positives and negatives to not making any deadline moves, and here’s a look into a few:

Pros:

One of the main positives of standing pat at the deadline is the progression of the current roster. Growth has been on display all season long, and it wouldn’t be smart to add anyone taking away minutes from Oklahoma City’s young stars.

Many fans will question the Thunder’s front court depth after a silent trade deadline, but the team has made it this far already — and even found some gems along the way. Jaylin Williams has experienced a recent breakout, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl looks set to return to the lineup after a solid week with the Oklahoma City Blue. If the Thunder wanted to trade for a big man, it would’ve been weeks ago.

Another positive to standing pat on Thursday is it gives management a chance to fully evaluate the situation in the off-season. Once the Thunder let the season play out, and the squad continues to develop down the stretch, the staff can better determine the team’s needs. A trade at the deadline might complicate things for the Thunder’s cap situation moving forward and the team might be forced to commit to a contract beyond this season.

Cons:

Even though it’s unlikely the Thunder trade for a big man at this point, Oklahoma City is severely undersized when playing elite big men. Chet Holmgren will certainly help next season, but even then, the Thunder’s front-court running mate for Holmgren still may not be on the roster. It would be nice to experiment and see what works best for the team, especially to know the best fit for the future.

Standing pat at the deadline certainly helps the Thunder’s continuity, but if a star became available at the last minute, it might be OKC’s only chance. The Thunder’s biggest free agent signing in franchise history is beginning to look like current sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, who’s on a 3 year contract worth less than $6 million. Because OKC has never proven to be a free agent destination, standing pat at the deadline could be a wasted chance.

All things considered, standing pat seems to be the smart move for the Thunder heading into the trade deadline. Unless a can’t miss opportunity is presented, the pros outweigh the cons of flying under the radar heading into the season’s final stretch

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