Challenge: Consolidate OKC’s assets and make them an immediate contender

[sca]

The Thunder have just too many damn good players, and I haven’t checked their salary situation, but it seems logical to think that these young guys will all begin demanding big contracts in a few years, and they’ll probably not be able to keep all of them.

So in this hypothetical scenario, Sam Presti decides that he’s seen enough, and decides to speed up the rebuilding process by turning his team into a contender overnight. What are some viable trades for this? Who are the untouchable guys? (SGA, Holmgren, any others?) Which pieces seemingly don’t fit with the rest? Which of these guys are expandable? Which targets would make sense?

[Mike lorenzo]

unoriginal...but I love the Giddey+ for Lauri do it even if it is an overpayment, they can afford it.. then get a big one that can bother Jokic a little

[Texas Chuck]

I mean what player better than SGA is available right now? None, right? Best player reasonably available is probably Siakam, but he's not making them a contender.

I think they should attach some value to Bertans deal and add another rotational piece and then this off-season look to see what star may shake free that makes sense for them.

Hard to see a contending scenario ATM, barring something unforgeable.

[Devilanche]

This going be good .

Bring on the offers !

Note - I don’t see any trades out there that will make them immediate contender. No way we are getting out the west if Jokic and at least 2 of AG,MPJ and Jamal Murray is playing come the playoffs

[gswhoops]

I’m not sure either team considers it, but something based on Holmgren plus picks for Embiid would at least be worth thinking about

[tcheco]

Bertans, Poku, Micic and Kenrich
for
Siakam and Koloko

Pretending Pascal talked to OKC and said he would re-sign with then, how many picks does OKC send to Toronto? 1? 2? Considering Micic is useful, Kenrich is a positive and Bertans only has 5M guaranteed next year

SGA/Giddey/Cason
Giddey/Cason
Dort/Joe/Jalen
Chet/Jalen/Dieng
Siakam/Jaylin

Solid 10 man rotation, if you want to really go for it, do the dieng, Dort, filler and all them picks for lauri too, then its real lol

[Mr Swagtastic]

Bertans, Poku, Micic and Kenrich
for
Siakam and Koloko

Pretending Pascal talked to OKC and said he would re-sign with then, how many picks does OKC send to Toronto? 1? 2? Considering Micic is useful, Kenrich is a positive and Bertans only has 5M guaranteed next year

SGA/Giddey/Cason
Giddey/Cason
Dort/Joe/Jalen
Chet/Jalen/Dieng
Siakam/Jaylin

Solid 10 man rotation, if you want to really go for it, do the dieng, Dort, filler and all them picks for lauri too, then its real lol

No thank you, don't want Pokuševski guy is rail thin and I don't see the upside like most do. I don't see how Toronto could play him and Boucher together. Bertans isn't a guy you want to play because of contract stipulations. Micic is an older PG and Kenrich Williams is decent depth guy but those guys don't equal Pascal IMHO. I think Toronto asks for some sort of draft comp.

[tcheco]

Bertans, Poku, Micic and Kenrich
for
Siakam and Koloko

Pretending Pascal talked to OKC and said he would re-sign with then, how many picks does OKC send to Toronto? 1? 2? Considering Micic is useful, Kenrich is a positive and Bertans only has 5M guaranteed next year

SGA/Giddey/Cason
Giddey/Cason
Dort/Joe/Jalen
Chet/Jalen/Dieng
Siakam/Jaylin

Solid 10 man rotation, if you want to really go for it, do the dieng, Dort, filler and all them picks for lauri too, then its real lol

No thank you, don't want Pokuševski guy is rail thin and I don't see the upside like most do. I don't see how Toronto could play him and Boucher together. Bertans isn't a guy you want to play because of contract stipulations. Micic is an older PG and Kenrich Williams is decent depth guy but those guys don't equal Pascal IMHO. I think Toronto asks for some sort of draft comp.

Oh like I said, it’s one or two picks added to those players. Poku has little to no value, Kenrich otoh is a great cost controlled rotation player that do a lot of thing above average, but yeah, draft compensation is needed

[jbk1234]

Bertans, Poku, Micic and Kenrich
for
Siakam and Koloko

Pretending Pascal talked to OKC and said he would re-sign with then, how many picks does OKC send to Toronto? 1? 2? Considering Micic is useful, Kenrich is a positive and Bertans only has 5M guaranteed next year

SGA/Giddey/Cason
Giddey/Cason
Dort/Joe/Jalen
Chet/Jalen/Dieng
Siakam/Jaylin

Solid 10 man rotation, if you want to really go for it, do the dieng, Dort, filler and all them picks for lauri too, then its real lol

Bertans has played in 3 games and averaged 8 mpg. He's 31 years old

Kenrich has played in 1 game for 15 minutes. Also, he's already 29.

Poku has played in 4 games and averaged 5.8 mpg. He's in the last year of his rookie deal.

Micic had played in 4 games and averaged 12.8 mpg. He's 30 years old.

Forget about Siakam. I'm skeptical that any of these players return Koloko. You're proposing trading four fringe rotation players, one of whom has negative trade value, three of whom are too old to qualify as prospects, and a single prospect who looks like he might not get another contract, for an All NBA player.

A lot of picks. Like a whole lot.

[Wolveswin]

To Jazz: Bertans + Giddey + Picks

To Grizzlies: Chet + Dort + K. Williams + Micic + Picks

To Thunder: Bane + JJJ + Markannen

JJJ
Markkanen
Jalen
Bane
SGA

[tcheco]

Bertans, Poku, Micic and Kenrich
for
Siakam and Koloko

Pretending Pascal talked to OKC and said he would re-sign with then, how many picks does OKC send to Toronto? 1? 2? Considering Micic is useful, Kenrich is a positive and Bertans only has 5M guaranteed next year

SGA/Giddey/Cason
Giddey/Cason
Dort/Joe/Jalen
Chet/Jalen/Dieng
Siakam/Jaylin

Solid 10 man rotation, if you want to really go for it, do the dieng, Dort, filler and all them picks for lauri too, then its real lol

Bertans has played in 3 games and averaged 8 mpg. He's 31 years old

Kenrich has played in 1 game for 15 minutes. Also, he's already 29.

Poku has played in 4 games and averaged 5.8 mpg. He's in the last year of his rookie deal.

Micic had played in 4 games and averaged 12.8 mpg. He's 30 years old.

Forget about Siakam. I'm skeptical that any of these players return Koloko. You're proposing trading four fringe rotation players, one of whom has negative trade value, three of whom are too old to qualify as prospects, and a single prospect who looks like he might not get another contract, for an All NBA player.

A lot of picks. Like a whole lot.

Like I said, yes there will be draft compensation.
Many people are skeptical of the value because of his unwillingness to re-sign with any team, so it’s hard to find the correct value for him, I never meant to say that these player amount to much value at all.

[gswhoops]

What about Zion? He and Chet are a really complimentary big man combo and if they both stay healthy/live up to their potential I could see SGA/Zion/Chet doing big things

[TimeisIllmatic]

If you mean immediate contender as in going to the conference finals/finals, I don't think there's a deal out there but I think getting Embiid would get OKC to at least the semifinals. I've seen some OKC fans say they do not want Embiid and rather be patient with the assets but next season with better chemistry they could probably have a fighter's chance towards the conference finals.

[BlazersBroncos]

OKC is on the path to being a contender - and they will have cap space and tons of picks to offer this summer if a big fish shakes loose.

I do think they should try for a big who can rebound and/or shoot the 3 + isnt going to cost them a max cap slot this summer. Not sure who that is.

[WillyJakkz]

OKC: Myles Turner
IND: Jaylin Williams Davis Bertans '24 HOU 1st '25 MIA 1st '25 PHI 1st

I know Indy is playing well maybe this gets them to move Turner and OKC can then move Chet to the 4 and probably bring Jalen Williams off the bench.

SGA Dort Giddey Chet Turner is a tough lineup imho as Turner is a great rim protector a bigger body and still spreads the floor keeping the lanes open for SGA drives.

Plus he's a very good finisher.

[BlazersBroncos]

OKC: Myles Turner
IND: Jaylin Williams Davis Bertans '24 HOU 1st '25 MIA 1st '25 PHI 1st

I know Indy is playing well maybe this gets them to move Turner and OKC can then move Chet to the 4 and probably bring Jalen Williams off the bench.

SGA Dort Giddey Chet Turner is a tough lineup imho as Turner is a great rim protector a bigger body and still spreads the floor keeping the lanes open for SGA drives.

Plus he's a very good finisher.

I dont think IND moves Turner even for this package - which is quite a good package.

Think UTA is more likely to move Lauri for a pick package than IND is to move Myles - IND has their franchise guy and wants to build something sooner than later and IMO Myles is a part of that. UTA doesnt have that same trajectory.

[Jody Smokz]

A bit of a sidebar but why is Lauri Markennan always being considered for trade? He's 26 and the Jazz are building something. Wouldn't it make sense for them to be adding to him and Kessler?

[jayjaysee]

I think OKC should just be looking to trade for a Capela or DFS type. But I’ve said that enough times probably.

For OKC, I wouldn’t make a strong bid on any star not locked up for at least two years though. There’s just no need to take that chance. They’re young and look really good, as expected.

My favorite pretend OKC trade is Giddey+handful of better-than firsts for Ball. Not realistic, but I just really like that duo together.

[jbk1234]

A bit of a sidebar but why is Lauri Markennan always being considered for trade? He's 26 and the Jazz are building something. Wouldn't it make sense for them to be adding to him and Kessler?

Because it's not clear that the Jazz have a second core piece on the roster yet, he's only under contract for two more years, and it seems unlikely he'd extend for 140% of his current contract.

[jayjaysee]

A bit of a sidebar but why is Lauri Markennan always being considered for trade? He's 26 and the Jazz are building something. Wouldn't it make sense for them to be adding to him and Kessler?

Utah would need to add a player as good (well better) than Lauri in order to really be pushing for contention. And it’s just easier to trade a star than trade for a superstar..

So increase the asset base and actually tank for a year seems the best decision.

But Ainge does have the assets to trade for most any player.