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They're really good. They obviously have the assets to get better. Assume nothing is off the table, though it's kind of hard to imagine a deal involving SGA, and you should definitely pay attention to money starting 2026-27, when the extensions kick in.

Here's what you have to work with.

Players:
SGA - $38.3M; two years, $79M, likely super-max in the off-season
Hartenstein - $28.5M; two years, $57M, second year is TO
Caruso - $18.1M; four years, $81M
Dort - $17.7M; two years $35M, second year is TO
Holmgren - $13.7M, then RFA; likely max extension in the off-season
Joe - $12.4M; three years, $37M, third year is TO
Wiggins - $9.7M; four years, $30M, fourth year is TO
Kenrich Willilams - $7.1M; two years, $14M, second year is TO
Dieng - $6.7M expiring
Jalen Williams - $6.6M, then RFA; likely max extension in the off-season
Wallace - $5.8M; two years, $13M, then RFA
Topic - $5.1M; three years, $18M, then RFA
Mitchell - $3.0M, then RFA
Jones - $2.8M; three years, $11M, then RFA
Jaylin Williams - $2.2M non-guaranteed

Picks:
Let's assume for now that Philadelphia and Miami keep their picks this year. That would leave OKC as follows (first-round picks only)
2025: Clippers, likely in the low 20's
2026: Two best of LAC/HOU/OKC; Miami unprotected; Philadelphia (top 4 protected, rolls over to 2027); Utah (top 8 protected, extinguished)
2027: Two best of LAC/DEN/OKC
2028: Better of DAL/OKC
2029: OKC and DEN
2030: OKC
2031: OKC

Interested in knowing what need(s) you would prioritize as well as your ideas for deal to meet those needs.

This doesn't seem like much of a challenge. Consolidating any of their assets will improve the roster.

All the other nba teams only wish they could face this kind of challenge

I’d just work around the edges realistically? It’s fun to throw out Giannis or such ideas, but don’t see that being realistic.

KD would be awesome and fill the two areas I think they could use help, but don’t think he, the team or the fans are too excited for the reunion tour..

So just minor needs, based off of how playoff goes?

I think Topic should get a chance to be in rotation next season, so I wouldn’t address that need. They could really use another playmaker but I’m high on Topic so give him a shot. Make a midseason deal if needed.

Just would want to turn Joe into an actual rotation PF? Know Presti hates that idea though. Probably include Dieng and minor value as needed.

And would trade the LAC pick for a future first, toss in some seconds if it helps Doesn’t matter if it’s next year or 4 years from now. No reason for a rookie contract to start in a season where the team has no tax issues and their top 8-10 rotation set already.. would trade the Miami first if it conveys as well. The Philly pick is obviously different..

The first thing is to reach out to Denver and Milwaukee and see "what would it take". I think Jalen+Chet is something OKC should be willing to offer for either Joker/Giannis, but I'm also a bit lower on Chet/Jalen than many and think they are fully optimized in their current team climate and wouldn't be as effective in other settings.

If OKC doesn't want to part with both then I don't think they have the capability of acquiring either.

The 2nd thing to do is identity the players they love in the draft and start talking with teams now who will likely be in the Top End of the Lottery about what it would take to move up.

After that there isn't a ton to do. Trading for win-now players with win-now contracts make extensions difficult.

A veteran elite scorer who can step up when SGA feels down. DDR, if he were to accept a much smaller role, could kill two units and start if SGA isn't available....
DDR for Caruso/Dieng?

SGA/Wallace/Dort/JWilliams/Chet
I.Joe/Wiggins/DDR/K.Williams/Hartestein
Topic/Ajay/Jaylin....

i dont hate a buy-low of Randle as a 1 yr stop gap before paying chet/jdub

Godaddycurse wrote:i dont hate a buy-low of Randle as a 1 yr stop gap before paying chet/jdub

This is a great mention. Not sure I see in-division teams making this type of move, but maybe it's a 3-teamer with Phoenix and KD to Minnesota?

Giannis or Jokic would obviously be the wildcards, but outside of one of them coming available, I think they should probably pursue role player upgrades.

Isiah Joe or Aaron Wiggins + pick for Cam Johnson makes a ton of sense for me. They could use some actual forward size. Their bench right now consists of Caruso/Wallace/Joe/Wiggins who are all 6'5" or less.

Then whichever they don't move of Joe/Wiggins, I'd look to package with another pick for another big man. Ideally someone that can play with either Chet or Hart so they have more double big flexibility.

20, Dieng, Topic and Wiggins
For
CamJohnson
OKC gets a wing that can contribute and bkn gets a pick and a pg to develop.

Xman wrote:20, Dieng, Topic and Wiggins
For
CamJohnson
OKC gets a wing that can contribute and bkn gets a pick and a pg to develop.

This seems like a huge overpay for Cam. Essentially 3 1sts for him?

This is premature. Lets see how OKC does in the postseason.

1. Investigate star trades.
2. Make a swing for a bigger forward that can play with both Chet or IHart. Don't need a star, but someone that can give them 25-30 minutes better than what they have now.
3. Consolidate assets if possible and/or roll over depreciating assets/picks. IMO Caruso role is not big enough to justify his contract there, he would be the salary I would like at flipping if he holds trade value.

I doubt they do anything. There are 15 guys under contract for next year already. A couple of those are expendable. Consolidation only makes sense if it fills a glaring hole, which is likely creation.

MoneyTalks41890 wrote:I doubt they do anything. There are 15 guys under contract for next year already. A couple of those are expendable. Consolidation only makes sense if it fills a glaring hole, which is likely creation.

I mean it would obviously be a deal turning multiple OKC players/assets into a smaller number of better ones. Maybe Miami's ready to put their towels in the laundry and Herro or Bam is available.

psman2 wrote:1. Investigate star trades.
2. Make a swing for a bigger forward that can play with both Chet or IHart. Don't need a star, but someone that can give them 25-30 minutes better than what they have now.
3. Consolidate assets if possible and/or roll over depreciating assets/picks. IMO Caruso role is not big enough to justify his contract there, he would be the salary I would like at flipping if he holds trade value.

I think #2 on this list would be high on many Thunder fans' lists. Who, though? Cam Johnson, mentioned in several responses here, is surely a possibility, though if the Thunder were really interested you have to imagine they could have gotten him at the trade deadline. Curious about who else people see fitting this role.

Joe and Dieng for John Collins? Doesn't really do much for Utah, but I think it is acceptable just to get a look at a prospect. Collins can play the 4 and the 5, is low usage, and his passing has improved (even if he gets some turnovers) so I think he fits what they do. It isn't sexy, but he expires before some of the extensions kick in and they can save all their pick assets and work on punting them into later years.

A historic regular season. Don’t **** with it. Improvements on paper are probably a net negative.

sterncohen wrote:

psman2 wrote:1. Investigate star trades.
2. Make a swing for a bigger forward that can play with both Chet or IHart. Don't need a star, but someone that can give them 25-30 minutes better than what they have now.
3. Consolidate assets if possible and/or roll over depreciating assets/picks. IMO Caruso role is not big enough to justify his contract there, he would be the salary I would like at flipping if he holds trade value.

I think #2 on this list would be high on many Thunder fans' lists. Who, though? Cam Johnson, mentioned in several responses here, is surely a possibility, though if the Thunder were really interested you have to imagine they could have gotten him at the trade deadline. Curious about who else people see fitting this role.

Imo it's Deni, which will get me skewered for saying.

Houston wouldn’t send them but Brooks and Eason would make okc even scarier.