The NBA trade season will stay active until the deadline in February. Although most major trades occur in June and July during the offseason, significant deals have occasionally been made a month or two before the NBA season begins—like when Kyrie Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics in August 2017. The Oklahoma City Thunder, with their wealth of assets, could make some moves. While replicating Boston’s blockbuster trade from seven years ago seems unlikely, there’s always a possibility that OKC could pull off something surprising, as rumors have suggested in recent offseasons.
OKC’s Top Three Trade Targets
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report wrote an article titled “Imagining Every NBA Team’s Top 3 Trade Targets,” where he identified three potential players the Thunder could target now or in the future. Notably, he suggests the Thunder might bring back two former guards, including a franchise legend.
Trade Target No. 1: Dennis Schroder
Swartz notes, “The Oklahoma City Thunder should be pleased with their current roster and hold off on major trades for now. However, with rookie Nikola Topić recovering from a torn ACL, adding some point guard depth behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might be a priority.”
Trade Target No. 2: Simone Fontecchio
While Detroit may not be eager to trade him, Swartz suggests that OKC’s abundance of draft picks could tempt nearly any team. Fontecchio could be a valuable backup wing, contributing as part of the second unit.
Trade Target No. 3: Russell Westbrook
Westbrook is currently a poor fit on a Nuggets team that struggled with three-point shooting last season and lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Swartz believes Denver’s front office might eventually recognize this and consider trading or cutting Westbrook to prevent further harm to their offense.
Who Should OKC Target?
Swartz presents three interesting options, all point guards. While seeing Westbrook on the list may stir emotions, the likelihood of the Thunder bringing him back seems slim. Age, declining performance, and other factors would likely deter the team from reuniting with the franchise icon, even if there’s a nostalgic desire for the past. Westbrook’s future in the NBA becomes more uncertain with each failed stint on a new team.
Dennis Schroder last season for OKC as a 6 Man of the Year finalist:
18.9 PPG
3.6 RPG
4.0 APG
46.9% FG
38.5% 3P
30.8 MPGThis would be a huge pickup for the #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/NAtjdpE2If
— Top Ball Coverage (@TopBallCoverage) November 15, 2020
The most realistic option among the three is Dennis Schroder, another former Thunder player. The 31-year-old guard served as Westbrook’s backup during his final years in OKC before being traded to the Houston Rockets. With postseason experience and a mix of playmaking and scoring abilities, Schroder could be a cost-effective choice for the Thunder as they seek a secondary facilitator. Given his success coming off the bench, particularly during his time with the Atlanta Hawks, adding Schroder to the roster seems like a logical move. Although he may not currently be on the trade block, as Swartz points out, the Thunder could make an offer compelling enough to get the conversation started.
