Why This Trade Works for the Oklahoma City Thunder

There isn’t much involvement for the Oklahoma City Thunder in this particular trade package aside from taking on enough salary to help facilitate the deal. Taking on the expiring deal of Ish Smith for $6 million is all that’s required.

In exchange for helping to complete the deal, the Thunder would also receive a pair of future 2nd round picks to take on the expiring contract of Ish Smith. The veteran point guard could later be traded to a team seeking a bench upgrade at that position.

While receiving a pair of 2nd round picks isn’t an incredible achievement that will change the franchise, the Thunder would be essentially capitalizing on their cap space they otherwise wouldn’t have used.

The Thunder put together the original George-Westbrook pairing but instead of doing so in Oklahoma City, it would be in Washington D.C. Meanwhile, OKC will add even more assets to their already highly impressive stash of future NBA Draft picks.