Does this trade make sense for Oklahoma City Thunder?
Adding another young frontcourt option definitely makes sense for the Thunder, especially since they do not have many reliable big men. Derrick Favors and Mike Muscala are two veterans at the center position, but both guys could be candidates to be moved at the trade deadline this year.
Then the Thunder have Aleksej Pokusevski and Darius Bazley as power-forward options, but neither guy is really a “true” power forward.
Marvin Bagley III could fill an immediate need for Oklahoma City and the best part about trading for him is that they can absorb his salary for this season with their $12.8M TPE from trading Trevor Ariza to the Miami Heat last season.
Oklahoma City has no need to absorb a contract since they are currently way under the salary cap, but they might as well use this TPE for an impactful player and Bagley is definitely that kind of player. They could extend him long-term and have a key frontcourt option to build with next to the other young, high-level talents on their roster in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, and others.
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Plus, the Thunder are currently under the salary cap floor for the 2021-22 season. The salary cap floor is set at about $102M for this season and the Thunder are at about $80M in total salaries owed.
They will need to find a way to add a total of $22M in contracts through the end of the season and bringing in Bagley definitely helps them get closer to this threshold.
