OKC Thunder Are Important Team To Watch In NBA Trade Rumors

Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

The Oklahoma City Thunder are set on their path to rebuilding. Yet, they are one team that could have a significant impact on this year’s NBA playoff race.

With teams scrambling to complete trades so that they can improve their position in the standings, the Thunder emerges as an important piece to the puzzle. While they won’t be competing for a playoff spot themselves, they very well could play a major part in who does.

As Marc Stein shared on his Substack, a paid prescription website, the Thunder are a team that many people are paying attention to leading up to the deadline. Oklahoma City has a ton of cap space and it is a near certainty they will make at least one move before the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline.

“Oklahoma City is a must-watch team at the moment. The Thunder now possess nearly $34 million salary-cap space that expires after the expiration last week of a Trevor Ariza trade exception worth almost $10 million rendered them an under-the-cap team. It is seen as a virtual given that the Thunder will make at least one trade to absorb unwanted contracts into that space provided that the offloading team attaches the requisite draft compensation.”

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets For OKC Thunder To Keep Tabs On

If a team is needed to take on salary to help complete a trade, the Oklahoma City Thunder have never been shy about taking on unwanted contracts as long as there is draft compensation included. There is a very real chance that occurs again as there aren’t many teams with wiggle room under the salary cap to make deals, but the Thunder can help facilitate that.

In addition to their never-ending quest to acquire every draft pick possible, the Thunder have players that contending teams have a lot of interest in. Kenrich Williams’s combination of skill set and salary, as he is only owed $2 million this season, makes him arguably the most attractive forward on the trade market.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets For OKC Thunder To Keep Tabs On

Matching salary for him is relatively easy, but the Thunder aren’t giving him away for free. They are looking for a first-round pick in exchange for him.

Derrick Favors is another player to keep an eye on. There are a ton of contenders that would love to add him to their frontcourt rotation as a reliable backup center that can score efficiently, rebound and play some defense. His asking price isn’t nearly as high, but he is a little tougher to match salary with as he is more expensive.

That is where the Thunder’s available cap space comes back into play. Unlike most teams making deals ahead of the deadline, they have ample money available that they do not need matching salary coming back. So, they can take back someone making significantly less than Favoris and still get a deal done.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets For OKC Thunder To Keep Tabs On

Expect to hear the Oklahoma City Thunder involved in plenty of rumors over the next 48 hours as they have the means to help get deals done as long as they are compensated with draft capital.

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