3. Oklahoma City Thunder Don’t Make A Move

There were plenty of trade rumors centered on the Oklahoma City Thunder heading into the trade deadline. They are a team always willing to take on a bad contract as long as there is some draft compensation attached to it. Shockingly, they weren’t involved in many deals.

The only trade they made was acquiring KZ Okpala from the Miami Heat, which allowed them to open up a roster spot and be active on the buyout market. Kenrich Williams, Derrick Favors, and Mike Muscala were all involved in rumors, but all remained in Oklahoma City through the deadline.

Now, the Thunder have become the focus once again as they could work on buyouts with those players. Williams isn’t going anywhere, as his skillset and contract are too valuable to dump.

Favors has an option for the 2022-23 season which complicates this a bit when it comes to discussing a buyout. Muscala would make the most sense as a buyout candidate given his expiring deal.

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Ultimately, none of them will get bought out. Muscala has the best chance of getting loose, but the Thunder will stay put and ride things out for the remainder of the season. They will try again in the offseason to make some deals involving the veterans on their roster.