Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: F/C Jonathan Isaac, G Markelle Fultz, 2023 First-Round Pick (ORL), 2024 First-Round Pick (ORL), 2025 First-Round Pick (DEN via ORL), 2027 First-Round Pick (ORL) 

Orlando Magic Receive: G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

On the other hand, nobody could accuse the Thunder of getting ahead of themselves. They’ve undertaken perhaps the most ambitious rebuilding project in NBA history. 

For the past several years, if you saw the Thunder’s name in a trade, you could be sure that they weren’t interested in the players they were receiving. Sure, they’ve had to take back players to make contracts match, but the Thunder have one motive in any transaction: Acquiring first-round picks.

As it stands, they’ve amassed the most that any team has in the league’s history. 

Still, if they don’t hit on their selection in the 2023 draft, the whole plan could be in flux.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder & Orlando Magic Updates

After all, any team owing the Thunder a pick has no incentive to lose in that season – maximizing their own lottery odds is their safest path towards actually landing lottery picks. 

Does this deal do enough to secure that path?