Why The Oklahoma City Thunder Do The Deal 

Some Thunder fans will protest this deal. They’ll say Butler is too old to sink so many assets into. 

Fair. It is worth noting that the Thunder can’t possibly keep every pick they’ve got, draft players with them, and build their roster that way. They’ve only got so many rosters spots, and they have the most draft capital ever accumulated in league history. 

Moreover, there are intangible benefits to landing Butler. This guy is a culture setter. He can teach the young Thunder how to work, and how to win. 

Still, there’s a more obvious benefit to landing Butler – it should make the Thunder really good. He’d be joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to form one of the best duos in the NBA.

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates

If Chet Holmgren meets expectation, this deal could have the Thunder contending within the next couple of years. 

At some point, they’d always have had to stop accumulating assets.