By Michael Doutey
Since Andre Roberson’s season ending knee injury, the Thunder have played five games and the team is in the midst of a four game losing streak. Two weeks ago the Thunder were a legit contender in the Western Conference. But now with Roberson down for the season, things have drastically changed. The with one injury, the Thunder have gone from contender to pretenders.
There is so much riding on this season with Paul George’s impending free agency. The trajectory of the franchise is really riding on this season. PG has made comments insinuating that he’s open to staying in OKC. Those comments were made back in January, and while it is always a positive for a guy like Paul to say that he likes it here, decisions on free agency are made in July and not in January.
While OKC has done a good job of making their recruiting pitch, now there is more work to do. OKC has to make a move to make a real playoff run. Defensively, the Thunder are not capable of matching up with the likes of Golden State and Houston without Andre Roberson. Without a defensive stopper, I find it hard to see a way for the Thunder to make a serious playoff run.
Sam Presti has his work cut out for him. The Thunder need to make a move at this Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. But the Thunder really don’t have a ton of assets to make a splashy move. Here are a few options the Thunder have as we enter trade deadline week.
Avery Bradley
The Thunder have been reportedly interested in trading for Avery Bradley, who is now with the Los Angeles Clippers as he was apart of the Blake Griffin mega-trade. Over the weekend, the Washington Post’s National NBA writer, Tim Bontemps, reported that OKC has expressed interest in Bradley. Bradley, who is in the final year of his deal and will be a free agent in the offseason, is one of the best defenders in the league and would be a prime candidate to fill Roberson’s shoes.
Bradley averages 14.9 points per game this season and is shooting 38 percent from three. Bradley is a career 36 percent three point shooter. Bradley isn’t exactly the same defender as Roberson. Dre is really long, standing at 6 foot 7 inches tall. Bradley is just 6 foot 2 inches. But, Bradley is a better offensive player than Dre and his game extends all the way to the three point line.
Now, the Thunder may not have enough assets to acquire Bradley. The Thunder do not have and first-round draft picks available until 2022. Now, OKC does have two second-round draft picks in the upcoming draft. So, that could be a small piece OKC could use because the Clippers look to be entering a rebuilding phase. Alex Abrines would likely need to be involved and either Josh Huestis or Jerami Grant, but I don’t think OKC is really wanting to move Grant at this time. Another trade chip could be rookie Terrance Ferguson, but I would be completely shocked if OKC parted ways with Ferguson. Now, current Clipper General Manager, Michael Winger, has been apart of Sam Presti’s staff for several years before becoming the Clips GM over the summer. Could that relationship between the two GM’s benefit OKC this week?
Tony Allen
Another report from over the weekend was that the Thunder have reached out to the Chicago Bulls in regards to newly acquired guard, Tony Allen, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Allen was apart of the Nikola Mirotic and Omer Asik trade from last week.
Allen has been one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA for the last decade, but Allen is 36 years old and has only played in 22 games this season, averaging just 12 minutes per game. Allen has also been recovering from a non-displaced proximal fibula fracture that has sidelined him since December 12th.
Allen is expected to be waived if he is not traded. I would suspect OKC would like to use their open roster space for Allen in the buy-out market. But if OKC can’t get a deal done elsewhere, the Thunder could make a last minute deal on Thursday.
Courtney Lee
Lee is with the New York Knicks and is having an excellent season. Lee, the 32 year old, 6 foot 5 inch shooting guard is rumored to be available. Lee is averaging 13.3 points per game and is shooting 41 percent from three, which is a career high. Lee is a capable defender, but he is no Andre Roberson or Avery Bradley. But he is better offensively than both those players.
Now, Lee is under contract for the next two seasons and he will make $12 million per season. That could complicate things and make a higher luxury tax bill over the next two seasons for OKC. While Lee would be a great option, I am not sure OKC is willing to pay Lee that much and they may not have enough assets to get a trade done with the Knicks.
Rodney Hood
The Utah Jazz have dangled Hood, who I wanted the Thunder to draft back in 2014. Instead the Thunder drafted Mitch McGary, and we all know how well that has worked out. However, with the emergence of rookie Donovan Mitchell, it appears the Jazz are looking to move on from Hood and gain something back for him as he is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Tony Jones, of the Salt Lake Tribune, reported earlier Monday that the Thunder have expressed interest in Hood. Of everyone on this list, Hood fits best for a trade financially. Hood is just making $2.3 million this season and will become a restricted free agent at seasons end. It will come down to assets for OKC to entice the Jazz in a trade.
I am not sure what the asking price is for Hood, who is averaging 16.4 points per game and is a career 36 percent three point shooter. Hood is shooting 38 percent from deep this season. I would assume the price for Hood would be at least a first-rounder or possibly a young rotation player and a second round pick.
Tyreke Evans
Evans is having a career season in Memphis. Evans signed a one-year deal in the offseason for the veterans minimum. Evans is averaging 19.5 points per game, five assists per game and five rebounds per game. Evans is having a huge season, shooting 39 percent from three and has been contacted by multiple playoff teams for a trade. The Grizzlies are sitting Evans until they find a trade partner make sure they he stays healthy. OKC has been rumored to have contacted Memphis about Evans.
Now, Evans is not a perfect fit for OKC. He is not a big time defender but would be an excellent scorer off the bench. Memphis wants a first-rounder for Evans, which would rule OKC out, seeing as they don’t have one for several years. I would love to see Evans in OKC, but I would be a little surprised if OKC could land him.
Marco Belinelli
Belinelli is a great three point shooter and has been around the NBA for 11 seasons. He is in the last year of his contract and averaging 11.4 points per game while shooting 37 percent from three. While OKC needs shooting, Belinelli is not an ideal defender which OKC is in desperate need of. The Thunder could have made a move for him before the Roberson injury, but I am not sure Belinelli is on OKC’s radar. Presti would have to trade for a defender in a separate trade and then hope that he would still have enough assets to make a secondary move for Marco. He would be a luxury for the team, but he might not be a necessity for the Thunder at this time.
Garrett Temple
Temple is a journeyman who is currently playing well for the Sacramento Kings. Temple is a two-way player who can knock down an open shot and can defend a little. He is not a great player, but he could help for the time being. He is having his best season of his seven year career. He is averaging 8.4 points per game and is shooting 36 percent from three. He is making $8 million per year and has a deal that runs through next season. He could be an under the radar name to watch.
Jonathan Simmons
Simmons is another under the radar name to watch. I haven’t seen any rumors about Simmons, but he was instrumental in the Spurs playoff run last season. He did a respectable job on James Harden in that series. Simmons is in the first year of his three year deal in Orlando and is making $6 million this season. OKC could be interested in a player like Simmons, but there is no telling what the Magic’s asking price would be.
