With the new year now finally upon us, speculation ahead of the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline is in full swing. Whether Oklahoma City Thunder fans are in consensus about what the team ought to do before the Feb. 6, 2020 cut off or not, anticipation mounts across all fanbases that there will be fireworks.
In this post, just one of a series of 30, we’ll break down the reports that have started to trickle out about Thunder players that may or may not be on the move. While there’s no guarantee when it comes to a league as wild as the modern NBA, it doesn’t hurt to brush up on each squad’s roster as the deadline draws near.
Players Unlikely To Be Traded
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Darius Bazley
The retooled Thunder are exceeding expectations this season but that doesn’t mean they’re going to ship away their young assets and try to compete for a higher seed in the Western Conference. General manager Sam Presti has a long-term plan and that includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was the prized acquisition in the Paul George deal. It would be shocking if the team dealt SGA anywhere. It would be less shocking for the Thunder to trade Bazley, though it’s still unlikely that the former million-dollar intern finishes the season anywhere else.
Biggest Name Available On Market
- Chris Paul
The moment Chris Paul arrived in OKC, there was speculation that the team would ship him elsewhere. However, ESPN reported that there is belief around the league that the Thunder will keep him through the season.
The future Hall-of-Fame point guard has, by all accounts, been a positive presence in Oklahoma City, heavily contributing to the team’s success while embracing his status as a veteran mentor to the franchise’s younger prospects. He still has enough left in the tank to help a team make the postseason, though because of his hard-to-match $38.5M salary, that team is likely to be the Thunder.
Logical Trade Pieces
- Steven Adams
- Danilo Gallinari
- Dennis Schroder
- Justin Patton
Oklahoma City has several high-priced veterans on the roster and trimming salary will be a point of emphasis, as this franchise simply doesn’t want to pay the luxury tax (they are currently less than $1M over it). Trading away Steven Adams, Danilo Gallinari or Dennis Schroder while bringing back slightly less in salary could be a wise move if it nets them an asset. Dealing away Justin Patton, whose $1.6M salary becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on the roster through January 10, might be an easier task.
Trades Are Possible
- Andre Robinson
- Terrance Ferguson
- Mike Muscala
- Nerlens Noel
- Abdel Nader
- Hamidou Diallo
- Deonte Burton
Andre Roberson, whose contract expires after this season, hasn’t played since January 27, 2018, and he continues to rehab from a ruptured patellar tendon. He’s away from the team with no timetable to return. 🏀 Terrance Ferguson will be eligible for a rookie-scale extension after the season. He’s seeing a career-high 26.6 minutes per game, though his 4.1 player efficiency rating doesn’t inspire hope. 🏀 Mike Muscala re-signed with the Thunder when he thought Russell Westbrook and Paul George were going to run it back. He hasn’t played a meaningful role for the Thunder lately. 🏀 Nerlens Noel has been a pleasant surprise for the Thunder and could see a major uptick in minutes should the Thunder trade Adams. A rival team could just as easily approach OKC and try to pluck the center, as he is making just $1.6M. 🏀 Abdel Nader, who has seen action in 27 games this year, has a $1.8M team option on his contract for next season. 🏀 Hamidou Diallo has played in just 14 games during his sophomore campaign. The wing has made just six of his 38 career shots from behind the arc. 🏀 Deonte Burton saw some run with Gallinari sidelined over the past few weeks, though with the Italian forward back in action, DNPs are again likelier than any sort of meaningful minutes for the 25-year-old wing.
