Why This Trade Makes Sense For The OKC Thunder

Over the last year or so, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been stockpiling draft assets. They now have 32 total draft picks through the 2027 NBA Draft and with a plethora of first-round picks, they have the ability to virtually trade for any player in the league. 

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Darius Bazley, Luguentz Dort and other young players with a lot of potential, OKC has suddenly become a very attractive destination for plenty of superstar players. The Thunder could turn themselves into a team nobody wants to face in a couple of seasons, which is why trading away players that have no future with this organization for more young talent makes a lot of sense. 

Mo Bamba is 7’0” with a 7’10” wingspan, making him one of the lengthiest big men in the entire league. Not only could he turn into a fantastic shot-blocker for the Thunder, but he could end up being a high-impact rebounder as well. He is not a star player, nor does he possess star player characteristics, but Bamba can be a really solid role player given the chance and with OKC not really having a center, he would get plenty of playing time to prove himself. 

As stated before, giving up Muscala and Jerome does not hurt the Thunder at all and honestly, does not really affect them. Jerome is not going to get his opportunity to play for this team most likely and Mike Muscala is either going to be traded at the NBA trade deadline anyways or play through the end of his contract this year and become a free agent next offseason. 

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Both players do not have a future in Oklahoma City, which is why they would be willing to move both of them for a chance to acquire a young talent like Mo Bamba. Getting Bamba and a second-round pick would be a massive win for OKC and yet another great move made by Sam Presti, one of the best general managers in the league.