Grading the trade for the Oklahoma City Thunder
The direction of this Oklahoma City Thunder team has been to emphasize using salary cap room in order to take on bad contracts to land more NBA Draft assets. They did so when they landed Al Horford from the Philadelphia 76ers and are doing so by trading him to the Boston Celtics in this deal.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: Thunder are a potential trade destination for Celtics’ Kemba Walker
It remains to be seen what the Thunder will do with the No. 16 pick from this trade package. It could be used to move up in the 2021 NBA Draft if they do not end up landing as favorable of a selection as they originally sought before the NBA Draft Lottery. Landing another solid first-rounder gives them options.
There’s value in bringing in a guard like Kemba Walker who can knockdown catch-and-shoot jumpers playing alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in addition to being a dynamic shot creator.
The Thunder do not need to worry about the use of its salary cap space being the most efficient when considering many of their key players are signed to cheap deals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will need a contract extension in the near future, but regardless, his second contract won’t be on a comparable plane as
There is a strong possibility the Thunder will look to move Kemba Walker before his current contract even ends, as they managed to do with Al Horford. As another year is off the books for Walker’s deal, teams who are in a pinch to add a shot creator will be increasingly more willing to stomach taking on his contract while being willing to offer more. Of course, assuming he stays healthy.
Grade: A
