How This Trade Impacts Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are still in the asset collection stage of their rebuild. They have one legitimate long-term building block in place in guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Sam Presti is hoping more emerge from their recent draft picks, but as things currently stand, they are lacking on the wing and in the frontcourt.
Kevin Knox II would be a worthwhile target for the Thunder. He is still only 22-years old, so he has plenty of time to develop. But, to continue that development, he needs consistent minutes and he will not be getting that with the Knicks.
The Thunder, on the other hand, could provide him that. He could slide right into the rotation at the forward spot behind Darius Bazley.
During his time with the Knicks, he has shown an improvement as a 3-point shooter. That should be enough to get him some looks, as teams are always looking for shooters. But, he has to work on his defense.
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Knox has the size to be an impactful defender. He is athletic enough to stick with players on the wing and big enough to handle banging with some frontcourt players. But, his instincts and attention to detail just aren’t there yet. Those will come with more playing time.
Sending Kenrich Williams to the Knicks in exchange for a chance to see Knox up close and a 2022 second-round pick should be more than enough for the Thunder to bite. They love their draft picks and are a great landing spot given the current makeup of their team for reclamation projects like Knox.
