Does this trade make sense for the Oklahoma City Thunder?
We know about Sam Presti’s obsession with collecting draft picks, as he has a total of 35 of them through the 2028 NBA Draft, so why not make a trade involving a bench talent that will net you two more draft picks if you are the Thunder’s GM?
The Thunder are going to be one of the worst teams in the league record-wise this season and they really do not mind that, as this gives them the ability to potentially get the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the young leader of a very young team in this league, but the one thing the Thunder have going for them is that they have a ton of potential moving forward.
With all of these young pieces, there is no telling what kind of team Oklahoma City can turn into and one of the main reasons they should be interested in this trade is because they have a chance to add onto this potential. Second-round picks are not necessarily deemed valuable, but for the Thunder, they are because of all the options this brings them in terms of the draft and other trades.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Trade Packages Involving Goran Dragic For Raptors To Consider
Dwight Powell is also a valuable asset for them, not necessarily because of what he can do on the floor, but because OKC is below the salary cap floor for the 2021-22 season right now. Adding Powell allows the Thunder to get closer to this “floor” they need to reach, which is something you do not really hear much of in the league.
Many teams are always trying to stay below the salary cap and not absorb contracts, but the Thunder actually need to bring in contracts to their roster this season! Seeing as they are rebuilding and get nothing but value from this trade, there is nothing for Sam Presti not to like from this deal with the Raptors and Mavericks.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Trade Packages Involving Goran Dragic For Raptors To Consider
It also worth mentioning that the Thunder have a $12.8M TPE they need to use this season stemming from trading Trevor Ariza last year. Not that they need to absorb any salaries right now to avoid going over the cap, but Dwight Powell’s contract would fit right in with this exception, allowing them to use it before it expires.
