Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: C Myles Turner
Indiana Pacers Receive: C Derrick Favors, F Kenrich Williams, 2022 First-Round Pick (via PHX), 2022 First-Round Pick (via LAC)
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the season with the expectation of being a tanking team. However, they are vastly overachieving to be a team with such aspirations.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey simply are too talented to be on a team that finishes at the bottom of the Western Conference. With the Thunder being close to being in the play-in, why not just go for it?
The center position is thin for the Thunder. Imagine, if Oklahoma City were to add a talent like Myles Turner to anchor the defense and provide a boost offensively, the team could take quite a few jumps forward.
The Indiana Pacers have goals of contending but the team simply cannot get the job done enough to be a team with a clear-cut playoff destiny.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Mavericks-Pacers Trade Sends Myles Turner To Dallas
With the Pacers having two centers and a lack of long-term direction, a trade could make sense, especially if it could clear salary cap room and add draft assets.
How does this deal impact both teams? Let’s take a look at it from each of their perspectives, starting with the Thunder.