The Oklahoma City Thunder have roared like thunder and cracked like lightning since day one of the season. They have raced to a Western Conference-best 35-6 record and a sliver behind the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, who have one less loss to date. According to Chris Mannix, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is Sports Illustrated’s midseason MVP favorite and looks as explosive as ever. The question is, with the present injuries OKC has, will Sam Presti work any deals between now and the trade deadline?
The Thunder Should Avoid Significant Trade Activity
No Trade, No Problems for the Thunder
It was highlighted by The Stein Line’s Jake Fisher earlier this week that the Thunder are inclined to stay right where they are as it pertains to their current roster. Even though Cam Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets is one of the league’s hottest trade targets, OKC appears uninterested. Johnson was a speculated person of interest for the Thunder. However, that died down in recent weeks as no new reports or rumors have popped up.
The Thunder could go after Johnson if they desired to and have the assets to give up. The vibe coming out of OKC is that, given their present place in the West and the league overall, Presti and his staff see no significant reason to interrupt their current regular season progress by shifting the roster. Instead, they have a very smart agenda: maintain the roster’s excellent chemistry. OKC is tearing through the league this season, much like the Boston Celtics did last. As it stands, there doesn’t seem to be any particular need for the Thunder to make a significant trade at all.
No Chet, No Real Problem
Chet Holmgren was showing everyone how dominant and explosive he could be to start the season. Before going down with a fractured pelvis, he averaged 16.4 points, shooting 37.8% from three and 50.5% from the field overall. His offensive presence was mirrored by his defensive presence. He went up for 2.6 blocks per game, along with 8.7 rebounds. Unfortunately, Chet’s production was cut off after just 10 games, and he’s remained sidelined since.
Remarkably, or not so much, OKC has bullrushed through the West and much of the league without their big man. Having Isaiah Hartenstein (one of the offseason’s best acquisitions alongside Alex Caruso) helped in many ways. He, too, is injured now with a left calf strain and also missed the start of the season. So, the Thunder have been playing most of the season without their two bigs. Still, they sit atop their conference and appear to be virtually unbeatable. Why would any GM want to disrupt that? The choice to leave the Thunder as they currently are constructed is why Presti is the best GM in the NBA today. How they’re playing now without Chet is insane. Imagine how much better OKC will be with him healthy and Hartenstein back.
Championship Worthy As Is
If the Thunder do act in the trade market, it will likely be minimal. They have no interest in Johnson, as many speculated. As they are, this team is championship-ready now, with SGA leading the way. A talented, hard-nosed supporting cast follows him, and again, they appear virtually unbeatable. Presti is right to keep his focus and attention on his current players and soon-to-be returning ones in Chet and Hartensteain. The Thunder are all right and don’t need a big deadline move.
