The NBA world was shocked this weekend with some absurd trades. Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers, and the Spurs got De’Aaron Fox to play with Victor Wembanyama. The Western Conference now looks tougher than ever, and it leaves the Oklahoma City Thunder in a tricky spot. This hectic weekend may mean the Thunder will avoid any trade this season.
Why the Thunder Must Avoid Any Trade
The Thunder look like a complete team, boasting the best record in the West and the second-best record in the league. This does not mean they are going to be quiet ahead of the deadline and are rumored to make a move. The whole season, Brooklyn’s Cameron Johnson has been linked to the young squad in Oklahoma. They have all the assets to make a trade, and after this past weekend will have them thinking twice. Would it be worth it though, and is there a guarantee a trade would help the team? There are two big reasons though why the young squad in Bricktown should hold off on any trade.
Salary Matching
Johnson has been linked to Oklahoma City the entire season. On paper, he looks like a great addition to this title-contending team. The only problem is the fact that he makes so much money. OKC may not be able to put forth pieces to match his salary.
The two players that could make a deal for Johnson, or other players, are Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe. Ousmane Dieng would be included in any deal as well, but Sam Presti may not be willing to part with either player. After his 41-point performance, Wiggins secured his spot in Oklahoma City.
A CAREER NIGHT FOR AARON WIGGINS 🙌
41 PTS (career high)
14 REB (career high)
6 3PM (career high)@okcthunder W. pic.twitter.com/nvsr7Q9n8M— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2025
Another player that could be included in a deal is rookie Nikola Topić. Topić was projected to go first overall in the 2024 draft on some boards, but this was before he tore his ACL. Since he has yet to play a game, the Thunder front office should hold off on trading him.
The Return of Chet Holmgren
Many of the Thunder’s problems will be fixed once Chet Holmgren returns, which is a big reason the team should hold off on any trade. He is set to be reevaluated during the All-Star break and potentially play again after the break. Recent clips from Clemente Almanza of The Thunder Wire showed he is progressing very well.
Chet Holmgren working on defense and offense with other Thunder players pic.twitter.com/3vcWdHVvKV
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 1, 2025
Holmgren fixes major problems OKC is currently dealing with. He is a great three-point shooting threat and also brings more depth at the center position. Before being injured, he looked like an early candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and was putting up All-Star numbers. He has also yet to play with offseason addition Isaiah Hartenstein. It would be in the organization’s best interest to have Holmgren and Hartenstein mesh together. Bringing in another player could cause chaos, and lead to an early loss in the playoffs.
There is no doubt Oklahoma City has the assets to make a trade, but that does not mean it fixes its problems. This could end up causing more issues, and create a sense of division amongst the team. It is in their best interest to wait for Chet to come back, and if they need to make a trade then do it during the summer.
Photo credit: © Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman/ USA Today Network
