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The Oklahoma City Thunder have a slew of draft picks in the coming years, and it has been a slow rebuilding process for the squad after the departures of Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, and Paul George over the past seasons. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, and Lu Dort are some of the names who will likely be the building blocks of OKC for the future, which is a terrific starting point for Sam Presti.
There have also been some revelations like Tre Mann, Jaylen Hoard, and Isaiah Roby in recent weeks. Even with these notable names, the weaknesses of the Thunder are still very evident, thus the next focus must be on the draft and the offseason. A deep draft pool is coming up in 2022, but the main question is how Presti will manufacture a few trades to bolster the chances of OKC next season. The Thunder have plenty of assets and flexibility to make at least one big move in the offseason.
Here are a look at some Oklahoma City Thunder trade targets as they look to step a step forward in 2022-23.
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Oklahoma City Thunder trade targets
John Collins recently signed a long-term extension last year, but it seems that problems continue to persist with the Atlanta Hawks. There were trade rumors ahead of the deadline because he was not all that pleased with his role, and an injury has kept him out for the last month as the postseason approaches.
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Collins' current deal is for five seasons, so it runs through 2025-26, though a player option is on the final season. A Thunder trade would give them a long-term piece, and his approach to the game would fit with the guard rotation of Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey because of their willingness and initiative to maximize the talent of their teammates. For instance, Collins would be a fantastic recipient of constant lobs, along with his lethal conversions from pick-and-pop sets as well.
Another big man who could possibly be on the move in the offseason is Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner. The Pacers have decided to go on a rebuilding phase led by Tyrese Haliburton, and it remains to be seen if they want to keep Turner after trading Domantas Sabonis or if they will move on from him as well to make way for youngster Isaiah Jackson.
OKC would be able to fill in the huge hole in the middle with one of the best shot blockers in the Association. Rebounding could still be an issue for Turner, but his ability to stifle slashers at the rim and showcase his long-range shooting wares would be instrumental to the development of the Thunder franchise. Turner will be an expiring contract next season, so he might not cost too much. If things wound up not working out, they could easily part ways in 2023.
A suggestion out of left field who would definitely boost the performance of OKC is French big man Rudy Gobert. There have been speculations that the Utah Jazz could reconstruct their squad if they encounter another early playoff exit this season, so a plausible trade candidate is Gobert. There have been instances in which he is not utilized well offensively, but it could possibly change with more than willing guards to dish the ball on every possession.
As the Thunder are currently 16th in the NBA in defensive rating, having Gobert in the fold would raise that to a top-10 level next season. Even if Gobert is one of the highest-paid players in the league, the Thunder have enormous amounts of financial flexibility to pay him for the next seasons. Moreover, his salary is more than warranted because his defensive IQ, awareness, and anticipation is a rare breed in the history of the league.
OKC has plenty of draft capital to make a big offer for Gobert, so this would be an interesting spot for him.
