We haven’t even hit Christmas Day games in the NBA, and Oklahoma City is already the talk of the league in regards to trade conversation. The Thunder’s young core is exceeding expectations once again, and many people are questioning whether the front office will go all in. If Sam Presti does opt to make a move, the championship window could open, and Oklahoma City could be on the clock.
Presti has been adamant about staying patient. The team went 40-42 a season ago and snuck into the play-in tournament, and the sub-.500 record was enough for Presti to let the team play this out and develop on schedule.
Fast forward a year later, though, and the team is second in the Western Conference with a legitimate MVP candidate and a Rookie of the Year front runner. Of course, the main goal is to keep the core together in Oklahoma City for years to come. But if the Thunder could somehow pull of a trade in a year where the race to the finish line is wide open, it might just pay off.
Yahoo Sports reporter Jake Fischer has heard from several people around the league that aren't buying Presti's patience now that the team is soaring.
“I’ve heard several people say that’s the exact opposite of what they’re going to do (remain patient.) They’re saying that publicly, they’re working behind the scenes," Fischer said. "Who’s gonna know for sure until the trade calls actually start to happen, this is all kind of the early preliminary stages. It’s hard to determine exactly right now how the Thunder are going to operate.
"I’ll tell you, every rival executive I’ve spoken to, they are 100% prepared for the possibility for Oklahoma City to do that. Because they are second in the Western Conference right now. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a legitimate MVP candidate. Chet Holmgren, to me, is easily the Rookie of the Year. There’s too many people expecting the Thunder are going to sniff around — with all of their draft picks, there’s just such a great opportunity for them to add someone to this right now."
Several names have been floated around, with the biggest one being Lauri Markkanen. If any NBA team is going to make a trade, the Thunder has a case for the most enticing offer. With a treasure chest of first round picks and a handful of intriguing prospects on the roster, Presti would be hard to beat.
Right now, it feels like the calm before the storm. If rival executives are already expecting the Thunder to be active, though, it could heat up in a hurry.
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