After losing Paul George and Russell Westbrook this past summer, nobody was expecting much from the Oklahoma City Thunder this season. Now half-way through this campaign, it’s clear that OKC is much more than the team we thought they’d be.
With Chris Paul, SGA, Steven Adams, Dennis Schroder, and Danilo Gallinari, the team has managed to keep their heads above the water.
But in a recent article by Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, the Thunder may still be major sellers this deadline.
“Danilo Gallinari, acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in the Paul George trade, is on an expiring $22.6 million contract. If the Thunder aren’t willing to commit sizable money to him this summer (they shouldn’t be), trading him for something now would be the smart play. The Clippers pulled a similar move last February, dealing Tobias Harris and his expiring contract to the Philadelphia 76ers in a package that netted two first-round picks.”
Some of the potential suitors of Gallinari include the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Miami Heat. n As a scoring, perimeter-oriented big man, his type of play would prove especially valuable for teams looking for a front-court spark.
As for Paul, Adams, and other core members of the team, their departure is still possible. Their surprising performance has increased their value and, for the right offer, there might be nobody off-limits in talks.
One way or another, you can expect OKC to be very active this trade deadline as they continue to look for tools to jumpstart their rebuild.
