OKC Thunder: Top 5 Potential Trades Before the Deadline
Feb 2, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) dribbles the ball around Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
With the Oklahoma City Thunder two games out of the 8th seed and fighting for their playoff lives in the stout Western Conference, one way to improve their chances of getting in and also contending for a title is by trades. There are plenty of big names on the trade block right now. But which ones might help the Thunder win and, more importantly, which ones could actually happen?
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Sam Presti has been one of the best general managers in the league since he has become the head man for the Thunder. He has built this team mostly through the draft but he has been known to complete a few trades (the Jeff Green-for-Kendrick Perkins deal back in 2011 to name one). Presti has already made one move this year by acquiring Dion Waiters in a three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks.
Could another trade be the move that helps OKC get over the bump to make the playoffs and possibly win the NBA Finals?
The most notable Thunder player mentioned in some trade rumors is Reggie Jackson. Most people expect Jackson to be traded by the February 19th trade deadline but the Thunder won’t just trade him for the sake of trading him. They want to get some actual value for a player of Jackson’s caliber. A few other players that the team could be looking to trade are Perkins, Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb, Ish Smith and possibly Anthony Morrow.
The Thunder’s lack of future first-round draft picks makes it hard for them to include as trade assets but if it leads to additional wins this season, Presti might just make the move. With the help of ESPN’s Trade Machine, we can create some potential trade scenarios.
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