OKC Thunder Offseason: 5 Low-key trade targets to add depth

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 14: Tomas Satoransky #31 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter during Game One of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on April 14, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tomas Satoransky;Pascal Siakam
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 14: Tomas Satoransky #31 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter during Game One of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on April 14, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tomas Satoransky;Pascal Siakam /
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OKC Thunder Offseason
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MAY 01: Oklahoma City Head Coach Billy Donovan is welcomed by General Manager Sam Presti to Chesapeake Energy Arena for the first time on May 01, 2015 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /

The cash-strapped OKC Thunder need to find cheap ways to improve quickly. Here’s how they could do it:

Let’s be real here, the Thunder probably aren’t going to do much more in free agency. After all, they’re already footing the largest luxury tax bill in NBA history and there aren’t any players left on the market whom could significantly close the gap on the elite teams in the Western Conference. But given that the vast majority of their roster is returning next year, they’re going to need to find other ways to better the team, if they want to win big.

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It’s no secret that they’ve had one of the league’s most archaic offenses ever since their move to Oklahoma, relying on tough mid-range jumpers and the creativity of their stars almost exclusively for their offense in a league where 3-point shooting and ball movement are at a premium.’

And, that was arguably their downfall in the postseason the last two years. Because while that type of offense works in the regular season, it’s exponentially harder to create space one-on-one when defenses tighten up during the playoffs.

Defensively, they’re one of the tougher teams in the league and with their best defender, Andre Roberson, set to return following a season-ending injury last year, they should improve. Sure they need more depth behind their starting five, but they can find high-energy stopgap players in the G-League if need be and they were on pace for an all-time great defense before Roberson went down.

To that end, here are some players for whom they could trade, and would help improve the roster: