16 trade options to push the OKC Thunder into title contention

Joe Harris

When Joe Harris came off contract at the end of last season, one hoped Oklahoma City would make a serious effort to acquire the 27-year-old wing. After being discarded from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks gave Harris a shot and the rest is history.

Harris signed a two-year, $16-million deal this offseason and doesn’t officially become available until January 15.

Would Brooklyn really do this?

This transaction is largely depending on what moves Marks makes next offseason and whether the Nets can attract a max level player. While the narrative surrounds Brooklyn’s two max available slots next year is somewhat semi-true, they will need to shed money to make it a reality (click here for a simple explanation of Brooklyn’s salary cap situation next season).

In the trade above, Brooklyn receives Abrines’ expiring deal and a future second-round pick. The deal:

• saves Brooklyn $7.67 million in salary 2019 free agency
• the Nets receive a future second-round pick as compensation

Whether or not Abrines and a second-rounder are enough to interest Brooklyn is debatable as Harris has emerged as one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA. On the flipside, Marks essentially flips a player he claimed off waivers into two assets while freeing up space to make a splash in free agency next year.

OKC gets a legit sniper

As for Oklahoma City, this is a slam dunk deal. Harris is a steady defender and a lethal 3-point shooter. The Thunder cannot shoot from the perimeter and rank dead last in 3-point percentage (32.2).

While acquiring Harris won’t solve all of OKC’s issue from the outside, he gives the Thunder a reliable source of 3-point marksmanship.