OKC Thunder: Pelicans floor spacers offer intriguing deadline options

The fit with OKC Thunder:

Options to land Moore:

For his salary Moore is an economical third or fourth scoring option. Where he offers real value to the OKC Thunder is his perimeter scoring efficiency. And, with Paul George playing the three Moore could easily be shifted to the two either as a starter or come off the bench to provide scoring punch and space the floor. Here are two different trade scenarios for Moore.

Since the Thunder covets wings and especially ones who can shoot Moore is one of the more tantalizing options available at the deadline. With teams centered on Paul George and Russell Westbrook for their primary defensive focus, Moore would get copious wide open perimeter looks.

What makes Moore less attractive is the recent rise of Terrance Ferguson and his uptick in perimeter efficiency, especially when it’s combined with his defensive strengths. How realistic is it to assume TFerg can maintain his current success from behind the arc? And even if it drops slightly the combination of his youth, potential growth and defensive prowess earmark him as an economical talent the franchise should want to retain and develop as part of the core.

Still, if the Thunder want to contend they’ll need to add more depth with a priority on floor spacing. Moore fits that need especially since he could be acquired with the $10.883 million tax exemption obtained in the Carmelo Anthony trade and must be utilized by July.

Options to land Mirotic:

The same trade option of Abrines and Patterson also works in the NBA trade machine for Mirotic if the Pelicans want assets back instead of salary relief.

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Like Moore, Mirotic who shoots over seven 3-pointers a game addresses an immediate need for OKC and is on an expiring contract. Throw in Raymond Felton who the team doesn’t need with Abdel Nader getting more run and this is a no brainer especially since the Thunder can view Mirotic in an audition capacity and either elect to enter negotiations with him in the offseason or view him as a short term rental.

Of all the trade scenarios TI will look at these two players are extremely enticing because they fill an immediate need. The big question is whether the Pelicans will be as invested in ridding themselves of salary versus gaining draft picks. If the Thunder could acquire either player via the tax exemption it’s the best case scenario.

It’s doubtful they could get both trades as the Pelicans won’t want to lose two assets without getting some picks back, so the likelihood of both trades happening is unlikely. However, I think Presti could probably convince Dell Demps to shed some salary for one of these two players.

Therefore let’s give this a healthy seven on our one to 10 grading scale and pull for the Mirotic option via utilizing the tax exemption.