OKC Thunder trade primer: The Thunder join the New York firesale

[caption id="attachment_86330" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] OKC Thunder, Russell Westbrook (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption]rn With one day left before the trade deadline, T.I takes a look at the New York Knicks who are looking to trade everyone over the age of 21. rnThe New York Knicks are currently the worst team in the NBA, sporting a 10-42 record and doing its best tank for Zion impression. New York's fans are slowly but surely losing patience with the Jame Dolan-owned franchise as the team's ineptitude appears to know no bounds.rnrnPerhaps the biggest news out of New York was the trading of franchise cornerstone Kristaps Porzingis to Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1091076373765124108rnrnNo matter what stories come out of New York, no-one trades a franchise player on their rookie scale contract. While the Knicks did well to receive Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan , Wesley Matthews , and two future first-round picks, giving up KP is tough to swallow.rn The Enes Kanter Chronicles rnThe other controversy is centered around Enes Kanter . The Turkish big man is causing a stir in the Big Apple as he continues to be cemented to the bench under the direction of management.rnrnEven Knicks fans are getting in on the action, chanting Kanter's name when the team refuses to play the Turk.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/knicksnationnet/status/1092220859832446976rnrnNo-one knows where he ends up but one thing is for sure - he won't be in New York for much longer.rnrnWith that being said, let's take a look at the team situation and two players Oklahoma City should target at the February deadline.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Salary%20cap%2C%20future%20assets%20and%202019%20free%20agency" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_86332" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] OKC Thunder, Russell Westbrook (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Knicks Salary Situation: rn as per Spotrac: rn Active Roster Cap : $99,149,499rn Dead : $23,074,400rn Cap Hold : $5,473,310rn Total Cap : $122,223,899rn Cap Max Space : $-25,828,209rn Practical Cap Space : $-20,354,899rn Draft Pick Situation: rn As per Real GM rn 2019: rn rn t Own first round pick rn t Second-round pick to Brooklyn (via Philadelphia); least favorable of Orlando, Cleveland and Houston (via ORL swap for Cleveland or HOU (via CLE and HOU to NYK)) rn rn 2020: rn rn t Own first round pick rn t More favorable of NYK and BKN to PHI then other to Charlotte (via PHI to ORL); CHA rn rn Free Agent status for the next season: rn 2019 Restricted Free Agents: rn rn t Emmanuel Mudiay rn t Luke Kornet rn rn 2019 Unrestricted Free Agents rn rn t DeAndre Jordan rn t Wesley Matthews rn t Enes Kanter rn t Noah Vonleh rn t Mario Hezonja rn rn rnrn[nextslide teaser="Damyean%20Dotson" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_86333" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] OKC Thunder target Damyean Dotson (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Damyean Dotson rn 2018-19 - $1,378,242 rn 2019-20 - $1,618,520 rn 2020-21 - RFA rnrnTaken with the 44th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Damyean Dotson barely graced the court in his rookie season playing behind a guard rotation of Courtney Lee , Frank Ntilikina , Trey Burke , Jarrett Jack , and Ron Baker . The New York faithful have been clamoring for increased playing time for Dotson for the past two seasons and they've finally been rewarded with the 26-year-old the primary beneficiary of the Knicks poor form.rnrnAt 6'6, 210 pounds with a 6'9 wingspan, Dotson is an athletic wing whose improved his consistency from the outside. The sophomore is shooting 43.6 percent from the field, 37.8 from three while being able to defend some of the better offensive players in the NBA thanks to his quick feet.rnrnIn one of his best performances of the season, Dotson posted 22 points on 9-16 from the field and 4-8 from three in the Knicks 113-99 loss to the Boston Celtics.rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-d126h_GZcrnrnDotson is an interesting player as he does many of the small things well without being fantastic in any given category. He is still on his rookie-scale deal and would fit nicely alongside ball dominant players on a contending team.rn Potential Trade rnThe Knicks and Thunder engage in a trade where OKC send a young asset and a second-round pick to pick up Dotson.rnrn[trade league="nba" team_1_name="thunder" team_1_gets="Damyean Dotson" team_1_logo="thunder" team_2_name="knicks" team_2_gets="Abdel Nader, second-round pick" team_2_logo="knicks" /]rnrnAs good as Abdel Nader has been this season, he is still a year away from contributing and gets regularly burned on defense. Dotson is a capable two-way player who's shown flashes of being an excellent defender against strong offensive players in the NBA.rnrnNBA teams have begun to unveil wonderful talents later in drafts and Dotson could be another sleeper looking for a consistent shot.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Noah%20Vonleh" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_86334" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] OKC Thunder target Noah Vonleh (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption]rn Noah Vonleh rn 2018-19 - $1,512,601 rn 2019-20 - UFA rnrnThis could be a flash in the pan scenario but Noah Vonleh has performed exceptionally well this season after being left in Free Agency limbo last Summer. The 23-year-old has expanded his game by adding a 3-point shot to his excellent rebounding and a huge motor. After being thrown a lifeline with the Knicks, Vonleh is making every post a winner.rnrnWhile it remains to be seen whether his shooting numbers are legitimate, Vonleh is averaging 8.6 points and 8.6 rebounds on 46.8 percent shooting and 36 percent from three. The big man entered the NBA has a hustle power forward-center hybrid whose game was predicated on the block. Vonleh appears to have worked extensively on his jumper as he has attempted more threes this season than ever before.rnrnIn his best performance of the season, Vonleh posted a career-high 22 points (9-18 shooting, 3-11 from three, 1-2 free throws), 13 rebounds and two blocks in the Knicks 109-99 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di6VaYF8s4UrnrnVonleh helps two of Oklahoma City's greatest needs - 3-point shooting and rebounding. While OKC will need to renegotiate his contract next Summer, the big man solidifies the Thunder's front line.rn Potential Trade rn[trade league="nba" team_1_name="thunder" team_1_gets="Noah Vonleh" team_1_logo="thunder" team_2_name="knicks" team_2_gets="Patrick Patterson, second-round pick" team_2_logo="knicks" /]rnrnThis deal trades a veteran piece for an upcoming young big man whose game is blossoming acrossrnrn[related-category /]rnrnthe court. While the Thunder will miss Patrick Patterson's 3-point shooting, Vonleh is a long term play who could be retained for a cheap contract. The Knicks receive a second as compensation.rn Final Thought rnWith New York firesale well underway, the two targets above are gettable, low budget options who can contribute on both ends of the floor. While Dotson would be a better option given his contract, Vonleh would do wonders for OKC's frontcourt. The Thunder have been inconsistent on the glass and Vonleh would certainly clean up some of the team's issues.rnrn[story_link_next description="TI%20editor%20power%20rankings%20week%2015%20%E2%80%93%20dog%20days%20of%20winter" url="https://thunderousintentions.com/2019/02/04/okc-thunder-ti-editor-power-rankings-week-15-dog-days/" /]rnrnOKC is right up against the cap but given New York's position of hoarding picks and rebuilding, the Thunder must take advantage of a volatile situation in the Big Apple.

Thunderous Intentions

OKC Thunder trade primer: The Thunder join the New York firesale

Knicks Salary Situation:

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2020:

Free Agent status for the next season:

2019 Restricted Free Agents:

2019 Unrestricted Free Agents

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