Why the OKC Thunder shouldn’t trade before the deadline

OKC Thunder (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
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OKC Thunder
OKC Thunder Hamidou Diallo (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

OKC Thunder surprising the critics:

OKC is on a roll winning eight of their last ten games to be sandwiched in between the sixth place Utah Jazz and eighth place San Antonio Spurs.

They came into the regular season thought to be a team with a bunch of draft picks who would win some games but not be relevant for a very long time.

But the Thunder knew from the outset that they were going to have a chance at competing with top teams. Some of their finest wins have come against the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and LA Clippers. Below are some of OKC’s victories this season so far recorded by ESPN.

  • Oct 28 v Golden State Warriors 120-92
  • Nov 16 v Philadelphia 76ers 127-119
  • Dec 9 v Portland Trail Blazers 108-96
  • Dec 10 v Utah Jazz 104-90
  • Dec 23 v LA Clippers 118-112

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In my opinion, trading wouldn’t elevate what the Thunder already have but interrupt the path that they are on right now to persistent team basketball. Their results show that they are doing better than teams who are not in rebuild mode such as the Trail Blazers who are currently sitting outside a playoff position.

They shouldn’t trade because they’ve got the right pieces to win now but also work so that they can contend for the ultimate goal of a championship in the future.

Winning games is great but winning frequently in the NBA is a hard thing to do. The Thunder has got the right mentality to maintain their success which is why trading would only hurt this ascension.