Thunderous Intentions
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5 key questions facing the OKC Thunder at trade deadline

By Tamberlyn Richardson

Danilo Gallinari, head coach Billy Donovan, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dennis Schroder, and Steven Adams of the OKC Thunder huddle vs 76ers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Danilo Gallinari, head coach Billy Donovan, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dennis Schroder, and Steven Adams of the OKC Thunder huddle vs 76ers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder : General Manager Sam Presti speaks to media at preseason media availability (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Should OKC Thunder add assets to improve the 2020 playoff run?

If last season taught franchises anything it’s that injuries can occur when you least expect them. While the Toronto Raptors had a superstar in the form of Kawhi Leonard their success wasn’t limited to his presence.

Just like the debate exists on whether the Golden State Warriors would have won with a healthy Kevin Durant the same can be said of the year the Dubs won the title facing the Cavaliers without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

The point is no one cares about those things in the grand scheme of things and once Larry O’B is in your hands it’s not like revisionist history will change that reality.

Many say a team’s ability to win the title comes down to a few simple factors.

  • Which team has the best player – (superstars if you will)
  • How well does a team play on the road?
  • What key advantages does a team possess over their opponent (like defense or clutch time prowess)?
  • It’s all about the matchup – DEPTH

Given those four main points, the Thunder can comfortably check off the middle two but are still working on the first bullet and have that closet of draft picks to foster their depth now and into the future.

After a rough 8-12 start to the season, the team found their chemistry with the system clicking as they registered a 22-8 record in the next 30 games. That’s a 73 percent win percentage.

Still, seven of those eight losses came against seeded clubs which highlights this team is still a work in progress and in need of depth and/or upgrades.

The biggest question Sam Presti faces this week is whether the franchise wants to begin that process right now. There’s no wrong answer here.

Certainly taking a wild swing for a player in a contract year who’ll only help for the remainder of this campaign doesn’t make sense.  Presti isn’t that cavalier and won’t fritter away picks or assets for a short term benefit.

That said, adding depth via quality asset(s) that would help the Thunder both this season and into the future is prudent. Therefore, Presti should be open to capitalizing on those draft picks and if there is value to be added by giving up a few picks he shouldn’t hesitate.

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