Thunderous Intentions
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The NBA Trade deadline is a pick your own adventure book for OKC Thunder

By Rylan Stiles

OKC Thunder trade deadline options : Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before the game (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder trade deadline options : Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before the game (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
Danilo Gallinari #8, Chris Paul #3, head coach Billy Donovan, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2, Dennis Schroder #17, and Steven Adams #12 of the OKC Thunder look on against the Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

OKC Thunder Options:

So the first option is the easiest to talk about and honestly will not rile up any fans. This fanbase has really rallied around this team, and no one would be upset if the organization just stays pat. The team is not only competitive, and has not only virtually locked themselves into the postseason, but still have a shot to host a playoff series!

Not trading Gallo, or Schroder also does not hurt your future. You can still trade Schroder this offseason as he is under contract. For Gallo, not only is an extension on the table, but a sign-and-trade is as well. That way you still get assets for him, if he walks.

The second option is to sell. For those of you that need this qualifier, the team will only sell these players listed with an offer that blows Sam Presti away. Although, I find saying that a bit redundant, Presti wouldn’t take a bad day after all.  Again, realize with this option no matter who Presti ships off, it would still take a historic collapse to knock the Thunder fully out of the playoffs. So selling does not really mean a lottery pick is inbound.

Who could the Thunder sell? I think realistically in the next 73 hours, you could see Steven Adams, Dennis Schroder, Danilo Gallinari, Terrance Ferguson, Andre Roberson, Abdel Nader, and Mike Muscala. Will they all get moved? No. Most of those names are matching contract guys, not assets. However, those are the names I would consider “available.”

Again that is a storyline that has been covered since the offseason when the organization traded away Paul George and Russell Westbrook.

The third option is one that is hardly if ever discussed. Frankly, with all the NBA media I consume, few if any are taking this approach. Option three is to actually buy.

Yes, I know, it is crazy on the surface. Why would this team buy at the deadline? They are not knocking off either of the LA squads. Would they really give up an asset to push all their chips into the center of the poker table to try and…get out of the first round?

Well, it actually would not take all that much of your future assets to improve this squad.

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