How OKC Thunder could be dramatically impacted by James Harden trade

Trade could impact pre-existing draft picks Rockets owes Thunder

This offseason Sam Presti swiftly deconstructed his club to spark a rebuild he’s titled the ”Resiliency’ phase  Like the Thunder, the Rockets revamped their roster but with aspirations of being a championship team.

Russell Westbrook was traded to the Wizards in exchange for John Wall and a draft pick. Stone bolstered his core with free agents DeMarcus Cousins and Christian Wood.

The biggest question is whether the Rockets will want to remain competitive or shift gears and try to collect draft picks and begin a rebuild focusing on Wood in a similar fashion to what Presti is doing with Gilgeous-Alexander.

Wall and Cousins are 30 coming off long injury absences with Wall owed $41.3 M, $44.3 M, and $47.3 M (player option) over the next three seasons. Trying to emulate what the Thunder did last season is a possible strategy. But there is a huge difference between Chris Paul and Wall as his last regular-season game was boxing day 2018.

Regardless of the direction Stone chooses the Thunder will be impacted because OKC owns the Rockets 2024, 2026 first-round draft picks protected 1-4 as well as two draft swaps in 2025 and 2021 (protected 1-4). If Houston elects to rebuild the Thunder has to hope they are a lottery team but not a bottom four lottery team or suddenly those picks aren’t as valuable.

How the Harden trade could impact Gilgeous-Alexander:

Although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is technically a combo guard, his true position is point guard. Yet in every positional comparison ranking or awards category, he’s listed as a shooting guard.

Harden’s exit to the East could open the door — or more accurately slightly put it ajar with the opportunity for SGA to get an All-Star berth. Granted, the West is loaded in the backcourt but with Westbrook already in Washington should Harden head East it could offer an opportunity for the Canadian.