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OKC Thunder: 3 players to monitor post James Harden blockbuster

By Mark Nilon

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 28: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards looks on during a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 28, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 28: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards looks on during a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 28, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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With this week’s James Harden blockbuster, many are expecting more moves around the league to follow. With this, there are a few players the OKC Thunder may want to monitor closely.

Though we at Thunderous Intentions were hoping that the OKC Thunder would take part in a trade as a third or fourth team to expedite a deal involving James Harden, Wednesday a blockbuster for the superstar went down and, unfortunately, Sam Presti wasn’t involved in any of it.

Now in Brooklyn, Harden joins the likes of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to formulate the best big-3 in the entire league and, in turn, thrusts the Nets up quite a few notches on the title-odds list.

With this newly established superteam, there will be many other organizations around the league that will try to bulk up their own firepower to try to combat Brooklyn’s and better position themselves for a run at glory come the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Like every season, we expect there to be a flurry of moves to come about during the days leading up to the March 25th trade deadline. Be it to trade away some of their flippable assets for draft picks, bring on an already established player to team with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or merely serve as a third or fourth team in a blockbuster deal, we hope the Thunder will be active in the trade department this season.

In regard to players who could potentially be on the move this season, there are 3 in specific we believe OKC should monitor closely:

Player the OKC Thunder should monitor No. 1) Aaron Gordon

Recently, Bleacher Report published a piece discussing NBA players that could soon find themselves on the move post the James Harden deal. One of the biggest talents found on the list was Orlando Magic power forward Aaron Gordon.

The 25-year-old is a player we’ve discussed a few times in the past as a potential trade target for the OKC Thunder and, should he find himself available this season, Sam Presti should strongly consider entering in trade negotiations.

Currently, the stretch big is posting impressive all-around averages of 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and just shy of a steal per game on 48 percent shooting from the floor and 36 percent shooting from deep. His skillset would seemingly fit beautifully alongside Shai-Gilgeous Alexander in the starting lineup and, with his age, he would fit the timeline this Thunder team is currently on.

However, if Oklahoma City doesn’t wish to add him to their roster, they still could find themselves getting involved in some sort of deal as a third team with another franchise to make money work and packages more enticing.

Either way, a talent like Gordon will likely have many teams inquiring about his services, and the Thunder should consider getting involved in one way or another.

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