With two days until the 2020-21 NBA trade deadline, the rumor mill is heating up as teams are jockeying to decide if they are going to buyers or sellers. Although it’s a simple answer for the OKC Thunder who’ll be sellers we might want to create another category for Sam Presti.
Perhaps we’ll call it the ‘Draft Pick Hunter”. Fox Sports or another national network could even create a half-hour reality show based on his pursuits. You might think I’m joking but seriously, the bespeckled magician that resides in the Thunder front office is seriously changing the landscape of the NBA.
He’s already distanced the Thunder from his peers with 18 potential first-round draft picks set to be conveyed over the next seven draft classes. Then there is his new penchant for targeting second-round picks particularly in 2027 (more on that in a future article).
Presti already jumped the line making deals to send Trevor Ariza to Miami and Hamidou Diallo to Detroit. Up until the final seconds’ tick away on Thursday, March 25th he’ll be looking to trade George Hill at a minimum. Presumably, the VP is also testing the market on Al Horford. That factor bolstered by the big man’s absence in the lineup recently — a telltale sign of making sure he’s healthy in order to facilitate a deal.
Other names leaping into the conversation are Mike Muscala who offers better value than some of the rumored available big men who can shoot. Likewise, Kenrich Williams stock has risen as a glue guy who checks multiple boxes. The comments made by Kenny Hustle’s coach are almost a rallying cry to potential suitors to make their best offer.
However, as this team continues to showcase competitive spirit, Mark Daigneault could literally start the last four guys on the bench and the guy who mops the floor clearing it of sweat from the players, and win.
While there is precedent to keep an open mind toward grabbing assets as well as picks this article will focus primarily on a few trades Sam Presti could pull off to add what he covets most —- MORE DRAFT PICKS.
With that objective in mind, TI perused the draft stock of teams with the onus placed on squads whose intention is to be a participant in postseason play.
OKC Thunder – The Draft Pick Hunter, Deal No. 1: Bulls for Al Horford
As of this morning, the banter is building to a crescendo with some perennial playoff teams seemingly ready to bow out and be sellers. Two such clubs are the Raptors and Pacers but neither would likely cause any interference or viable options for a player of Al Horford’s ilk. For one the Raptors need a big and the Pacers might be influenced to move Myles Turner but that also seems unlikely given Indiana finally figured out how to get Domantas Sabonis and Turner working in concert.
Moreover, unlike Presti, Kevin Pritchard isn’t the type of GM who takes on big contracts to flip them. Rather, he scours the league for economical deals (read: steals– like that of TJ Warren).
The reason this trade could work is the Bulls currently reside in ninth in the Eastern Conference and haven’t been happy with their front-court progression. Wendell Carter Jr. has come off the bench lately and Lauri Markkanen continues to struggle to find consistency.
Adding a player of Al Horford’s caliber helps the defense immediately improve. Big Al would serve as a solid veteran leader on the team. He’d become their defensive anchor (Bulls rank 17th defensively). Consequently, that’s precisely what the Bulls were hoping Otto Porter Jr. could do for them.
When Billy Donovan joined them he said part of his decision was based on the team’s commitment to be a title contender. In a similar fashion to how Billy D worked with Chris Paul in OKC, he could work in tandem with Horford in Chicago.
No, Al won’t move the marker substantially for the Bulls. However, they have a bonafide star in Zach LaVine and a host of youngsters ready to take a step up.
As for Otto Porter Jr., there are rumors the Bulls could buy out his contract, however, if you know anything about the Bulls they like to be frugal and would rather exchange contracts than pay out of pocket.
And hey, just as we’ve witnessed with CP3 and every player who dons a Thunder jersey landing with the Thunder could prove to be the Midas Touch for OPJ and resurrect his career.
For what it’s worth the ESPN trade machine accepts the deal and notes it would provide three additional wins for the Bulls.