OKC Thunder: B/R tabs Svi Mykhailiuk as ‘biggest flight risk’

For a team like the OKC Thunder, the future is a place more appealing than the present.

Of course, this is not to say the team isn’t living in the now and taking things day by day, but their main goal is to try and build the best squad they possibly can to find sustained success down the line.

This objective will not be achieved overnight and it will require many moving pieces in order to get the job done. Already this season, we’ve seen some moves made that clearly were executed with thoughts of the future in mind.

Kicked off by the deal that sent Hamidou Diallo to the Detroit Pistons and capped off with the George Hill trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, Sam Presti and co. have already gotten the ball rolling on clearing up the books and opening roster spots.

Though this roster looks set for the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign, during the upcoming offseason we expect the front office to continue parting ways with assets they don’t view to be beneficial for the long term.

While he may not be the biggest name found on the Oklahoma City roster, Svi Mykhailiuk seems to be one of the most likely players to not return to the team during the 2021-22 season, as he’s slated to hit free agency come the conclusion of this year.

Svi Mykhailiuk viewed by B/R as ‘biggest flight risk’ for the OKC Thunder

Despite being 23-years-old, which is certainly within the proper age range for most rebuilding teams, Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale believes the sharpshooter could easily find himself courted by other teams across the league and, with this, should be viewed as the ‘biggest flight risk’ for the OKC Thunder this coming offseason.

"Other teams might have that same vision, become enamored with his size and try to pry him from Oklahoma City. It isn’t yet clear how much of a fight the Thunder will put up to keep him. They can match any offer he receives, but his arrival as part of the Hamidou Diallo trade seemed more about the 2027 second-round pick than Mykhailiuk.Money shouldn’t be the primary problem. Mykhailiuk isn’t going to nab a cost-prohibitive deal. But the Thunder do have a long-term roster crunch on their hands. They project to have two first-round picks this year—their own and the Houston Rockets’ selection (top-four-protected) or the Miami Heat’s; the Golden State Warriors’ top-20-protected first probably won’t convey—and another three in 2022. With 10 roster spots most likely on lock for next year before considering inbound rookies, any free agent who fetches a multiyear deal must be deemed a flight risk."

Favale’s points on the potential problems the OKC Thunder may face should they re-sign him to a multi-year deal are certainly things to keep in mind.

With the fact that they hold a potential total of 34 picks through 2027, the team will need to keep a bevy of roster spots available and, outside of a select few players currently in tow, there aren’t many talents on the Thunder that should be in line for a long term contract any time soon.

This likely includes the likes of Mykhailiuk.