Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

2 teams that could trade draft capital to the OKC Thunder

By Mark Nilon

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics dribbles during the first half of Game Two of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on May 25, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics dribbles during the first half of Game Two of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on May 25, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
OKC Thunder Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

OKC Thunder trade partner No. 1) Detroit Pistons

Ok, so the inclusion of the Detroit Pistons on this list may be a bit perplexing to some, but hear us out before writing them off.

Like the OKC Thunder, the Pistons officially invested in the tank this past season and they finished off the year with the second-worst record in the league at 20-52, thus giving them the second-best odds (just ahead of the Thunder) to score the first-overall pick.

Now, while the Houston Rockets are still ahead of them in the draft odds, there’s obviously still a chance that they land the top selection, and have solid odds to land within the top-3.

Put it this way: be it the No. 1, 2, or 3 spot on the draft board that Detroit falls to, if the Thunder find themselves landing outside of this range — which they did in a recent mock –, and wish to try and move up, there’s a solid chance they could negotiate a deal.

Unlike the Rockets, who have a long road back to respectability and house many holes within their rotation, the Pistons, what with the fact that they already have a budding star in tow in Jerami Grant, already have a solid player they could start to build around.

Hypothetically speaking, should Presti go ahead and offer up both of the team’s first-rounders in exchange for their higher pick (assuming they want one of the top prospects that won’t be around when they are expected to be on the board), such a deal could wind up working in both team’s favors.

For Detroit, they get more picks to help fill the gaping holes around Grant.

For OKC, they offload some of their future picks (after all, they can’t keep all of them) in exchange for the player they most likely revere the most in this coming draft who, to many, seems like a generational talent.

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