OKC Thunder: One free agent target from every Western Conference team
The NBA Free Agency Moratorium begins this evening at 6:00 pm EST with point guards being the main focus. Or at least, that’s where the first dominoes will fall. The OKC Thunder aren’t expected to be among the more active teams at the moratorium, but Sam Presti loves to surprise fans by going against the norm.
Whether that’s to pick up an aging veteran who he can resurrect the career of and turn into multiple draft picks or swoop in to grab an economical asset that might need a new start.
As the masterful Keith Smith notes only eight teams arrive at this stage of the offseason with any semblance of cap space and the OKC Thunder are right in the middle of those clubs.
One free agent the OKC Thunder can target from every Western Conference team
Akin to the companion piece to this article featuring Eastern Conference free agents many of the deals are expected to follow the Kyle Lowry decision. With this piece in the process of being composed updates shifted from favorable to likely for the Heat to land the Raptors bulldog.
Mentioned this on @SportsCenter this morning.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) August 1, 2021
The decision of Kyle Lowry has huge consequences for the rest of the league. pic.twitter.com/Whtrts7h5k
As per Bobby Marks, perfectly charted whiteboard demonstrates once the Raptors (and or Heat) confirm these signing the dominoes will flow. At the top of the list is the Mavericks and Pelicans who were among the top teams coveting Lowry.
However, the Spurs, Thunder, Pelicans, Bulls, and 76ers will also be affected either because they’re searching to add a point guard or have one they can jettison in a sign and trade (such as Kemba Walker on the Thunder).
In this Western Conference version again Intentions seeks to find the optimal free agent from every team but unlike the East in a few instances, the exercise proved unrealistic and hence impossible.