Could OKC Thunder make a move for Donovan Mitchell?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are sitting on history draft capital at the start of their rebuild. On top of their future picks, the Thunder own the 2nd, 12th, 30th, and 34th picks in the 2022 NBA Draft while already having a foundational core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, and Lu Dort. As the NBA turns, there appears to be trouble in paradise for Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz, is now the time to push all-in for a disgruntled NBA star?

The OKC Thunder will be thrown into every trade rumor from now until approximately 2045 due to their rebuild status and future draft assets. The NBA is the best drama on television and unlike any other sport, a lot of fans love the offseason more than when games are actually happening, that continued on Sunday just hours before the NBA Finals tipped off.

While game two between the Celtics and Warriors will continue to be a story, one of the biggest headlines today is the fallout from Utah Jazz head coach Quinn Snyder stepping down from his role. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Snyder’s move, and immediately followed it up with a report that Donovan Mitchell is “unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise’s future.”

Should the OKC Thunder push all in for Donovan Mitchell in a trade with the Utah Jazz?

Brace yourself, rumors are coming. OKC is one of the best leverage spots for agents, front offices, and anyone with a motive to drive up the price point on a trade package that includes Donovan Mitchell. Decoding these rumors will be the fun part.

Should the Oklahoma City Thunder go all in for Donovan Mitchell? Well, it still feels too early in this rebuild to do so. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is under contract for five more seasons, Josh Giddey is under contract for eight more seasons, and whoever is the second overall pick come June 23rd will have nine seasons of control left in OKC.

Donovan Mitchell will not hit the free-agent market until 2026, he is one of the perfect candidates to go all-in for given he would be locked into OKC, unlike most star players who only become available when they have less than two years of control left. However, unless the Jazz wants a package centered totally around draft picks, how much closer to a title does Mitchell get this current OKC roster without someone listed as a foundational piece above?

I still think this is not the right time to make an all-in move but who wouldn’t celebrate a Donovan Mitchell trade in Bricktown? While he has not officially requested a trade, there is a lot of smoke around him leaving Utah this offseason.