Considering they're currently the top-team in the NBA at 24-2, sport the deepest roster in the entire association, and are favorites to become the first back-to-back champion since 2018, it's safe to assume that the OKC Thunder aren't really looking to shake things up anytime soon.
That said, this doesn't necessarily mean they'll be dormant during this year's trade season. In fact, ESPN's Bobby Marks seems to believe that they should already be gearing up to make a few strategic moves ahead of the February 5 deadline.
Thunder urged to consolidate future first-round picks this trade season
In a recent piece breaking down how each team in the league should approach trades in 2025-26, the front office insider highlighted how the Thunder have a league-leading 13 first-round picks coming their way over the next seven seasons.
In many ways, this assortment of capital is precisely why the team is widely believed to be well-positioned to evade the second apron despite having three max players already on their payroll.
The theory is that once they have to make the hard decisions of parting ways with some of the higher-priced role players to shed salary, they can simply replace them with lower-cost draft prospects.
Considering the recent successes they've had with even back-end selections like Ajay Mitchell, such a strategy is far from a poor plan.
The problem, however, is the fact that it's hard to bank on late-first and second-rounders consistently developing into quality role players who can help aid in title runs like Mitchell and Aaron Wiggins.
Because of this, Marks is proposing the idea of the Thunder taking a page out of the Utah Jazz's playbook, where, back in January, they traded three of their lesser-valued first-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for an unprotected 2031 pick.
In this scenario, less selections at their disposal could wind up leading to more value in the long-term.
For every unprotected rights to the crumbling Clippers' pick and top-four protected 76ers selection they own, there are seemingly twice as many late first-rounders and middling second-rounders at their disposal.
Baring, say, a no-brainer trade idea that would land them a talent upgrade at a position in need of bolstering, holding onto their more valuable draft rights, and, instead, being more flexible with offloading several of their lower-end picks for a higher-end one, should be their coveted approach to trade season.
During these final months leading up to February, consolidation is key!