The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the hottest teams the NBA currently has to offer.
A dominant 14-game winning streak that has officially broken the franchise's Sooner State record has propelled the team to the top seed in the West with a record of 28-5.
Returning cornerstones such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, along with offseason additions in Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, and Ajay Mitchell have been key contributors to the success.
Yet despite all this, now more than ever rumblings of potential Thunder trades are spreading like wildfire.
The team's abundance of moveable assets and a desire to contend for a championship make a trade scenario likely in the coming months. General Manager Sam Presti has made a mid-season trade in each of the past four seasons, dating back to the Hamidou Diallo deal in March of 2021.
Whether the move is big or small, it's reasonable to expect that fans will end up seeing a new face on the Thunder roster come February.
Some potential options have been heavily rumored, others not so much. Let's familiarize the fans with some individuals we could soon see in a Thunder uniform come February's deadline.
Players OKC Thunder could acquire this trade season
Cameron Johnson
Cameron Johnson is perhaps the most popularly predicted player to make his way to Oklahoma City this season, but it won't be easy to get him.
The 28-year-old forward is averaging a career-high 19.5 points per game on 43.6 percent shooting from deep through 32 games played.
Johnson's fantastic ability to play away from the ball and create space for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been something fans are clamoring for. Not to mention his four-year contract, meaning he would theoretically remain with the Thunder throughout the deal and stick around for the long haul.
Brooklyn holds him in high regard and seems to have him priced at a king's ransom. That said, many believed the Nets sold low after trading away Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith for packages that included no first-round picks.
It's possible that Johnson's value drops down to a price that Presti views more fondly. He's highly coveted by contenders around the league, but the Thunder have the assets to outbid any other suitor.
Malik Monk
Sacramento recently fired Head Coach Mike Brown, proving that they're willing to make changes if the current team isn't producing wins. If the team's record doesn't get above .500 by February, a roster shakeup may be imminent.
The Kings rotation is lacking wing defenders and shooters, something that Malik Monk has not been this season.
The Thunder, however, have plenty of three-and-D wings to offer. In what could be a rare win-now trade for both sides, the Thunder could look to swap a combination of backup wings like Aaron Wiggins, Ousmane Dieng, or Kenrich Williams for Monk.
Despite having a down-year shooting, the veteran is still an explosive scorer off the bench. His athletic finishing and hot hand can bring a punch to the Thunder bench that it's lacked over the years.
Monk is comfortable taking double-digit shots in a game when necessary and can be the offensive engine of the second unit with Oklahoma City.
D'Angelo Russell
D'Angelo Russell recently joined Johnson in Brooklyn as a part of the trade that sent Finney-Smith to the Lakers. However, that doesn't guarantee he'll stay there for long.
Russell is viewed as a top buyout option, as the Nets aren't looking to contend and Russell is more of a win-now type of talent.
If he gets bought out by Brooklyn, the Thunder should look to scoop him up.
The former All-Star is one of the most polarizing players in the league, but that's a common theme for big market players.
Russell has both thrived and struggled mightily in the playoffs throughout the years, but it's undeniable that his skillset can help fill a void on the Thunder bench. It's important to mention that although Russell plays the same position as rookie sensation Ajay Mitchell, there would be no obligation to play him in heavy minutes if he doesn't fit well with the team.
If acquired, he would immediately become at least the fourth, if not the third-best ball handler on the team.
He's had experience both as a lead guard and a secondary creator, so his versatility fits right in with the bench mob.
Russell also provides spectacular shooting. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, he's sitting at 37.9 percent shooting from deep. It's clear that, outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City struggles with half-court creation against top defenses.
At the end of the day, Russell is a low-risk, high-reward asset, and a proven veteran who could help to solve this problem.
Saddiq Bey
The Villanova product has yet to play a game in 2024-25, as he's still rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered back in March of last season. During his absence, youngsters like Bilal Coulibaly and Justin Champagnie have managed to breakout, which, in turn, could create some sort of a logjam within Washington's frontcourt once Saddiq Bey makes his return in the coming months.
This could mean the team may be willing to move on from the veteran for a small price.
Bey has had an up-and-down career, mostly with bottom-feeder teams. However, along the way he has established himself as a solid offensive role player who boasts career averages of 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 35.2 percent from deep. Such contributions would be welcomed with open arms to Oklahoma City's second unit.
More importantly, bringing on the likes of Bey could help the Thunder in the long term, for acquiring his three-year, $19 million deal gives the team flexibility to use him as a trade piece down the road. Attaching his salary as filler with picks could potentially land the club a future asset when money is tighter.
Chet Holmgren
The rising star has been sidelined since November 10 with a right iliac wing fracture. However, he's ramping up his on-court training as the season continues and is expected to return before the playoffs.
During the 10 games he played this season, Chet Holmgren averaged 16.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. The big man's elite defensive presence will only strengthen what's already being considered one of the best units on the less glamorous side of the ball that the game has ever seen.
Even if the Thunder don't make a splash on the trade or buyout market, don't forget that the biggest addition of all is already on the team!