The OKC Thunder may be the top-seed in the Western Conference at 24-5 and currently amid the longest active winning streak in the NBA at nine straight, but even they have flaws within their game that still need to be addressed.
From underwhelming depth in the size department to a lackluster second-unit scoring punch, Oklahoma City has plenty of areas within their arsenal that could use for some addressing.
Recently, Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports dove into the weaknesses coach Mark Daigneault's roster possesses and, simultaneously, rattled off a list of seven trade targets he believes the franchise could pursue to help shore up these sore spots.
While all players mentioned are impressive talents in their own right, among the bunch is a clear hierarchy as far as who should be considered a higher priority target this trade season.
Ranking OKC Thunder trade targets from no way to must land
7. Pascal Siakam
Interestingly enough, Pascal Siakam is the biggest name mentioned on O'Connor's targets list, though is likely the least worthy of being made a trade priority for the Thunder this season.
Sure, he's attached to a resume that's headlined by two All-Star and All-NBA selections, an NBA Championship, and impressive 2024-25 season averages of 20.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists on 52.3 percent shooting from the floor and 43.5 percent shooting from deep, but also would come at a mightily steep cost.
As things currently stand, Siakam is only in year one of a four-year, $188.9 million deal that will pay him as much as $52 million during the final season under contract.
Considering the Thunder just signed Alex Caruso to a lofty new extension and are bound to shell out ample cash over the next two seasons to retain guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, adding on such a lucrative figure, even when coupled with someone of Siakam's experience on the hardwood and aiding to winning basketball, should be the least sought-after move.
6. Cam Thomas
Cam Thomas is a player many teams are keeping a close eye on as we inch closer to the February trade deadline and it's easy to see why.
A tremendous bucket-getter boasting averages of 24.7 points per game on 38.9 percent shooting from deep, the 23-year-old finds his talents wallowing away on the clearly tanking Brooklyn Nets (8-3 over last 12 games).
The on-paper logic of bringing on someone of Thomas' abilities to this Thunder roster is quite sound, as their second unit ranks eighth-worst in points per game this year.
However, based on recent rumblings, the belief around the league is that Brooklyn's asking price for his services is expected to be rather high.
Considering he's in the final year of his deal and is likely to draw a sizable new payday on the open market this coming summer, if Oklahoma City were to enter into the Cam Thomas sweepstakes they'd essentially be offering up significant capital for someone who very well could turn into a half-season rental.
5. Collin Sexton
Like Cam Thomas, Collin Sexton is a player who, if added to this Thunder team, could go on to have a seriously positive impact on the club's second-unit scoring punch.
A career 18.8 points-per-game scorer, through 29 games played in 2024-25 the combo guard is dropping 17.2 points a night on a highly efficient 48.1 percent shooting from the floor and 43.4 percent shooting from deep.
However, perhaps more enticing than Thomas is Sexton's current financial situation, as he's in year three of a four year deal that will be paying him a rather manageable $19.1 million in 2025-26.
As mentioned earlier, ample contract extensions appear to be on the horizon for guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. While this may be a bit daunting from a fiscal perspective, assuming they all put pen to paper this coming summer, the new deals wouldn't kick in until the 2026-27 campaign -- i.e., when Sexton's contract officially comes off the books.
If OKC were to be interested in adding a scoring guard to their arsenal, the 25-year-old may actually be the ideal option.
4. John Collins
Though they may have 7-footers like Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren on their depth chart, as we've seen with the wide-spread injuries ravaging the roster during these first few months of the season it can't hurt to have more size and multi-positional talents waiting in the reserves.
John Collins is someone who could provide both of these intangibles to this Thunder team with his 6-foot-9, 227-pound frame and 6-foot-11 wingspan, while simultaneously upping the second-unit's offensive punch with his inside-out play style.
On the year, the big man is posting 17.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and just shy of a block while shooting 52.3 percent from the floor and 42.4 percent from distance.
Though his salary of $26.8 million over the next two seasons may not be the ideal price point, considering his tweener-big potential along with his floor-spacing offensive approach, Oklahoma City could convince themselves to bite the bullet if they believe he brings them closer to a title.
3. Larry Nance
Larry Nance is one of the best veteran frontourt players the Thunder could look to pursue this trade season for a slew of reasons.
A Swiss Army Knife tweener-big, the 31-year-old has made a career for himself by providing consistent and highly efficient two-way skills and rebounding abilities as a contributor for regular playoff threats.
In 14 games played this season with the Hawks, Nance is dropping 9.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and just shy of a block while shooting a whopping 58.0 percent from the floor and 53.1 percent from distance.
A do-it-all big man being added to a Thunder frontcourt that could use a bit of everything? At the right price, adding Larry Nance Jr. should be a no-brainer.
2. Herb Jones
The New Orleans Pelicans are a sinking ship at 5-26 and, considering they sport the 12 most expensive roster in the entire league, they may be in the market to offload some of their more expensive contracts in exchange for cheaper and subsequently future-oriented assets.
Should this prove to be the case, Kevin O'Connor is urging the Thunder to shell out some of their draft capital for a chance to attain the likes of tantalizing two-way power forward, Herb Jones.
One of the game's best all-around defenders, following a fifth-place finish in the DPOY race in 2023-24, the 26-year-old is back at it again in 2024-25, particularly in the pick-pocket department where he's snatching away a career-high 2.9 steals per 100 possessions.
With his sensational defensive acumen along with his career averages of 10.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals on 47.8 percent shooting and 36.6 percent shooting from deep, Jones could prove to be one of the more ideal talents to have backing rising star tweener-forward Jalen Williams on the depth chart and within the rotation.
1. Cameron Johnson
Considered by many to be the prized jewel of trade season for the Thunder, Cameron Johnson should be viewed as the ideal target for a multitude of reasons.
One of the game's most elite long-range snipers, the 28-year-old is sporting a 42.9 percent three-point shooting clip this season while posting career highs in points (19.5), rebounds (4.4), and assists (3.1).
On top of this, he's a solid defensive talent with a career 113 defensive rating and has a proven track record of thriving as a tertiary option.
This completely stacked OKC roster that ranks a middling 19 in three-point shooting and 15 in total points scored, and that could only benefit from his 6-foot-8 frame down at the four should do whatever they can to attain this seamlessly fitting baller.
Even if it means coughing up some first-rounders and a few prop players in the process.