For years now, fans have been waiting for the OKC Thunder to make some sort of splashy move on the trade market.
With their obscene collection of draft capital and enviable assortment of former lottery-selected talents, if they wanted to Sam Presti and company could realistically strike on a deal that would make the recent Luka Doncic-to-Lakers blockbuster look like a mere salary dump.
Unfortunately for these excitement chasers, Oklahoma City has yet to cash in on their treasure trove of trade chips. Frankly, considering they are the top-seed in the Western Conference standings and sport the best record in the NBA at 44-10 at the NBA All-Star break, it's hard to argue their decision to hold back has been misguided.
However, this is not to say that a trade of great magnitude will never be executed by the Thunder, especially if they fall short of taking home the Larry O'Brien Trophy yet again come to conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign.
If this unfortunate scenario becomes a reality, there are projected to be plenty of high-profile ballers available on the summer trade market that OKC could look to add to their arsenal ahead of next season.
In fact, based on recent rumblings, there's one specific star all eyes will be focusing on over these next few months who not only is expected to move on from his current team but, to the folks at The Dunker Spot Podcast, could be an ideal addition for this Thunder club.
Kevin Durant trade to OKC Thunder 'seems terrifying' for rest of NBA
After several failed attempts by the Phoenix Suns to move superstar Kevin Durant ahead of the February 6 trade deadline without his knowledge, news has surfaced suggesting that not only does the forward feel "blindsided" but ESPN's Brian Windhorst has revealed this could lead to him "breaking up with the Suns in the summer."
Because of this, it should come as no surprise that NBA pundits and sports heads alike have been constantly discussing where he may wish to bring his talents and which team would be the best fit for his services.
In the eyes of both Nekias Duncan and Steven Jones of The Dunker Podcast, the Thunder seem to be a fit that checks off both boxes as they recently listed the ball club as the top landing spot for Durant this coming offseason.
"The Thunder could very well be coming off of a championship this year with how well they've played. And they would still be in a position to say 'You know what, it got a little spooky in that six or seven-game series with insert Eastern Conference team here... Let's add some juice to the halfcourt offense. Let's add Kevin Durant to all of this.' They could do it," Duncan said.
As Duncan noted in his assessment, the Thunder could realistically find themselves winning an NBA Championship by the time this season comes to an end.
Though they could simply opt to run things back as constructed for the 2025-26 campaign, adding someone of Durant's caliber to this team would only make them a better and more dangerous unit, especially when considering he'd be joining forces with three of the game's best young ballers in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
And it's not like they'd have to gut their entire core rotation to acquire the 15-time All-Star, for, as Jones stated: "They have the picks, they have the players that they could just kind of put together something without necessarily altering too much of what they do."
Now, despite the jaw-dropping effect a Durant and Thunder reunion would have on most sports fans, for many OKC die-hards such a hypothetical is far from desirable.
From fears that his addition would disrupt the chemistry of this young and promising squad to the unhealed wounds and bitter tastes left from his 2016 free agency departure for the Golden State Warriors, plenty of members of the Oklahoma City faithful have repeatedly voiced their disdain for the idea of KD's return.
However, putting all the drama from the past aside, teaming a former league MVP, two-time NBA Finals Champion and NBA Finals MVP, and a career 27.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on 50.2 percent shooting from the floor and 38.8 percent shooting from deep brand of player with guys like SGA, J-Dub, and Chet could easily create the best quartet in the association.
On top of this, even after parting ways with several draft picks and multiple players to make room for his $51 million salary, the Thunder would still have plenty of first-round selections remaining within their possession to help fill any rotational gaps post-blockbuster.
Durant's return to the Sooner State would not only make this OKC team even more menacing than they already are -- which, at this point, seems almost impossible --, but it could also subsequently help fix his reputation a la LeBron James re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2014.
Should both parties be open to reuniting, there's little reason to believe that KD joining this Thunder core would be anything less than "terrifying" (as Duncan described it) to the rest of the NBA.