Over the years, the OKC Thunder have stacked their roster with an obscene amount of talent.
From MVP superstars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to promising young newcomers like Aday Mara, Oklahoma City's talent pool is filled to the brim with serious firepower.
Now, while this kind of depth is generally seen as a positive, for Nikola Topic, it could be seen as a driving reason to request a trade that sends him outbound.
At least, that's what the folks at Bleacher Report are arguing.
Nikola Topic may need a trade from Thunder in order to breakout
In a recent piece penned by Dan Favale, Topic was one of five listed players "25 and under who already need a trade."
Despite having flashed serious promise at times throughout his tenure in OKC, especially toward the end of last year when he posted a whopping 16.0 points, 12.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals on 50.0 percent shooting both from the field and beyond the arc in his two starts, due to previous health woes and serious guard competition, Topic is still "a veritable mystery box," according to Favale.
Unfortunately for him, it doesn't seem like this kind of label is bound to be shed anytime soon.
Even with the recent departures of guys like Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe, their vacated minutes are all but guaranteed to be swallowed up by the likes of Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Alex Caruso, and Jared McCain, leaving Topic once again on the outside looking in on extensive and meaningful playing time.
Because of this, with him heading into year four of his NBA career with just 182 total minutes between regular season and playoff action combined, coupled with the fact that a bigger role is far from expected should he remain with the Thunder, Favale believes the best thing for the 21-year-old recent lottery pick may be a fresh start on a brand new squad.
Thunder not averse to trading promising young talents
Though there are no signs that the Thunder are currently considering the idea of moving on from Topic, if they ever did, it shouldn't come as all that great of a shock.
After all, Sam Presti is far from reluctant to move on from promising young talents.
Whether it's Tre Mann or Josh Giddey, recent examples of the Thunder offloading exciting guard prospects, particularly those playing through or wrapping up their third seasons with the club, are by no means hard to find.
With his still enviable age, along with the understanding that many executives viewed him as a legitimate option to be selected either first overall in the 2024 draft before tearing his ACL or within the top-five pick had he declared for the class of 2025, there's no reason to believe Oklahoma City couldn't land a handsome haul for the 6-foot-6 floor general.
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