3 Players the OKC Thunder can afford to trade: 3 they must protect ahead of NBA Trade Deadline

3 Untouchable OKC Thunder players ahead of the 2023-24 NBA Trade Deadline.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a 17-8 record and a mountain of assets. While there is a portion of the fanbase that is comfortable just sitting back and letting this core group grow together, naturally another pocket of fans are clamoring for Sam Presti to make a move.

No matter which side of that argument you fall on, there are three players who everyone in Bricktown should agree are absolutely untouchable.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren is the big three, they represent the catalyst for what the OKC Thunder are trying to build for years to come in Oklahoma City.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders is an MVP-caliber player, landed in the top five in voting for the award a year ago, and early returns suggest he has inched closer to that top spot this season. The 30-point-per-game scorer is a guaranteed bucket who gets it done on the defensive end—a rare motor for a modern superstar.

Jalen Williams showed all the flashes you could want as a rookie, finishing runner-up for the Rookie of the Year Award, Williams was a large reason why the Thunder leaped into the postseason on their way to a surprise 40 win season.

Williams has a blend of versatile defense with a scoring profile that lets him get it done at all three levels. At his current trajectory, no one around Oklahoma City would be shocked to see the Santa Clara product as an All-Star in his career.

Then, you get to Chet Holmgren, who has changed the dynamic for Oklahoma City and has a solid case to be a first-time All-Star this winter as a rookie.

As trade fodder takes shape, it is clear you have to give to get. But there are three untouchable players on this Thunder roster, and three whose time might have passed them by in Bricktown.