Grading 12 trade deadline targets from no-brainer to palpably awful

Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets and Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks
Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets and Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks | Kevin C. Cox/GettyImages
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No. 7: Bruce Brown is a duplicative trade target

The Toronto Raptors added Bruce Brown as a part of the Pascal Siakam Trade, and they have made it clear they are open to flipping Brown to another team, but only if their asking price is met. The Thunder could almost certainly match that asking price, more easily than most interested teams, but the question becomes whether they should.

Brown is a solid defender, and underrated rebounder and with a team option for next season can either be retained, let go or traded in a larger deal. He is also just 6'4", more so merely duplicating Luguentz Dort's role on the team than giving them the size on the perimeter that they need. Brown is a solid player but the Thunder likely don't need him.

No. 6: P.J. Washington is a fine trade target

The Charlotte Hornets' season is in a tailspin, and nearly all of their players are rumored to be available on the trade market. While the Thunder could theoretically be interested in other Hornets players, the highest-profile target is P.J. Washington, a 6'7" undersized big man who seems to have plenty of suitors around the league until it actually comes time to either offer him a contract or givev up assets to trade for him.

Washington is strong and would be an interesting complement to Chet Holmgren as a frontcourt pairing, and he has a history of shooting better than his career-worst 33.1 percent this year. If Washington were available inexpensively, he would be a fine player to add. Given that other teams seem to be interested and that there is a good chance Washington would barely factor in the playoff rotation, this one seems like a pass.

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