3 not-so-obvious Thunder who should be off limits in a Lauri Markkanen trade

Throughout the offseason and, especially, over the last few weeks, the rumor mill has been churning like crazy regarding a possible OKC Thunder trade pursuit of Jazz star, Lauri Markkanen.

Following reports that the 27-year-old is more available in trade talks than many may have projected, crafted by loyal fans and established media pundits are a bevy of hypothetical blockbuster exchanges strewn across the interweb that see the tantalizing big man heading out to Oklahoma City.

Due to their enviable amount of young and promising talents coupled with their treasure trove of draft capital, be it in a blockbuster scenario for Markkanen or, frankly, any other available star in the association the Thunder are widely considered the top contender to construct an enticing-enough package to get a deal done.

Of course, even when it comes to established stars, limits to what Sam Presti and company are willing to cough up must be established and, when it comes to the players on the team's roster, there are a few not-so-obvious individuals who should be viewed as off limits in hypothetical negotiations.

Thunder Player No. 1) Cason Wallace

Cason Wallace may not have been a lights-out contributor from an on-paper perspective during his rookie campaign, but, for those who watched him play, all signs pointed to him having the ability to develop into a tremendous 3-and-D player out on the wing at the pro level.

Despite measuring in at just 6-foot-3, the 20-year-old boasts an incredible 6-foot-8 wingspan that he used to his advantage when going up against bigger and quicker opponents throughout 2023-24, especially when squaring up against Kyrie Irving under the bright lights of the postseason where he held the superstar to 34.8 percent shooting and forced him into four turnovers compared to only one assist in 19 total minutes of being matched up.

On top of his defensive excellence, Wallace was a tremendously consistent shooting threat from long range, cashing in on nearly three attempts per 100 possessions from distance at a 41.9 percent clip while also knocking down 44.2 percent of his three-point shots on catch-and-shoot attempts.

Add on that he had generated the fourth-most ever win shares in franchise history for a rookie along with the fact that he's only one year removed from being a top-10 selection in a rather impressive 2023 rookie draft class and there's no reason for the dynasty-pushing Thunder to give up on such a commodity this early into his career.