3 Thunder players who increased their trade value this season

As currently constructed, this OKC Thunder team is in serious contention for any of the top three seeds in the Western Conference standings and is viewed as a legitimate contender to take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren leading the charge, Mark Daigneault's squad appears to have the makings of becoming a serious title threat for the foreseeable future.

And yet, despite this lofty status, be it following an NBA Championship this year or falling short of one, come the offseason fans and analysts alike should expect this franchise to endure quite a number of shakeups, particularly when it comes to their talent pool.

Whether it's in an effort to clear cap space or to simply open up extra roster spots to add more desirable commodities into the fold (remember, they still have a boatload of first-round selections coming in between now and 2029), this summer the Thunder could opt to move on from several players currently found on their depth chart.

While there are many courses of action they could take to accommodate such endeavors, should they look to the trade market as a method of parting ways with players, fortunately for them there are a few names, in particular, that managed to raise their stock significantly with their on-court play in 2023-24.

3. Ousmane Dieng

Since coming into the association as the 11 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Ousmane Dieng has spent the vast majority of his time suiting up in the G League for the OKC Blue due, in large, to the overwhelming number of frontcourt talents the Thunder roster.

From having rising stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren to glue guys like Jaylin Williams and Aaron Wiggins already in front of him on the depth chart, playing time at the varsity level was always destined to be limited for the high upside, albeit raw French prospect.

However, even with this uphill battle, the 20-year-old has still showcased his potential to become a quality two-way contributor in the association, especially while receiving ample run in the development league where he just recently dropped 12 points, 7 boards, 4 assists, and 3 blocks and helped guide his team to a crucial Game 2 victory over the Maine Celtics in the G League Finals.

Though far from being considered a complete package, his on-court productivity should not be going unrecognized by rival clubs. The concept of nabbing a recently selected lottery pick still attached to a rookie-scale deal through 2025-26 is something that could be quite appealing on the trade market.