NBA Trade Rumours: 3 Players that are currently interesting the OKC Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a disappointing first-round playoff defeat to the Utah Jazz back last April, and this led many analysts around the NBA to declare that the Thunder had blown their final shot at winning an NBA Championship.

Nevertheless, last summer the Thunder managed to resign Paul George to a long-term deal, and OKC also managed to offload Carmelo Anthony in favour of the much younger Dennis Schroder.

These moves have put the Thunder in a position to contend and Billy Donovan's men have made a 26-16 start to the season. Despite this, the Thunder could still strengthen the roster this month, and here we will look at three players that are being strongly linked with a move to Oklahoma City.

#3 Taurean Prince

Prince in action against the Charlotte Hornets this season

Taurean Prince has been with the Atlanta Hawks since being traded to the team immediately following the 2016 NBA draft. Prince has quickly developed into a reliable performer for a struggling Hawks team, and during a recent episode of the 'The Ringer' podcast, Kevin O'Connor discussed the possibility of the Thunder signing Prince:

"Taurean Prince stands out as a player that a team should be targeting. I think you look at Atlanta, he is somebody you have to pay in two years, I’m not sure how he fits into the equation moving forward. I have heard teams like the Sixers, the Blazers and Thunder could be looking at Taurean Prince."

The 24-year-old is currently averaging 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, and Prince is locked into a contract until 2021. Ultimately, the Hawks man would be a great addition to the Thunder bench, although it is debatable whether OKC will be able to get a deal done by including a player such as Patrick Patterson.

#2 Kevin Love

Love signed a lucrative extension but has been sidelined through injury in recent months

Kevin Love won the NBA Championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2016, and shortly after LeBron James left last summer, Love signed a new four-year, $120million extension with the franchise.

Despite this, Love's future with the Cavs is currently in serious doubt, as the organization is currently looking for younger players to build around. With this in mind, Love has been linked with a number of NBA teams - including the Thunder - as NBA executives believe that OKC is one of a few realistic trade destinations:

"So if something happens with Love this season, it's going to have to happen fast. It's almost certainly going to have to involve a contending team that isn't afraid to take chances. Two teams that make sense on both fronts are Oklahoma City and Houston."

Love has played in just four games this season due to injury, although the potential addition of a third All-Star is an exciting proposition for the Thunder. Despite this, OKC would have to give up a number of players for Love, and the team would also have to be willing to take on the 30-year-old's huge multi-year deal.

#1 Enes Kanter

Despite being one of the team's best performers this season, Enes Kanter seemingly has no long-term future with the New York Knicks. Kanter's contract with the organization will expire this summer, and Heavy.com has linked the center with a return to OKC:

"There is a real possibility the Thunder could swing a trade for Enes Kanter, even though he's making more than $18.6 million this year. Unfortunately, Oklahoma City Thunder would likely either need to get creative or add someone like Dennis Schroder to the mix... On the opposite side, the team desperately needs big men, and if they could potentially bring another player in with Kanter, it may not be out of the question."

Enes Kanter previously represented the Thunder between 2015 and 2017, although the team eventually sacrificed the 26-year-old to sign Carmelo Anthony. While a reunion between OKC and Kanter seems possible, the Thunder will not want to give up much to sign their former player.