OKC Thunder Trade Rumours: 3 things to expect before the trade deadline

After exiting the 2018 playoffs in the first round to the Utah Jazz, the Thunder's window of opportunity to win an NBA Championship looked to be over. The team was set to be weighed down by Carmelo Anthony's vastly overpriced contract, while All-Star Paul George was expected to swap Oklahoma City for Los Angeles.

Nevertheless, the Thunder managed to trade Melo away for Dennis Schroder, and OKC also managed to do what many around the NBA thought was impossible, as the team convinced George to sign a long term deal with the team.

After an immensely successful summer, the Thunder started the season slowly, although the team has since excelled, and are currently challenging towards for a top 3 spot in the Western Conference.

Nevertheless, the Thunder will still be active in the trade market over the next week, and here we will look at three things to expect from OKC ahead of the deadline.

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#3 The Thunder add a reliable shooter

Orlando Magic v New Orleans Pelicans

While the Thunder have enjoyed an excellent season so far, the team has continued to struggle while shooting from distance. This is part of a multi-year trend in which the Thunder have consistently been among the worst shooters in the league from beyond the arc.

The Thunder currently only boasts two reliable distance shooters in Paul George and Alex Abrines, however, even the latter has struggled this season and the Spaniard has barely featured in the last month.

The Thunder evidently needs to add a third scoring option or a player that can come off the bench and knock down three's. The team have been linked with moves for the likes of Wayne Ellington and Rodney Hood, and hopefully, Sam Presti can pull off a deal for a player in this mould.

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#2 Departures

Golden State Warriors v Philadelphia 76ers

While the Thunder may only make one or two further additions to the roster, a number of players could still leave the team.

The Thunder currently have immense depth thanks to their 2018 offseason business, although OKC's depth has reached the point where a number of capable players are not getting on the court.

Raymond Felton has barely featured for the team despite impressing during the 17/18 season, while reserve players such as Alex Abrines, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and Patrick Patterson have struggled to find a regular spot in the rotation.

In addition to this, the Thunder are also trying to give heavy playing time to young players such as Terrance Ferguson, Abdel Nader, and Hamidou Diallo. Evidently, Billy Donovan can't find minutes for everyone on his current roster, so a number of fringe players are likely to exit over the next seven days.

#1 The team will not add a third All-Star

Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics

Despite having one of the largest salary bills in NBA history, the Thunder have been linked with adding a third All-Star to the team. Both Bradley Beal and Kevin Love have been linked with a move to Oklahoma City, however, the addition of a third All-Star makes very little sense for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the Thunder have found a balance that they didn't have with Carmelo Anthony last season, and the chemistry between George and Westbrook has been a driving force behind the Thunder's excellent form.

In addition to this, OKC simply doesn't have the assets to get a deal for a third All-Star done, as the franchise won't be willing to give up George or Westbrook.

Ultimately, the Thunder are currently in the best shape that they have been in since Kevin Durant left in 2016, and the team won't risk making a huge trade ahead of the deadline.