The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have as soon as once more established themselves as a star of the Western Convention, shortly seizing the No. 1 seed simply months after ending first within the convention.
Put merely, the Thunder’s roster is likely one of the finest constructed within the league. They’ve true top-five expertise in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, important two-way All-Star degree expertise in Jalen Williams, a plethora of defensive-minded guards in Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace, a really impactful 7. -footer to Isaiah Hartenstein, and Chet Holmgren ready within the injured wings proper now.
Even accounting for Boston, there’s an opportunity they’re the deepest group within the league.
Regardless of this, common supervisor Sam Presti and the group nonetheless have areas of enchancment. They in all probability needn’t do something apart from transfer out of their present roster, but when they needed to improve on the wing, the Nets’ Cameron Johnson suits the invoice.
At 6-foot-9, he is scoring 18.8 factors on 43 p.c taking pictures from 3-point vary this season, and whereas that may lower into some in OKC’s system, he is nonetheless confirmed to be a really impactful participant. Higher but, he suits the Thunder’s system effectively, even breaking an help ratio file earlier within the season.
Let’s check out what a deal between OKC and Brooklyn may appear to be:
This mock commerce highlights one of many fundamental issues holding OKC again from additional enhancing their roster.
In an effort to land Johnson, the Thunder should match his wage, which implies they should ship out practically $24 million. With Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Hartenstein off the desk, their prized starter in Dort is likely one of the solely gamers able to pulling off a good sufficient deal.
OKC definitely would not need to cope with their prized defender anytime quickly, however for our functions right here, we’ll embrace him. Moreover, the Nets get the No. 12 choose from final yr’s draft in Nikola Matter, who, regardless of being one thing of a thriller field, provides the group a promising younger level guard.
Including a high quality starter in Dort and a latest first-rounder in Matter, Brooklyn doubtless will not obtain any picks, on condition that Johnson is often solely valued at one first-rounder.
All issues thought of, this deal is unlikely to occur anytime quickly, neither is any deal that includes OKC sending out certainly one of its bigger, longer contracts.
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