The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the Feb. 8 trade deadline as buyers for the first time in several years.
Sitting at 32-13 and in first place in the Western Conference standings, the Thunder hope to make a run at the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
The Thunder have broken open a contention window led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams round out one of the league’s best trios.
While OKC is not expected to make any blockbuster deals, expect it to possibly make minor upgrades to improve its depth.
The biggest weakness for the Thunder is their rebounding. OKC’s 47.7% rebounding rate and 41.2 rebounds per game both sit at 28th in the league. Outside of Holmgren, the Thunder doesn’t possess a traditional center.
This will likely be the top priority for Thunder general manager Sam Presti heading into the trade deadline. Adding a backup center with no long-term money committed could provide a boost to the roster.
The Thunder have plenty of draft capital and young prospects to facilitate any type of deal. Scouring through the league, let’s look at three bench big options OKC could add.