Category: Trade Week

HoopsHype: Thunder should be aggressive, scope market for young players at deadline

HoopsHype said the OKC Thunder shouldn’t be scared to trade some draft capital if the right young player hits the market.

Most are writing the Oklahoma City Thunder should be sellers at the deadline. Ship out George Hill. Try to find a taker for Al Horford and keep gathering assets.

HoopsHype is on the other train: Don’t be afraid to trade one of the picks you have. Use this time to scope the market for young talent available.

Be aggressive.

That was site’s message in its trade deadline primer with the March 25 date rapidly approaching.

Oklahoma City should either give salary relief to teams in the luxury tax or try to find a player in the mold of John Collins.

“They have enough draft equity to acquire a foundational player. For example, they could easily meet Atlanta’s demands for John Collins and, if they want him, could make the best offer on the market with multiple future first-round picks.”

The Atlanta Hawks big is young and talented, but he’s about to reach restricted free agency and could demand a hefty contract. If the Hawks trade him, the Thunder could have interest because they have cap space and a need for young talent, HoopsHype argues.

“While it’s arguably too early for the Thunder to make a consolidation trade like that, they also can’t possibly keep and make a selection with every single draft pick they’re owed. If they could turn some of those picks into a great player they covet who is very young, they should consider it.”

It’s definitely too early for the Thunder to do that. They’ll have to find a balance between Boston Celtics’ Danny Ainge (never trade the picks) and a spending spree (in the mold of the Hawks this offseason, who may have dived in a year too early).

Outside of that, HoopsHype focused on Hill, Horford and Trevor Ariza.

The outlet wrote that Hill and Ariza could be acquired for the right price (we’ll amend that to say Ariza could be acquired for literally any price. It seems likely he’ll be bought out, so the Thunder can save a little bit on his remaining salary and Ariza can sign with a team of his choosing for a cheap salary).

Horford “has rehabilitated his value after his strange season in Philadelphia and could help many competitive teams right now,” wrote analyst Yossi Gozlan.

That doesn’t mean he’ll be traded, though.

“His high salary and the Thunder’s high price demand could delay a trade involving him until the offseason.”

That all is true.

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The other name to watch is Mike Muscala, the stretch-five on a $2.3 million expiring contract.

Those are a few names the Thunder could and should consider trading.

Let’s get to it.

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Welcome to OKC Thunder Wire 2021 Trade Week

With the NBA Trade Deadline of March 25 rapidly approaching, OKC Thunder Wire will begin its 2021 trade week with proposals and ideas.

Welcome to the OKC Thunder Wire trade week.

Over the offseason, staff writers put together a list of trade proposals the Oklahoma City Thunder could pursue. We’ll do the same now that the All-Star Game has come and gone and the March 25 trade deadline is rapidly approaching.

Many of the trade ideas presented will be our own. Other pieces will be analysis of trades created by national outlets such as Bleacher Report or our sister websites in the USA TODAY Sports Media Group.

Most, if not all, will be centered around George Hill, Al Horford or Mike Muscala.

Tune in daily to check out different trade avenues the Thunder could pursue to cut costs and retrieve players for the future.

This post will be updated daily with links to content throughout the week.

Trade idea: Spurs trade for Schroder for one final playoff run with DeRozan, Aldridge

The San Antonio Spurs could trade for Dennis Schroder to make one final run at the playoffs with LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan.

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The San Antonio Spurs have one more year of DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge before they hit a reset and start over.

Maybe they want to acquire one more good player and try to make one final run at the postseason.

Trading a few young players for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder could put them in chase of the postseason.

In return, the Thunder would gain a some one-year deals and depth going into the 2020-21 season.

The proposal

Thunder receive: Derrick White, Trey Lyles, Chimezie Metu, Keldon Johnson

Spurs receive: Dennis Schroder

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Why the Thunder do this

The key piece of this trade is Derrick White, who looks like he can be a role player for a long time and only costs $3.5 million this season before he enters restricted free agency next year.

The rest is salary filler with some upside.

Early in the career of Trey Lyles, the power forward flashed legitimate potential. Midway through his first season with the Denver Nuggets in 2017-18, he averaged about 15 points and seven rebounds over a 30-game stretch, 28 of which came off the bench.

He hasn’t shown that skill set consistently since, but at $5.5 million for one more year, it’s a low risk for Oklahoma City to take him to back up Darius Bazley at the 4 and see if they want to sign him for another couple years.

Keldon Johnson spent most of his rookie season in the G League. He only appeared in 17 NBA games, eight of which were in the bubble.

But over those eight games, the small forward was excellent. He averaged 15 points, 4.9 rebounds and shot a whopping 69.2% from 3, albeit on only 1.9 attempts per game.

This was in part a result of teams playing bench and depth options way more over those eight games, but he showed some promise. He has three more years on his contract to showcase that more often.

Chimezie Metu, who is 23, is simply depth at power forward and a little extra salary cap filler to make the deal work (the Spurs are also releasing the cap hold on Tyler Zeller in this deal).

So Oklahoma City gets a couple young players to look at and gives Lyles one more chance. There aren’t any draft picks, but let’s be real — the Thunder have plenty of those already.

Why the Spurs do this

Here is the list of guaranteed contracts on the Spurs roster in 2021-22:

  • Dejounte Murray

Here is the list of players with options:

  • Lonnie Walker
  • Luka Šamanić
  • Keldon Johnson

That’s it. The Spurs have one more year of playing with experienced veterans. The contracts of DeRozan, Aldridge, Rudy Gay and Patty Mills expire after this year.

Gregg Popovich would surely like to run this team back one more time with all the ammo he can.

Adding Schroder doesn’t ensure a playoff spot, but he does make this group better and adds explosiveness.

If he starts next to Murray, that’s a very, very good defensive front. If San Antonio brings back Bryn Forbes, the three of them plus Patty Mills make up an underrated guard corps. Plus, Schroder has enough experience in three-guard lineups — he was part of the Thunder guard group that had the best three-man net rating in the league — that Popovich could get creative.

If the Spurs have to hit a reset, and they aren’t able to trade the expiring deals of DeRozan and Aldridge, they may as well try to make one more eighth seed. Schroder is an easy way to help the team without affecting future salary space or giving up draft capital.

Why the Thunder don’t do this

The Thunder would only save about $3 million in cap with this trade. Most the players are still on expiring deals, so it doesn’t give them long-term help, unless they decide to re-sign White and Johnson ends up being better than a first-round draft pick that they would receive in return.

But even those two have issues: White is only a year younger than Schroder, and Johnson spent almost all season in the G League. It’s unlikely those eight pre-playoff bubble games are indicative of NBA-readiness.

This trade may net the Thunder a handful of good young players, but it also may be a good player for three guys who won’t be on the team next year and the No. 29 pick in last year’s draft. Surely Schroder can net a better return, right?

Why the Spurs don’t do this

Derrick White has some value. On Zach Lowe’s podcast with Bill Simmons, White came up in conversation, and Lowe said, “I know a lot of teams are going to call the Spurs about Derrick White, for instance … ‘Maybe I’ll call about Derrick White and see if I can get him.'”

That could lead to possibilities, including a team offering better than Schroder or the Spurs simply wanting to re-sign White to a long-term deal.

They’ve also got to be intrigued with Johnson after his bubble performance. He has three more years on his contract before he hits restricted free agency, and this year he has a salary of just $2 million.

Does the organization think it has a legit chance to make the playoffs in the Western Conference with the Golden State Warriors set to return, the Memphis Grizzlies hoping for vengeance after just missing out on the eighth seed last year, the New Orleans Pelicans entering Year 2 with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Minnesota Timberwolves adding the No. 1 pick, the Phoenix Suns entering with high expectations and some desperation, and a Sacramento Kings team with a new front office that was in the middle of this run last year?

If that answer is no, it doesn’t make sense to trade White and Johnson for Schroder.

Who says no?

I’m not going to pretend to know how to read the Spurs office. How much of win-now mode are they in? Are they willing to make a push and give up potential future help? I do not know.

The Thunder, meanwhile, can probably get better return for Schroder. If they do this, it feels more like a trade that happens to a rebuilding team during the season as losses stack up, not the return of a front office trying to put together an advantageous offseason.

This feels like a trade that would happen if the Spurs are particularly optimistic and the Thunder are relatively pessimistic.

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Thunder and Sixers could flip centers Adams, Horford in salary swap

The Philadelphia 76ers need to get off Al Horford’s contract. Would they take on the salary of Steven Adams, who is also not a good fit?

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This isn’t the most glamorous of trades, but the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers swapping centers could work out for both teams.

The Sixers need to find a way to get out of Al Horford’s contract and solve the fit problems that he poses in the lineup. The Thunder, meanwhile, have a center who is on an expiring contract in Steven Adams.

It’s not a perfect trade by any means, but both teams would get positives out of it.

The proposal

Thunder receive: Al Horford, 2021 first-round pick

Sixers receive: Steven Adams

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Why the Thunder do it

This trade all comes down to the first-round pick. If Oklahoma City does succeed in trading Adams, there are few few ways to envision a deal landing a first-rounder in return. This is one of the only ways.

Horford has three years left on his deal at an average of $27 million per season. His first year perfectly matches Adams’ $27.5 million contract. In the short-term, this is the Thunder acquiring a first-round pick at no cost.

Beyond one year, Oklahoma City would have to find another trade to get off Horford’s contract. There’s reason to believe he still has talent — he’s just one year removed from a strong season with the Boston Celtics, one which earned him a deal worth $109 million over four years. It’s possible his struggles are more due to the poor fit with the Sixers than any real talent loss.

If that’s the case, he can revive some trade value and the Thunder could feasibly trade him for a second-round pick next offseason. That is what would make this a good deal for Oklahoma City.

Why the Sixers do it

Philadelphia would be a legitimate title contender if their floor spacing was better. Adams wouldn’t solve this problem, but the fact that he only has one year left on his contract does give them a chance to make this work.

There are a few avenues the 76ers could go if they get Adams. The ideal one is to trade him to a team in need of a center on an expiring deal and get back a second-round pick or an inexpensive bench option. That return would be as minimal as possible, but it would be a lot easier to trade Adams than Horford.

Another is to play him as a backup big. Adams a starting-caliber player to be sure, but the Sixers already know he won’t fit next to Embiid. If the star gets 30 minutes per game and Adams gets 20 minutes per game, that only puts them on the court at the same time for two minutes. Adams wouldn’t be happy, but again, it’s only a one-year deal. They’ll separate after the season.

The third option is to simply waive him. Adams would find a different team, and while paying him $27.5 million for no reason hurts, it’s better than paying Horford $81 million over three years.

In fact, saving that $27 million next offseason will put them one Tobais Harris salary dump away from creating max cap space in what is expected to be an absolutely loaded 2021 free agency class.

Why the Thunder don’t do it

The thought of paying Horford $81 million over three years is tough to swallow. If the Thunder can’t trade him and the Sixers are improved next year, they may have eaten this contract for a pick in the mid- to late-20s. That’s not a good deal.

It would be much, much simpler to either let Adams finish out his contract in Oklahoma City or find a suitor who will give the organization a second-round pick.

Why the Sixers don’t do it

In Year 1, this isn’t even a salary dump, as the contract of Horford is within $30,000 of Adams’. Giving up a first-round pick to swap these salaries for what would be an even worse fit is not a good idea, on paper.

But this is Daryl Morey’s team now, and his former organization, the Houston Rockets, never used their first-round picks.

That’s barely an exaggeration. Their last first-round pick was in 2015, when they selected Sam Dekker. Morey is not afraid of missing out on late first-round picks.

Opening up that money ahead of the 2021 free agency class is smart and necessary.

Who says no?

In my mind, giving up a late first-round pick is worth it to get out of Horford’s contract. If the Sixers do their due diligence and find nobody else will take Horford, they almost need to do it, not just for this year but for the 2021 free agency.

The Thunder, however, would be less interested. A rebuilding team needs to be getting off $20 million-plus contracts, not tacking on more years of paying 34-year-old players this much money.

I don’t think Oklahoma City says yes, but their is some relatively similar precedent: Just last offseason they traded for Chris Paul. Granted, his contract is less expensive and for fewer years than Russell Westbrook, but a team that was supposedly rebuilding added an expensive 35-year-old.

Then they revitalized his trade value. If Presti is confident his new coaching staff can do the same, the Thunder just won a first-round pick and potentially more.

If the Sixers need to convince the Thunder, they could also swap 2020 first-rounders. Oklahoma City would get back the No. 21 pick that originally belonged to them, and Philadelphia would slide down to pick No. 25.

That may make it easier for the Thunder.

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The Sixers are making 2 major hires with ties to Chris Paul. Will there be a reunion?

The 76ers hired Doc Rivers and reportedly agreed to terms with Daryl Morey. Both have experience with Chris Paul. Is there a trade to be made?

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The Philadelphia 76ers are in need of a floor spacer and a point guard.

When they signed a contract to make Doc Rivers the new head coach, there was one star point guard, one who used to play under Rivers, who seemed to be an obvious candidate.

Then, reports surfaced that Daryl Morey was set to become the new 76ers president of operations.

Morey comes from the Houston Rockets. He traded for and then traded away that same point guard who played under Rivers for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Are the 76ers gearing up to make a deal for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul?

Let’s back up a little. Obviously, this trade is not the reason Philadelphia hired these two men. Both have made contributions to their respective former teams that will put them under Hall of Fame consideration. The 76ers hired them because they are good at their jobs and can help Philly grow.

They just both happen to have quite a bit of experience with Paul.

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The point guard played for the Clippers for six seasons, four of which were with Rivers as head coach. Over those four years, Paul made four all-star games and averaged 19 points and 10 assists per outing.

Los Angeles won more than 50 games in all four seasons, posting a record of 217-111.

Their relationship got dicey at the end of that tenure, but Rivers said in September that the two had moved passed it.

“We put that behind us a year ago, at least. We golfed a bunch this summer before the season started,” he said in a video tweeted by Clutch Points reporter Tomer Azarly.

“We cleaned the air long ago. That happens from coach (to) player a lot. Usually when a guy leaves a company in business, most of the time it’s not on great terms, even if they’re just going to another opportunity, but usually you come back to that company and say Thank you,’ and ‘Appreciate all the things you’ve done.’ I think that was CP in our case. That’s old news.”

The Clippers traded Paul to Morey and the Rockets, where Paul averaged 17.1 points and eight assists over two seasons. While there were reports about a fractured relationship between Paul and co-star James Harden, there wasn’t public noise about him and Morey.

So now, two of the more powerful members of the Philly team have connections to Paul.

The Thunder are likely open to trading the guard with his value as high as it’ll ever be.

The Sixers need to add a player who can facilitate the offense, spread the court and play defense.

This is all speculation, but it sounds like there’s a match there.

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Trade idea: Chris Paul goes to Knicks; Thunder get Julius Randle, picks

In this trade idea, the New York Knicks acquire Chris Paul — but they have to give up Julius Randle and multiple draft picks. Is it worth it?

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In this trade proposal, the New York Knicks land their star with hopes it helps them in the 2021 free agency.

The Oklahoma City Thunder get back a young power forward and a pair of draft picks.

The proposal:

Thunder receive: Julius Randle, 2021 first-round pick (via Dallas Mavericks), 2023 top-7 protected first-round pick

Knicks receive: Chris Paul

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Why the Thunder do it

Oklahoma City needs a new power forward with Danilo Gallinari likely to leave in free agency, and Randle is a player the team can look at to see if he fits into the future.

Randle is a talented scorer. There’s no denying it. From Dec. 11 through March 11, the final 40 games of the season, he averaged more than 21 points per game. He also averaged more than 10 rebounds.

But he shot 46% from the field, 27.7% from 3 and has a tendency to overlook passes in favor of taking it to the rim himself. He also does not play good defense.

I don’t like calling players good stats, bad team guys, because if bad players could post 20/10s regularly, everybody would be doing it. But Randle, with a 132-262 career record (excluding his rookie year in which he played one game), has yet to show he impacts winning.

But that could be more of a system of the teams he’s played on. The Knicks are not a model franchise. His lone season with the New Orleans Pelicans was filled with Anthony Davis drama. The Los Angeles Lakers had drama of their own during his time there, all of which ended without a playoff berth.

Oklahoma City gets one year guaranteed and a second year partially guaranteed. It’s a good risk to take.

Then, the draft picks. The Dallas Mavericks’ pick is likely to be a late first-rounder. The 2023 Knicks pick is lightly protected, but if the 2021 free agency doesn’t go as New York hopes, that could easily be a lottery pick.

That 2023 pick is actually the real draw of the trade. It could be a star. Yet the Knicks may be willing to give it up because there’s a chance they land a star with Paul’s help.

Why the Knicks do it

New York, after failing to sign any of its targets last offseason, cannot go into 2021 with the same pitch. The organization needs a way to show the culture is changed. It needs to have a respected star helping pitch the team.

It needs someone like Chris Paul, who is an NBA All-Second Team player and the president of the players’ association.

That free agency class is loaded. Randle isn’t the player who will attract stars to join him.

If the Knicks don’t believe Randle is a long-term solution at power forward — and there have been rumors throughout the season that he’s a trade piece — giving him up isn’t an issue. Nor is losing the Mavericks’ 2021 pick, which should be in the late 20s. Using one of the Kristaps Porzingis picks to acquire Paul actually puts a sweeter taste in the mouth.

Knicks president Leon Rose is the former agent of Paul, so there’s a strong connection there. Paul can be a very good mentor to young players, particularly RJ Barrett.

Plus, the salary doesn’t cripple New York. Assuming the Knicks decline the options of Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson and Wayne Ellington, they’ll still have about $20 million to spend after acquiring Paul, which would go up to $27 if they do not guarantee Elfrid Payton’s full salary. Those financial figures depend on how far the salary cap drops this offseason.

About $5 million will go to the No. 8 pick and about $2 million to the No. 27 pick. That could leave the team with $20 million to spend on free agents, plus another player with the mid-level exception.

Chris Paul, RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, two first-round draft picks, one or two free agents combined at $20 million and another free agent worth about $9 million is a much better corps than what the Knicks put on the court last season … in fact, is that a playoff team in the Eastern Conference?

Why the Thunder don’t do it

As addressed above, there are a lot of question marks about Randle’s upside. His team is on the hook for $18.9 million this coming season before a year with a non-guaranteed $19.8 million. If his 2020-21 team doesn’t keep him for the following season, Randle would be on the books for $4 million in 2021-22, according to Jeff Siegel.

The team is trying to trim salary, and that’s at least $22.9 million for a power forward when they could just slide Darius Bazley into the starting lineup and be done with it.

Why the Knicks don’t do it

Apologies to Knicks fans who are about to read this sentence: Few assets are more valuable than a New York draft pick.

Though I expressed optimism the Knicks can get a star in 2021, and therefore limit how good that 2023 draft pick will be, how much confidence is there really that they can pull it off?

Trading Randle, who will be 26 next season, and taking a risk on giving up that draft pick is a lot to ask in exchange for an $85 million, 35-year-old point guard.

If Paul helps them fight for a playoff spot and get another star, the trade worked wonderfully. If not, they may lose a lottery pick.

Who says no?

I think the Knicks want Chris Paul and I think this is a simple way to get it done. Ultimately, though, I think giving away that 2023 pick scares them off. Maybe they could interest the Thunder in Knox instead of the pick (I personally would not be interested in Knox instead of the pick).

One coworker I approached with this idea said the Knicks should do the deal in a heartbeat, even if it was only top-5 protected. Another said he would do it if it were top-10 instead of top-7.

We’ll leave it at top-7, and maybe the Knicks can negotiate it down to 10 with the Thunder having rights to a future pick if they end up with a pick better than 10 in 2023.

Why a Dennis Schroder-Kyle Kuzma swap could make sense for Lakers, Thunder

It could make some sense for the Thunder to trade a point guard to the Lakers, but not necessarily the one that everyone thinks.

In some ways, it would make a lot of sense for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers to consummate a trade involving one of the Thunder’s point guards, but not the one everyone has been talking about.

Could a trade between the teams involving Dennis Schroder and Kyle Kuzma be mutually agreeable? Perhaps.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder expected to continue to pare down its roster in furtherance of its rebuild, Chris Paul is the name most often associated with potential trades that the franchise could try to make, but Schroder and even Steven Adams have had their names tossed around in scenarios, as well.

While both players are 27 years old and on the younger side of 30, each is entering the final year of their current contracts. Adams is slated to earn $27.5 million in 2020-21, while Schroder will earn a relatively more modest $15.5 million. It is Schroder, though, who might net the Thunder the more gifted prospect, and he could be a great fit for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Although the Lakers have just won their 17th NBA Championship, the team will not rest on its laurels as LeBron James and Anthony Davis attempt to solidify their places in history with back-to-back championships. James, who will turn 36 years old by the end of the year, played a great many minutes as the team’s point guard, and it’s impossible to ignore how Rajon Rondo’s spirited play helped take some of the pressure off of James to both create and be an offensive force.

With Rondo reportedly set to opt out of his contract and test free agency, the crosstown Clippers are expected to register interest in him. Schroder could be an upgrade.

The Proposal

Thunder receive: Kyle Kuzma and Danny Green

Lakers receive: Dennis Schroder and Terrance Ferguson

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Why The Thunder Do It

While he is certainly one of the better sixth men in the entire league, Dennis Schroder will be a free agent after the 2020-21 season, and it’s doubtful either he or the Thunder will have interest in a re-signing. Trading him for Kuzma would give the Thunder a player two years younger who would complement Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at a position of need for Oklahoma City.

Including Terrance Ferguson is something that the Thunder could balk at if the team isn’t ready to give up on the defensive-minded, athletic guard; however, Hamidou Diallo has more perceived upside and is less expensive, and Lu Dort has already taken Ferguson’s starting spot. Ferguson might be expendable.

Why The Lakers Do It

Top-heavy as the roster is, the Lakers have a few needs on the team and shouldn’t rest on its laurels if its hope is to maximize the remainder of LeBron James’ career. To that end, finding a dependable attack guard who can create plays for others and finish at the basket should be high on Rob Pelinka’s wish list this offseason. If he plays dependable defense, that’s all the better.

Schroder more than fits the bill.

While trading Kyle Kuzma, a young, starting-caliber player, would understandably be a difficult decision, the forward has struggled to find his consistency in his bench role with the Lakers. The team might be selling low on him at this point, but Schroder — who is only two years older — simply fills a more pressing need for a franchise that is in absolute win-now mode.

Including Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson has cons for each team, but the Lakers would better match salary and receive an athletic defensive-minded guard in exchange for a veteran player whose championship experience could help the Thunder’s young players develop some good habits.

Why The Thunder Don’t Do It

Dennis Schroder is only two years older than Kyle Kuzma, so the trade doesn’t make them that much younger. The team could be reluctant to assume the remaining two years on Danny Green’s contract and also could believe that additional draft capital (which the Lakers don’t have) would be preferable to trading for Kuzma, who is eligible for a rookie extension after the 2020-21 season.

If the club still believes that Ferguson has a future as a key rotation piece, it may very well perceive the trade as it giving up a promising 22-year-old prospect for a player who may not necessarily upgrade the roster very much.

With plenty of draft picks over the next several years, general manager Sam Presti may also be content with letting the big money on his books expire and preserve the team’s cap maneuverability — both of which would be undercut by the addition of Green, and potentially Kuzma, depending on his market price in restricted free agency.

Why The Lakers Don’t Do It

Although each player had their struggles last season, the Lakers won a championship with both Kuzma and Green playing integral roles. Before the arrivals of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Kuzma enjoyed existence as arguably the team’s most promising prospect. If his improved defensive presence helps him supplant Danny Green or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the team’s starting lineup, he may eventually emerge into the third piece that the Lakers need to ensure a continued run. His playmaking abilities have also improved to the point where he could possibly spell James in that regard, as well, so the Lakers may not be inclined to give him up just yet.

With respect to Green, although he may be past his prime, he’s one of a few players who have won championships with three different teams. That’s no accident. Trading him along with Kuzma would essentially fill one hole for the Lakers while creating another. It would be incumbent on Ferguson to either grow up quickly or Pelinka to find another player who can fill Green’s role. That task might not be one that the defending champion wants to proactively take up.

Who Says No?

Flip a coin. There are pros and cons for both teams, but the Thunder may feel that Kuzma’s perceived upside was a result of him being a go-to player on a losing Lakers team that didn’t have LeBron James. The requirement of taking back Green and his contract might also not be as appealing as shipping Schroder out to another team that has draft capital and a one-year contract back to offer.

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Chris Paul-Lonzo Ball trade idea: Should Thunder, Pelicans swap PGs?

If the Thunder traded guard Chris Paul for Lonzo Ball, the Pelicans would likely make the playoffs and OKC would get to evaluate Ball.

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With some trade rumors about Lonzo Ball, the Oklahoma City Thunder could take a chance on the young guard.

The New Orleans Pelicans could use him to acquire an aging star.

A trade centered around Ball and Thunder point guard Chris Paul could help both teams achieve goals: Oklahoma City could get a look at a point guard who has potential but not yet proven himself, while the Pelicans could get a burst that would almost certainly make them postseason-bound.

Here’s what a deal could look like:

The proposal:

Thunder receive: Lonzo Ball, 2021 lottery-protected pick

Pelicans receive: Chris Paul

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Why the Thunder do it

How good can the eldest Ball brother become? That’s a question that has still not yet been answered. He has shown flashes, particularly with his passing and defense, but his shooting is still lacking three years into his career.

As he approaches restricted free agency, Oklahoma City could properly evaluate him and see if he is the guard they want to pair next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the long haul.

Such a duo is intriguing because of their size. Both are tall, long guards who are good defenders. That would be hard to match up against. Both need to improve shooting, however — and this one year tryout could be good: If it works, great. They’re set at guard. If not, the Thunder are worse because of it, and their 2021 draft pick will be better.

The salary also works in their favor. Oklahoma City would cut $30 million off their payroll, which would ensure they stay under the cap this season.

Then, they get the Pelicans’ protected pick. With Paul, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, it’s tough to imagine they wouldn’t make the playoffs, which would leave Oklahoma City with yet another 2021 pick and another trade piece.

Why the Pelicans do it

Re-read the second sentence of that last paragraph.

Chris Paul, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson together.

Paul and Jrue Holiday as the guards. That defense is monstrous. Both are strong offensive players.

The guard can also help center Jaxson Hayes develop. Paul and Nerlens Noel were among the top alley-oop combos in the league last season, and the longtime veteran can show Hayes little ways to get better positioning in the post.

Paul would be reunited with J.J. Reddick. Those six, plus the No. 13 draft pick and a free agent signed with the mid-level exception, puts this team in serious playoff contention. If the Pelicans want to make the playoffs as soon as possible, this is the way to do so.

Plus, as long as Paul continues playing well, his contract should still be tradable next season should the Pelicans find themselves in the sweepstakes for a star in the 2021 free agency.

Why the Thunder don’t do it

Bringing on Ball is a risk because if the Thunder don’t like him enough to match a contract when he’s a restricted free agent following this season, they would have ended up trading Paul for a first-round pick that would likely be in the 20s. There’s potentially better return out there.

Why the Pelicans don’t do it

Trading for Paul limits other spending. This deal works because, assuming they don’t pick up Darius Miller’s guaranteed contract, the payroll would stand at around $106 million. There are reports the salary cap will be around $109 million. That space would be gone after the draft.

Then, New Orleans still has other needs. With Derrick Favors entering free agency, the organization would probably like an established center to start over Hayes, at least for another year. They would have to hope Josh Hart and Nicolo Melli continue to improve. Such a trade turns them from a team with almost $30 million in space to a team that is maxed out.

Who says no?

The Pelicans probably think they can make the postseason without Paul and turn it down. It’s certainly a risk to bring on so much money. The Thunder would try to convince them that Paul’s leadership would benefit all the young players — namely, Williamson — and his impact would be felt even after he was gone.

The Thunder experimenting with Ball is worth it, especially when considering the cap savings. If needed, they could even take on Darius Miller’s contract and see if he can regain any trade value.

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Trade idea: Thunder’s Steven Adams joins Toronto Raptors

If the Thunder are looking to salary dump Steven Adams, the Toronto Raptors could be an option with Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol entering free agency.

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The two Toronto Raptors bigs, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, are entering free agency.

A quick way to replace them with a starting center on a short-term deal is to trade for Steven Adams.

This trade isn’t exciting for the Thunder, but it does save $20 million in the payroll, which would certainly interest ownership.

The proposal

Thunder receive: Patrick McCaw, Stanley Johnson, 2023 second-round draft pick

Raptors receive: Steven Adams

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Why the Thunder do it

It’s a salary dump. A rebuilding team wouldn’t want to pay Adams $27.5 million, and this adds inexpensive depth, a future second-round pick and makes the Thunder’s draft pick next year more likely to be better.

McCaw and Johnson have not proven themselves to be productive NBA players, but the Thunder can still get a look at them for a year. Perhaps they can be used at the trade deadline to get more second-round picks. If not, they fill space on the depth chart for one year and then both parties move on.

It’s not exciting. It’s just the organization saving $20 million.

Why the Raptors do it

With Serge Ibaka testing free agency and rumors that Marc Gasol is returning to Spain to play for Barcelona, Toronto needs a new center.

They could re-sign Ibaka, but he may want a multi-year deal. There’s an important reason to not give a deal into 2021-22: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract is expiring after this season, and if he doesn’t re-sign with the Milwaukee Bucks on a supermax, the Raptors could make a run at the two-time MVP.

So they get Adams instead, who provides a good post presence on both ends of the court and can fit into the defensive scheme, and on a one-year deal is not a commitment.

The Raptors throw in McCaw and Johnson to trim a little more salary, and there’s the deal. A starting center on a one-year deal to replace their former bigs.

Why the Thunder don’t do it

This is very minimal return. Adams is a fan-favorite, and it’s important to keep players who mean something to a city. There’s a good chance that one more year of Adams is worth more than the second-round pick will be.

But is that worth the $20 million extra it would cost to keep him instead of the salary dump? If I’m in ownership’s shoes, I might lean no.

Why the Raptors don’t do it

Toronto is sitting at $86 million with a few needs: Yes, they need a center. But they also need to either re-sign Fred VanVleet or to replace him. They may have to use the mid-level exception in free agency on such a point guard, or use that No. 29 pick on one — maybe hope that Tyrell Terry is still around, or perhaps they like Cassius Winston enough to make him the backup — and hope that he’s ready for playoff time immediately.

Who says no?

The Raptors need a center, but they can find other ways to bolster the lineup without trading for Adams. Maybe they convince Ibaka to sign a one-year deal by loading him up with cash. That second point guard behind Lowry is also important; VanVleet has stepped up time and time again for Toronto.

Adams would help them, but the pieces Toronto would not be able to sign may be too much for the team to go through with it.

But it’s something to consider.

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Dennis Schroder trade idea: LA Clippers trade for Thunder guard

Would the Los Angeles Clippers be willing to trade Patrick Beverley and second-round draft picks for Dennis Schroder?

The Los Angeles Clippers could use a point guard who can create his own shot while holding his own on the defensive end.

They should call up an old trade partner.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder, a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year last year, would be an upgrade over the current Clipper guards.

Meanwhile, the Thunder would gain draft capital and a solid point guard who could net them another asset in a trade down the line.

The proposal

Thunder receive: Patrick Beverley, Joakim Noah, 2023 second-round pick (via Detroit Pistons), 2024 second-round pick

Warriors receive: Dennis Schroder

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Why the Thunder do it

Like many trades we’ll see here during draft week, the players Oklahoma City receives aren’t the draw of the trade.

Those second-round picks are far enough in the future that they still have some minor intrigue as picks that could be early in that round and can be used to beef up other trades over the next few years.

Beverley, meanwhile, should be an option for other teams looking for a defensive-minded point guard. He can attract either young talent from a team that needs a playoff-ready player, or a draft pick.

Noah can fill a Thunder need as well: not just a backup center, but, more importantly, an inexpensive backup center.

It’s not a glamorous deal, but the Thunder would continue piling up assets. If they do this deal and then trade Beverley before the season starts, the only salary they’d have out of Schroder’s $15.5 million is Noah’s $1.7 million plus whatever is the return for Beverley.

Why the Clippers do it

Stephen A. Smith reported that Kawhi Leonard has asked management to get a point guard who is a better creator and scorer.

If they’re looking for a simple trade that wouldn’t increase cap and wouldn’t cost the team depth, this is the move.

Beverley is a very good and important player, but Schroder’s ability to create and get into the lane on offense is something that Los Angeles was lacking this postseason.

Schroder has emerged as a better offensive threat than Beverley or even Lou Williams. He also plays much better defense than Williams, though not quite at Beverley’s level. His skill set would help the Clippers if Leonard or Paul George go through slow stretches in next year’s postseason.

In Schroder’s 22 playoff games since 2016, he has averaged 18.1 points and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 36.3% from 3 on 5.6 attempts per game.

He can play on- or off-ball, can defend, and was part of the Thunder lineup that had the best net rating in the clutch. That’s what the Clippers need. A player who can get it done when it matters.

Why the Thunder don’t do it

As much as Oklahoma City loves draft picks, it already has a ton of them. They don’t particularly need two more second-rounders, and could hold off on trading Schroder until they find a team willing to part with a young player who sparks the organization’s interest.

Additionally, if they are unable to trade Beverly, this does not help their cap situation. A perfect trade for Schroder would be a young, inexpensive player, not a relatively pricey player in his prime.

Why the Clippers don’t do it

They’re already essentially out of draft picks, thanks to Sam Presti and the Thunder. Trading two second-rounders doesn’t sound like a big deal, it’s all they have.

Through 2026, all their first-round picks are either being traded to the Thunder or New York Knicks, or agreed to be pick swaps. The only remaining draft capital is their 2020 and 2022-26 second-round picks, Detroit’s 2023 second-rounder and a 2022 Atlanta Hawks second-round pick that is protected up to pick 55 and unlikely to convey.

They may need to hold off on any more trades involving draft picks.

Who says no?

Maybe neither team. Maybe both. I think the Clippers should do it but might balk at giving away more picks, especially to the Thunder.

Oklahoma City, meanwhile, probably thinks it could acquire more for Schroder.

I think both teams could benefit from it.

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