Category: Trade Week

Trade idea: Nuggets get Chris Paul from Thunder to be third star

In this trade proposal, the Denver Nuggets would acquire Chris Paul and Terrance Ferguson to make a run at the NBA Finals.

The Denver Nuggets came close to making the NBA Finals but were stymied in the Western Conference Finals by the Los Angeles Lakers.

They are one star away from forming a nasty trio with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray that would make them serious contenders.

Maybe they could go all-out over the next two years and trade for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul.

In this deal, the Thunder would add some tradable two-way players while Denver would be making a high-risk, high-reward trade that could net them a championship.

The proposal

Thunder receive: Will Barton, Gary Harris, 2021 lottery-protected first-round pick

Nuggets receive: Chris Paul, Terrance Ferguson, 2021 second-round pick

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Why the Thunder do it

Will Barton and Gary Harris may not be stars, but they are very capable 3-and-D players who fit in well with the Thunder’s style.

With two years left on both of their contracts, Oklahoma City could feel out contenders at the deadline to trade them for first-round picks. In the meantime, they can form a three-wing tendem next to Lu Dort with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander running the point. That would be strong defense on the perimeter and more shooting than Oklahoma City has had in years.

More likely than not, this deal eventually turns into a return of three first-round picks or young assets.

Even if neither player is traded, the Thunder save about $12 million with this move. Terrance Ferguson is a decent young player, but in his final year before restricted free agency, the team needs to decide whether he’s a long-term option. He might not be, and he definitely wouldn’t net a first-round pick like Barton or Harris.

The swap of what is expected to be a late first-round pick for an early second-rounder is the Nuggets’ price for acquiring Ferguson, who will be needed as wing depth without Barton or Harris.

Why the Nuggets do it

Giving up two strong 3-and-D players is tough to do. But the Nuggets just saw they can win without Barton. He was injured during their entire playoff run to the Western Conference Finals.

So if Barton is expendable — and I say that with all due respect, for I like him a lot as a role player — the Nuggets are essentially trading Paul for Harris. When it’s written like that, Denver fans should be salivating.

Thunder fans are keenly aware that the point guard scored the most crunch-time points in the league this past season.

The second-most was Nikola Jokic. For a team that had to come back from multiple 3-1 playoff deficits, putting the most clutch player in a lineup with the second-most would be promising.

More broad than that, there’s a small window before the 2021 free agency class potentially throws off the league balance. The Nuggets were not good enough to beat the Lakers. Adding a star can help. If the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors are still finding their rhythm, that’s all the more reason to attack now.

Ferguson is an OK player and good defender. His inclusion is to offset the wing defense that will be missing from the Nuggets should they make this trade. His presence can be useful against the star wings of the west.

Plus, with his restricted free agency approaching, Denver would have contract control over him in an offseason where their financials would be thrown out of whack.

Why the Thunder don’t do it

Harris and Barton are good players, but together they’re paid $32 million and the organization would have to put in extra effort to trade both of them. It’s not as clean a swap as some other ideas that would net Oklahoma City a draft pick without the extra hassle of making a trade.

Additionally, they wouldn’t fit any Thunder timeline to prominence. They’re players who can help great teams become contenders, but won’t help bad teams become good.

Why the Nuggets don’t do it

They have to be certain Paul’s fit works. Murray is a point guard. Jokic is a ball-dominant center. If the three of them aren’t able to share playmaking duties, the season would be over.

This trade also cripples any cap flexibility. Projecting further out, the Nuggets make this trade, then re-sign Jerami Grant using Bird Rights and match an offer made to Torrey Craig, a restricted free agent.

From there, the Nuggets rotation would look like:

Paul, Murray, Craig, Grant, Jokic with Monte Morris, Ferguson, Michael Porter Jr., a free agent signed the mid-level exception and the No. 22 draft (may I recommend a center like Jalen Smith, Daniel Oturu or Isaiah Stewart?). Perhaps Bol Bol can grow into a role player, too.

Is that more favorable than running it back with Harris and Barton and using the Paul Millsap and Miles Plumlee savings for depth?

Who says no?

This feels too risky for the Nuggets. It also poses defensive questions: Paul is a good defensive guard, but do they really want to rely on Craig, Ferguson and Grant to guard the likes of LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard?

I say no if I’m Denver, but the prospect of adding a star to a team that may be one missing piece away from tile contention is tantalizing.

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Trade idea: Thunder, Hornets swap giant contracts in Steven Adams, Nicolas Batum

The Oklahoma City Thunder would have to take Nicolas Batum, but they’d get a first-round pick from the Charlotte Hornets for Steven Adams.

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Steven Adams for Nicolas Batum? Don’t close out of this page quite yet, Oklahoma City Thunder fans.

Batum, a Charlotte Hornets forward, may have among the most untradeable contracts in the league, but now that he’s on an expiring deal, the Thunder may listen without laughing and hanging up the phone.

In this deal, Oklahoma City gets a first-round pick. It’s one of the few ways I can envision the organization receiving such return for Adams.

The Hornets, in exchange, get a center who will help them be a better team in a season in which they likely want to contend for that seventh or eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.

The proposal

Thunder receive: Nicolas Batum, 2021 top-7 protected first-round pick

Hornets receive: Steven Adams

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Why the Thunder say yes

It’s all about that draft pick. Adams isn’t going to fetch a major return from any team, but if Thunder brass is willing to pay Batum $27 million, this trade could earn them a lottery pick.

That, the few hundred thousand dollars in savings, and the increased chance that the Thunder’s own 2021 draft pick is better because Batum isn’t as good as Adams would make this trade interesting for Oklahoma City.

Why the Hornets say yes

The Hornets were a 10th seed in the Eastern Conference this season. This trade would net them a new starter to pair with the draft pick, who will be a starter, and they would still have a ton of salary cap space for free agency.

Maybe, instead of drafting James Wiseman at No. 3, Charlotte goes for Obi Toppin or Deni Avdija and then slots him next to Steven Adams. These additions to the lineup is suddenly a corps that can fight for a playoffs pot in the east.

Maybe the Hornets trade up one pick to ensure they can get LaMelo Ball or Anthony Edwards, and add a guard and a big to this team. No matter what they do, they will be a better team by flipping Batum for Adams.

Why the Thunder say no

If the Hornets do get into playoffs, they could have a pick around No. 17. This range might not be worth it to ownership to have paid a player $27 million this season.

That’s why the pick is top-7 protected. Charlotte limits the risk of trading a franchise player for what could be one year of Adams, and the Thunder could feel good about their chances of pulling off a pick in the 8-14 range for a salary swap.

The financial situation brought on by the coronavirus may dictate if this would even be considered by OKC brass.

Why the Hornets say no

I touched upon it in that last section — if Charlotte does not make the playoffs, the franchise may have given up a pick as high as No. 8 pick for one season of Adams. That would be impermissible.

Who says no?

Both? Neither? I don’t know. I don’t think either team loves this deal, but I think it’s one that both teams would benefit from.

The Hornets would probably lose a draft pick between 8-20. But they would gain a player who will actually be productive on the court.

The Thunder would add to their collection of other team’s draft picks, but they would be stuck with paying Batum $27 million. I don’t see how they could get rid of that.

With only one more year on his deal, though, Oklahoma City may be best suited to take a breath and take that pick.

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Trade pitch: Bucks flip guards, replace Eric Bledsoe with Dennis Schroder

If the Thunder were to trade Dennis Schroder for Eric Bledsoe, they would have more time to either play him or trade him for future assets.

The Milwaukee Bucks’ only priority is to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay.

Some have thrown around the idea of them adding Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul to help with this. While this would give them another all-star, there’s a different Thunder guard that would make for a more simple, less risky trade.

Dennis Schroder could help the Bucks with their Antetokounmpo pursuit in multiple ways.

In this trade proposal, the Oklahoma City Thunder would be getting a good rotation player and a late first-round draft pick.

The Proposal

Thunder receive: Eric Bledsoe, 2021 first-round pick

Bucks receive: Dennis Schroder

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Why the Thunder do it

Eric Bledsoe gets a bad rap because of his playoff woes, but he is a good NBA player. With his ability to drive and finish at the rim on offense and play strong defense, he actually has some similarities to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Bledsoe has three more years on his contract, the third of which is not fully guaranteed. That’s detrimental for the Bucks. That’s not necessarily bad for the Thunder.

If Oklahoma City keeps him, Bledsoe would be a fun player next to Gilgeous-Alexander. Their defense would be very strong, and they have both played off-ball enough over their careers to not fight over control.

Should the Thunder trade him, it could very likely net them another first-round pick. Perhaps the Toronto Raptors, for instance, want him as a replacement for Fred VanVleet. There’s a market for Bledsoe’s two-way skill set.

That’s basically what it comes down to. The Thunder would either acquire one first-round pick and a guard for the next two to three years, or two first-round picks. They have enough time with Bledsoe to evaluate him and help him build up value.

Why the Bucks do it

This sounds like a tough sell for Milwaukee. Bledsoe his historically been a superior player to Schroder. Not only are the Bucks giving him up, but they’re also trading a first-round pick. That feels backward.

That’s not so. Schroder offers defensive strengths and ball handling. He’s a better shooter. He performs well in the playoffs, which is where Bledsoe takes a step back. He fits better next to Antetokounmpo. This first-round pick is included to convince the rebuilding Thunder to take on more salary in the deal.

Not convinced? Here’s some evidence:

  • Schroder 2019-20 regular season stats: 18.9 points, 4.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 38.5% from 3 on 5.0 attempts per game.
  • Bledsoe 2019-20 regular season stats: 14.9 points, 5.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 34.4% from 3 on 3.5 attempts per game.
  • Schroder’s 22 playoff games since 2016: 18.1 points, 4.9 assists, 36.3% from 3 on 5.6 attempts per game.
  • Bledsoe’s 31 playoff games since 2018: 13.1 points, 4.6 assists, 25.4% from 3 on 4.1 attempts per game.

Plus, Schroder was part of the Thunder’s closing lineup that had the best rating of all five-man groups in the NBA.

Schroder could help them win in a way Bledsoe has not.

The length of these contracts is also important.

The Bucks are not going to excite Antetokounmpo in their free agency pitch by saying “We have Bledsoe, let’s run it back.” But Schroder is on an expiring contract. “We have an extra $18 million, who do you want?” is a pitch that could get the MVP’s mind buzzing.

The upside comes down to this: Schroder is a better fit, a better postseason performer, and a better contract.

It’s a quick solution that could help a major approaching problem.

Why the Thunder don’t do it

Bledsoe’s contract is high-ish and his trade value is low-ish. The team may have to begin the season with Bledsoe before trading him. Maybe the losers of the 2021 offseason use their extra salary space to acquire him. It’s no certainty.

Yet Bledsoe is good. As much as a team may want to tank rebuild, it doesn’t want to be a boring, bad team. If Oklahoma City loses three of its four main starters, they will be, simply put, bad. Bledsoe can add some competition, even if they’re not good, it will help his trade value increase.

Why the Bucks don’t do it

Are they convinced Schroder will be more helpful than Bledsoe? Is that first-round pick too much to give up?

If the first answer is no, they don’t do it. If only the second answer is no, maybe they counter with a future second-rounder instead of the first.

Additionally, if Antetokounmpo does leave, they would also be without Bledsoe OR Schroder. Keeping Bledsoe just in case the superstar departs wouldn’t be a bad idea.

But the Bucks’ focus isn’t on 2022. It’s on 2021. Would flipping Bledsoe for Schroder make them less likely to win the championship?

I think it would do the opposite.

Who says no?

I like the deal for both teams, but I’d lean Thunder say no. I would expect them to pursue draft picks or young players on manageable contracts in a Schroder trade, not an $18 million player who will be 31 years old when next season begins. This would actually increase their payroll, which is the exact opposite of their intention entering the summer.

But to potentially get two first-round picks for a sixth man on an expiring contract? That’s tough to pass up.

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Chris Paul trade idea: Sixers net Thunder star point guard

If they trade for Chris Paul, the Philadelphia 76ers could improve their spacing and rid themselves of Al Horford’s contract in one swoop.

The Philadelphia 76ers are desperate to find a fix that doesn’t involve trading Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid.

The Oklahoma City Thunder would like to acquire assets for the future.

In one swoop, Philadelphia could fix its floor spacing and get themselves a leader on both ends of the court, while the Thunder could acquire young talent and draft capital.

The Sixers should trade for Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Chris Paul.

The Proposal

Sixers receive: Chris Paul

Thunder receive: Josh Richardson, Al Horford, 2021 first-round draft pick

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Why the Thunder do it

It’s tough to believe that Horford went from a good player who could give playoff minutes to a detrimental player in one offseason. His fit next to Embiid in Philadelphia is awful, and the 76ers must be searching for ways to trade him.

The Thunder would have the cap space, and if they’re rebuilding, they don’t have to stress winning so much as they would rebuilding Horford’s trade value.

There’s a reason the Steven Adams trade idea was the first one we proposed: For the Thunder to maximize their return, it’s important to trade Adams first, or else they’ll lose any leverage they may have on the big.

If Horford can return to his Celtics level of play, he could net some return, even if it’s just a second-rounder.

He’s not the main draw of this trade. In fact, that 2021 first-rounder is included to incentive the Thunder to take on his contract.

That pick is more important than Horford, and more important than this pick is Josh Richardson, who has one $10 million deal on his contract in addition to a player option worth $11 million that he seems likely to reject.

If the Thunder want to keep him, he offers scoring at the wing position that Oklahoma City has been missing. If — and this is more likely — they trade him on an expiring deal, they could net another first-round pick. A contender would certainly sniff around for Richardson.

This would make the Thunder’s return two first-rounders and Horford, who, if all goes well, could net an additional asset.

That’s good return for a 35-year-old who will be paid $85 million over the next two years.

Why the Sixers do it

To keep it blunt, they’re desperate. Brett Brown was the scapegoat for the lack of growth the last couple seasons, and if the Sixers can’t advance further in the playoffs — or at the very least look more in-sync on the floor — noise about trading one of the two stars will grow to a deafening level.

Adding Paul at point guard will improve their shooting and spacing. Simmons can slide up to forward while still manning some ball handler role. Imagine the defense of a starting lineup with nine-time All-Defensive player Paul alongside Simmons, Matisse Thybulle and Joel Embiid.

That’s terrifying.

And that’s a much, much better fit than the one they have now with Horford.

Speaking of Horford, if he stays in Philly his contract will become untradeable — if it’s not already. Paid an average of $27 million over the next three years, it’s worth giving up a first-round pick to find a taker. And Richardson is good, but he shouldn’t stand in the way of getting Paul.

Why the Thunder don’t do it

We briefly addressed this in the last section — Horford’s contract may not be tradeable. Oklahoma City wants to cut their cap, yet if they are unable to trade Horford and keep Richardson as a starting wing, they only save about $3 million this season.

If they do trade Adams, that would be enough to get them under the decreasing salary cap, but it’s minimal relief for a team that would be punting on the playoffs.

Speaking of Adams, if they Thunder can’t trade him beforehand, they’re suddenly stuck with the same issue that Philly has this year. He and Horford can’t play next two each other, and Oklahoma City would be paying them a combined $55 million this year.

Why the Sixers don’t do it

Paul’s contract is expensive and it limits what the Sixers can do in free agency. Without Richardson and Horford, there are areas of depth the team would need to address.

But with smart drafting, the mid-level exception and the allure they would have for veterans looking to play with a contender, this shouldn’t be much of an issue.

Who says no?

Adding Horford’s contract is a tough sell for Thunder brass. It’s tough to tell someone that $27 million isn’t a lot of money when it’s not my money to spend.

A draft pick and Richadson is a good return, but with a decrease in cap due to the coronavirus, Oklahoma City might not want to replace Paul’s contract with Horford’s contract. Philly may have to sweeten the deal even more.

But there’s upside for both teams in this deal.

Trade idea: Thunder C Steven Adams joins Pelicans for playoff push

The New Orleans Pelicans need to replace Derrick Favors. The Oklahoma City Thunder need to reduce salary. Is a Steven Adams trade mutually beneficial?

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Oklahoma City Thunder brass, about to embark on a rebuild, likely does not want to pay center Steven Adams $27 million for another season.

There isn’t much love for traditional centers around the league anymore, but there are still some teams with cap room who could use a big on an expiring contract.

One such team is the New Orleans Pelicans, who will need a center to replace Derrick Favors as they make a playoff push.

Adams could be that new center.

The Proposal

Thunder receive: Darius Miller, No. 39 pick in 2020 draft

Pelicans receive: Steven Adams

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Why the Thunder do it

This is a fairly simple salary dump for the Thunder. Steven Adams is a fan favorite, but if the team does plan to rebuild, it would be in its best interest to get some return on Adams’ expiring contract.

Second-round picks typically don’t amount to much, but with the Thunder holding the 25th pick, there are plenty of players in the late-first to early-second round they’ll have done their due diligence on. It’s very possible that one of the players they consider at No. 25 is still available at No. 39. It doubles the chance of getting a usable young player on a very, very cheap contract.

Meanwhile, Darius Miller suffered an Achilles injury just before the start of last season and hasn’t played since. He’d be a risk to bring on. However, he was a productive role player off the bench before the injury, shooting almost 39% on five 3-pointers per game off the bench.

He could play a role on the Thunder and perhaps gain enough value to trade at the deadline for another second-rounder.

It’s all about throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks. And if none of it does stick, at least $27 million is off the books and ensures that the organization is under the salary cap.

Why the Pelicans do it

Derrick Favors was an underrated part of the Pelicans last season, but they may not want to sign him to a multi-year deal with the loaded 2021 free agency class rapidly approaching. If all goes well, New Orleans can pitch a star on joining Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

Replacing him with Steven Adams, whose deal expires after this season, gives them a similar veteran presence who can fill a role on both ends of the court and give Jaxson Hayes another year to develop before moving into the starting lineup.

New Orleans has plenty of salary to work with this offseason, but with a relatively weak free agency class, there isn’t a whole lot of areas to fill it.

Instead of searching around and competing with the other 29 teams for depth, Adams is a longtime starter who can help them reach the playoffs, which would in turn make the team more attractive to a high-quality free agent in 2021.

There aren’t a lot of teams in need of an expensive center, but Adams would certainly help the Pelicans.

Why the Thunder don’t do it

This trade is pretty much as minimal a return the Thunder could get for a top-125 player. A second-round pick is a second-round pick, and Miller is coming off an Achilles tear. As optimistic as I was when saying he may have positive value at the trade deadline, there’s also the chance OKC essentially replaces the $10 million contract of the injured Andre Roberson with a $7 million injured Miller.

Maybe it’s better for the Thunder if the Pelicans simply don’t guarantee Miller’s final year, but that’s less fun to speculate about. In that case, it’s the No. 39 pick for Adams, which doesn’t feel equal when looking back at his time with OKC. Taking a chance on a role player at wing wouldn’t hurt.

Why the Pelicans don’t do it

Adams is expensive. They could use that $27 million to add depth and beef up other areas on the court as they make a playoff push.

They don’t need to give up a pick for one year of a center when they could look to free agency or even Hayes.

Who says no?

The Pelicans are more likely to say no because of how expensive Adams is. With that said, I think his presence on the team and his contract ending ahead of the 2021 free agency would be more beneficial than spreading that money across several players on multi-year deals.

The Thunder, meanwhile, would be open to getting off of Adams’ deal and hope that one of the prospects they like is still around early in the second round.

Welcome to OKC Thunder Wire Trade Week

This week, OKC Thunder Wire dive into trade ideas for the team, particularly involving Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder and Steven Adams.

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Welcome to the OKC Thunder Wire trade week.

Over the next seven days, staff writers will be posting our own trade ideas that the Oklahoma City Thunder could pursue if they are looking to rebuild.

Many of these trade proposals will involve point guard Chris Paul, sixth man Dennis Schroder or center Steven Adams. They are the three most expensive contracts on the team, they don’t fit a rebuild timeline and can be viewed as positive assets for other teams.

The Thunder appear to be entering a rebuilding phase with the departure of Billy Donovan. With the salary cap and luxury tax floor expected to decline and Schroder and Adams both on expiring deals, it makes sense for them to get a head start on the new young corps that can play around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the future.

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.

Thunder trade proposals:

Making the case for and against trading Chris Paul