The Oklahoma City Thunder are in a position that many other NBA teams wish they were in. Not only are they the top team in the Western Conference but they possess the most future draft picks as well.
While that is a good position to be in, if the team doesn’t reach the Conference Finals or the NBA Finals, they could trade some of their future draft assets for win-now talent.
Christopher Kline of Fansided believes that the Thunder are one of three teams that could acquire Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant this offseason.
“OKC is better equipped than most to trade for Durant without completely decimating their supporting cast or compromising their future. KD is not necessarily on OKC’s timeline at 36, but the Thunder are trying to win right now. This is not a young team building toward the future, it’s a young team trying to stack rings. The fit is strong, as are the vibes. Those fans still love and appreciate Durant, even after a messy breakup. One has to think they’d welcome him back with an NBA title in mind,” Kline wrote.
In order for Oklahoma City to acquire Durant, it would require them sending Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort, and tons of future draft assets to make the deal more enticing for Phoenix. The Suns went all in on Durant and things haven’t quite worked out. They’re likely going to miss the playoffs and enter rebuild mode.
For the Thunder, it could work perfectly in terms of spreading the floor for star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“He’s not getting to the rim as much as he used to, but Durant’s shooting remains otherworldly for a player his size. He’s going to draw double teams and keep the floor spaced for SGA, forming the most potent scoring duo in the NBA,” Kline added.
With Durant approaching the final couple of years of his career, a return to the Thunder would be a great way to finish what he started. It is a way to return to a fan base that would welcome him with open arms, while also giving him another chance to win a title before he retires.
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