The OKC Thunder have technically been atop the Western Conference since day one of the 2025-26 campaign, but threats are looming. This, coupled with their recent struggles, may force Sam Presti and company to look for outside solutions to bolster their roster at the trade deadline.
Halfway through the season, the Thunder's weakness is painfully obvious -- they have struggled to get consistent perimeter shooting from their supporting cast, especially when shots are contested.
Outside of Isaiah Joe, every role player has shot under 30.0 percent on contested threes.
Luckily for them, though, the perfect fit for this, and many other problems, is sitting on the trade block.
The answer to Thunder shooting woes has been readily available
OKC may need to look no further than Brooklyn's Michael Porter Jr.
The forward has emerged as an elite scoring option after being traded away from Denver this past offseason.
Without players like Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon to compete with for shots, Porter has averaged 25.6 points on just 18.8 shots per game.
What makes him enticing for the Thunder is his contested three-point shooting ability.
He currently leads the NBA in contested three-point attempts and is still shooting 36.3 percent on them.
If the Thunder were to unload assets to acquire him, his volume would decrease, but he already proved he can thrive without being the number one scoring option during his days in Denver.
Combine his versatility with his extensive playoff experience, and he could be exactly what OKC needs on the perimeter.
Thunder could go the discounted route and save their assets
A second, much cheaper option could be the Bucks' swingman A.J. Green.
While the world focuses on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Green is easily the better fit of the two for the Thunder.
He is currently shooting a red-hot 41.3 percent on contested threes and presents a low-volume option that doesn't need the ball in his hands to create chaos on the floor.
If Sam Presti wants to add small pieces to the championship roster he already has, Green could be a perfect option to bring on to what OKC is already doing on offense without taking anything away from high-volume stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams.
Regardless of who the Thunder choose to go after, acquiring a shooter at the deadline is looking to be an essential move if they want to compete with sharpshooting teams like the Timberwolves and Nuggets.
With numerous teams in the West looking like title contenders, the Thunder cannot afford to be comfortable.
Other teams are beginning to find their identities, and they look ready to give OKC a run for its money.
Neglecting to add pieces out of contentment or complacency could end up being the Thunder's downfall come playoff time.