Sam Presti speaks to the press in Oklahoma City, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Sam Presti speaks to the press in Oklahoma City, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The Oklahoma City Thunder still have one of the deepest rosters in basketball, but their bench isn’t exactly the same group that helped them dominate the last two seasons. Aaron Wiggins is gone after averaging 9.4 points and shooting 35.6% from three last season, while Isaiah Joe, probably their best pure shooter, left after putting up 11.1 points on 42.3% from three. Luguentz Dort was technically a starter, but losing him also pushes Cason Wallace into a bigger role and takes another elite wing defender out of the squad.
OKC still has Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, Nikola Topic, Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams, Thomas Sorber, Aday Mara, and rookie Bennett Stirtz, so depth isn’t some huge weakness. The bigger question is whether Sam Presti wants a few more proven playoff options instead of depending on so many young players, especially after Jalen Williams played only 33 games last season.
I wouldn’t touch the main bench core, and there isn’t any reason to make another blockbuster. These three smaller trades would attack three different needs: a scoring wing, a physical backup center, and a stretch big man, while using three completely different expendable pieces.
1. Add Saddiq Bey As Jalen Williams Insurance
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Saddiq Bey
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Kenrich Williams, 2030 second-round pick (via Minnesota), 2031 second-round pick
This is the move I’d like the most because Saddiq Bey gives OKC something it lost when Wiggins and Joe left: a veteran bench scorer who can come into a game and actually take shots without everything running through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Bey averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists last season, shooting 45.1% from the field and 36.7% from three in 72 games. At 6-foot-8, he can play both forward spots, and if Jalen misses time again after appearing in only 33 games last year, Bey is much better insurance than asking one of the rookies to suddenly play 28 minutes.
The Pelicans would have to be out of the playoff race again for this to become a thing, but Bey is also on an expiring $6.4 million salary. Turning him into two second-round picks plus Kenrich Williams, another expiring veteran at $5.0 million, would give them actual future value instead of potentially losing Bey for nothing.
For the Thunder, two seconds isn’t a huge price with the amount of draft capital they still have. Bey could immediately become one of their first three players off the bench and give Mark Daigneault another 6-foot-8 scorer for playoff lineups.
2. Bring In A More Physical Center With Goga Bitadze
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Goga Bitadze
Orlando Magic Receive: Jaylin Williams, 2031 second-round pick (via Detroit)
I really like Jaylin Williams, but this would be more about changing the type of center sitting behind Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein if both are going to start together next season.
Goga Bitadze is 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds, and even in only 15.2 minutes per game last season, he averaged 5.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 67.6% from the field. His per-36 projection was around 13.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks, so the production is there whenever Orlando gives him minutes.
The Magic now have Wendell Carter Jr. at $18.1 million, Nikola Vucevic back on the roster, and Bitadze entering the final year of his deal at $7.6 million, which makes him pretty movable if his role stays this tiny. Jaylin is younger, earns $7.8 million, can pass much better, and shot 38.3% from three last season, so Orlando wouldn’t simply be dumping a player either.
For OKC, Goga would be a matchup piece. He doesn’t need to play every night, but against Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Ivica Zubac, or another huge frontcourt, having another 250-pound body can make a difference eventually. The salary match is basically perfect too, so this is easily the cleanest trade of the three.
3. Turn Nikola Topic Into A Stretch Big Man
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Noah Clowney
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Nikola Topic, 2032 second-round pick
This one isn’t really veteran-for-young-player; it is more about OKC using its ridiculous guard depth to fix a position where the roster has fewer proven options. Nikola Topic is still only 21, but finding minutes for him is going to be difficult with Shai, Wallace, Mitchell, McCain, Caruso, and Stirtz all around.
Noah Clowney gives the Thunder a completely different player: a 6-foot-10 forward-center who started 60 games last season and averaged 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks. He also attempted 5.9 threes per game, even though he made only 32.9%, so defenses already have to respect him more than a backup center. Also, him being a big body, a good defender, and more versatile as a switch-big man could be an advantage over having Jailyn Williams as their stretch option.
The Nets could also like this because their frontcourt is crowded with Julius Randle, Day’Ron Sharpe, Moritz Wagner, Joshua Jefferson, and other young forwards, while Topic would give them another true young point guard prospect. Clowney is making $5.4 million, and Topic is at $5.4 million too, so there is no salary issue here.
For OKC, Clowney could play next to Chet, next to Hartenstein, or as a small-ball five, and that flexibility is what makes him interesting. Topic may eventually become the better player, but the Thunder have enough guards to make that gamble.
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